I have two types of the usb scopes. one is this type
It works well enough for the cheap price$26.99 Comes with software and it works pretty good. They do work with some photo software. it takes photo's and video's.
Biggest drawback to this style is the crappy stand as it moves when you either adjust it or press the shutter button. I have some ideas, but it isn't important current other items are ahead on the to do list. Nice thing is with a long cable it can be used in the shop if you have a tablet/laptop puter near by.
The magnification is strictly electronic/digital for the most part.
This is it here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0U007Y5760I was happy with the results for what I was using it for. I collect tokens
My favorite is this one:
This is the one I wanted but it wasn't yet for sale of course the day after they shipped the first one it became available.
http://www.adorama.com/CNMSLCDH.html#reviews The first review is mine, I have used it a lot and haven't changed my mind since writing the review. most will known the name and other items they have sold for years are top notch.
Shots of the coin turned in to a necklace dangle
The stamp edge of 100year old leather post card
Back of a one cent coin
This is what I found the question mark in Lake Superior on the reverse of Michigan's statehood quarter! Somebody that seen the photo got weird about it as an omen of one of the many unknown ship wreck sites!
A token full size and then the lettering magnified.
The Clestron is great as it is self contained it does eat batteries, has a card slot, has some control of the lighting. it works better with flat stuff than shallow 3-d items. But you can raise it up on a stand and it works well for small items. It is a little pricey but I have found it worth the money for what I use it for.
It is also nice to go in to a local coin shop looking for tokens and have a camera, scope/magnifier and light source all in one package. It the photo's work well with most photo software package.
For those that have an apple phone you will want to check out this camera app, it has a 6.0 magnification built in and it works great.
http://campl.us/It is called camera+ by tap tap tap. I can say that it pretty much does what the claim, It is slow sometimes on the wifi up load to your photo stream. Or it is for my computer, but it might be because it is windows!!!!!!
I find I hardly using either of my camera's any more with the app on my phone.
Don't know if this will help I will try to answer any questions anybody has.
