Digital Loupe recommendation
 

If anyone is in the market for a good Loupe... I love my "Pluggable" usb microscope camera.

Found here for $39.95 - https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Micr...2212991&sr=8-3

I've mostly been trying to closely document my pre-war cards, wear/defects/authenticity/etc. and have been extremely impressed by the image quality.

https://i2.wp.com/www.billykoehler.c...?fit=640%2C480
https://i1.wp.com/www.billykoehler.c...?fit=640%2C480
https://i1.wp.com/www.billykoehler.c...?fit=640%2C480
https://i2.wp.com/www.billykoehler.c...?fit=640%2C480

It made me wonder... why don't we see more pictures like this in listings? I feel like almost every transaction comes with a "can I see a better scan" follow-up. The reality is that people are looking for potential breach in the slab and/or tell-tale reprint signs. I'd imagine more detailed images would boost buyer confidence...and possibly even drive a premium on purchase price.

Cheers
BK

Hell, I'm just happy if the seller includes a picture that's in focus! You want pictures taken with a microscope? All I can say is good luck! ;)

I would think that could be very handy for the corners too. But like I said, you'll never get anyone to share photos like that with you.

The one in the first post looks like a great one for the house.

As for pocket loupes this is the fave of at least 1 grader whom I respect..

I have no affiliation with this linked site nor do I recommend them (or not).
But this is the one I have used for several years and love it.

https://www.blitzinc.com/products/ec...ed-light-loupe

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What magnification level are you at in the photos you posted? Just wondering because I bought one of these when they were recommended on Net54. It's so cheap and it does work. But my only complaint is it's really almost too much magnification for baseball cards since it starts at 60x.

https://www.amazon.com/Carson-MicroB...2219172&sr=8-3

I have this one, it's fantastic. Easy to focus since you can stand it right on the surface, and leaves no doubt as to what type of card you're working with.

I agree, it's great, especially for the price. I haven't used it too much. I know that nothing is ever going to look like it has 10 corners when you magnify it to 60x. I think if you're looking at dot patterns and so on, it's perfect.

Good point about collectors posting such pics in auction listings. If collectors and dealers took photos of this quality, authentication could be done via email. I've often told collectors that if they send me close enough photos-- including high-quality scans-- I can tell them in the card or photo is authentic. And some do.

10x loupe versus 60x microscope versus 250 digital microscopes. They're all so cheap, you can buy all. And, as I said, a high-quality scanner can produce big/detailed enough images.