TOMLOV 1000X Error Coin Microscope

Lo uso per la pulizia di monete,votive,spille trovati con il metal detector,per questa funzione direi che va bene,ottime le 2 luci di supporto direzionabili, buona qualità dell’immagine,vale i soldi spesi

I will preference my review with my qualifications. I have dual degrees in biology and chemistry. I’m also an amateur astronomer, maintaining many telescopes in an astronomy club. I’ve built telescopes and I own a lab grade, true 1000x microscope. I know a bit about optics.

First, the claim of any of these digital microscopes of reaching 1000x is marketing nonsense. I own a microscope, and have used others in the lab at 1000x. The multi-lens, Plano objective, required to reach (and resolve an image) at 1000x requires oil immersion with a special oil. My advise to people is usually, when you see a microscope or telescope that advertises high magnification, don’t buy.

I needed a simple magnification system for jewelry, to see inclusions and hallmarks, without spending a lot. My microscope isn’t the right type for this. I chose the Tomlov because of the gooseneck lamps and many good reviews.

I’m blown away. First, the maximum usable magnification is possibly around 150-200x (I’ll measure and do the math to add to the review). That’s the magnification I need and most likely more than enough for 99.9% of people.

I was very surprised at the quality of the images. There’s no vignetting. The image was clear and flat across the entire screen. It was steady, well-lit. I appreciated being able to adjust the brightness of the objective led’s and gooseneck led’s separately. The base is metal and stabilizes the scope.

The microscope is intuitive. I never looked at the instructions. I screwed the scope into the base, tightened down the retainer, plugged in the usb, and, put my old mine cut (OMC) diamond under it. The colors were true and I could see through it. The whole image was as clear as a bell. I can move the gooseneck lamps to illuminate different angles, which enables me to see jewelry hallmarks, which tell me assay information, like year made, metal purity, city of assay. These marks are tough to see in a loupe and even tougher to photograph. I photographed them easily on my windows computer.

You simply plug the provided data micro USB cable, into the microscope head and computer, then use the camera app on the computer. If you plug the dual cable into a 5v USB recharger and then into the base, I’ll power both sets of lights. If it doesn’t work, switch to the other mini plug on the dual cable. To use without the computer just use the dual mini USB cable, plugged into the scope and base, then into a 5v USB outlet (or charge).

The rack and pinion height adjustment is adequate, but needs frequent tightening. The focus adjustment works smoothly. The height and focus stay put after adjustment. The optics easily magnified the inclusions in a sapphire ring that were impossible to see with a 30x lighted loupe. I’ll post photos tomorrow.

The scope was less than $50. It has features that match many stereo microscopes costing $200. It’s not perfect, but at this price I would have been happy if it it did half as much. It was a pleasant surprise and deserves a 5 stars.

I’ve updated the review with several photos. The scope is hooked up to the computer. I’ve imaged my 1/2 carat OMC diamond. I took photos at the least magnification, mid magnification, and the highest I could use with good magnification. That circle you see on the highest magnification is through the stone, showing the bottom point (called a cutlet). Over 100 years ago they flattened those points. This diamond has a small cutlet that I’m sure is around 1/4mm. The ring is 18k gold.

The second set of photos are of a sapphire and diamond ring. I went from least magnified to as much as I could to photograph inclusions in one very small area of the sapphire. All real, natural sapphires (ie. mined and not lab grown) will have inclusions. The photo shows these inclusions, which are too small to really resolve, but for my purposes, is more than enough. It shows that this sapphire is indeed a natural sapphire. The hallmarks are English. They tell me that this ring is 18k gold, that it was assayed in Birmingham, England in 1992.

If you want a scope to do more than this, than you’ll have to invest in a true geological stereo microscope. A good one will cost anywhere from $500-4000.

I bought this product to look through coins for error coins. I am impressed by how clear the image is; I can take photos and videos with it. I can connect and view the pictures through my laptop; I have a Samsung Chrome OS. I haven’t had time to figure it out, but I am satisfied with this product.

Absolutely perfect! It is unbelievably great and shocking quality for the price. I can zoom in way further than I needed and crystal clear image. Also really helpful features that I didn’t know about like taking real time photos and videos that is dated for you so if you were to be selling an item you can show them when the image was captured

Magnifying coins very dependable and satisfying

Bought this for my 7 year old niece – also bought a pack of prepared slides to look at but she was fascinated with putting anything under it. Very good resolution. I’m a science teacher and tempted by one for school as you can put quite large objects under it and attach to smart board.