Originally Posted by
OCDshaver
This is true. Utopian's stereo scope has less magnification than anything I use but is far superior. OTOH, his set up will run you a mortgage payment. Mine works well, for me, for under $10. So to compensate for the poor optics, I'm at 200X. So you can either up the optics and get the detail you want or up the magnification I guess. But, in my opinion, if you're working with one of these hand held options go for the higher magnification. I have a jewelers loupe that I never use, a 100x hand held that I used to use, and now the 200x. Until something more powerful shows up, this is where I'm staying....or until I run across a stereo scope at a very agreeable price.