12-30-2017, 02:59 PM
I have tried to use a Veho 400, with basically 0% satisfaction. I bought it to be able to observe and take pictures of edges. I don't remember how much it cost, but it's next to worthless.
Many years ago I started buying all kinds of magnifiers. They weren't expensive, from $5-$25. I probably have about 20 different kinds, from 10x -100x. Some have LED lights, some are variable power. Mr Rupert recently gave me a nice one with good lighting and metric/fractional scales that I like quite a bit.
The best regular "jewelers loupe" I've found are Belomo's 10x and 20x. They're about $25 and $35, respectively. They are very high quality, with nice, protective carrying lanyards. They seem geared toward professional rock and fossil hunters. With higher quality lenses, there's no need for lights with batteries. If I need LED lights, the chances of me leaving the light on, and running the battery down, are pretty high.
About 6 or 8 years ago, we found the 35x "mini-microscope" on Amazon for about $5 or so. They worked pretty well, but needed the LED light. A year or two ago, the 35x was replaced with a very similar 60x, which are available on Amazon right now for $3- $10, depending on where you get them.
These mini-microscopes are as close to perfect as anything I've come across. The lenses are large enough that they don't need the on-board LED. They are incredibly easy to use- as easy as a normal 10x loupe without a light, and 60x is enough to see Everything.
I'm not exaggerating at all when I say these are a game changer to me. I literally use one every time I sharpen a knife. They allow me to Closely inspect both sides of a 4" blade in seconds. Nothing...Nothing I've ever seen comes close- in magnification or ease of use.
Type in "60x mini-microscope" on Amazon to find one. Like I said, you will find them available from multiple sources. I've ordered 3 times from different places and gotten identical products, in identical packaging.
Many years ago I started buying all kinds of magnifiers. They weren't expensive, from $5-$25. I probably have about 20 different kinds, from 10x -100x. Some have LED lights, some are variable power. Mr Rupert recently gave me a nice one with good lighting and metric/fractional scales that I like quite a bit.
The best regular "jewelers loupe" I've found are Belomo's 10x and 20x. They're about $25 and $35, respectively. They are very high quality, with nice, protective carrying lanyards. They seem geared toward professional rock and fossil hunters. With higher quality lenses, there's no need for lights with batteries. If I need LED lights, the chances of me leaving the light on, and running the battery down, are pretty high.
About 6 or 8 years ago, we found the 35x "mini-microscope" on Amazon for about $5 or so. They worked pretty well, but needed the LED light. A year or two ago, the 35x was replaced with a very similar 60x, which are available on Amazon right now for $3- $10, depending on where you get them.
These mini-microscopes are as close to perfect as anything I've come across. The lenses are large enough that they don't need the on-board LED. They are incredibly easy to use- as easy as a normal 10x loupe without a light, and 60x is enough to see Everything.
I'm not exaggerating at all when I say these are a game changer to me. I literally use one every time I sharpen a knife. They allow me to Closely inspect both sides of a 4" blade in seconds. Nothing...Nothing I've ever seen comes close- in magnification or ease of use.
Type in "60x mini-microscope" on Amazon to find one. Like I said, you will find them available from multiple sources. I've ordered 3 times from different places and gotten identical products, in identical packaging.