Pick my Microscope/Camera

[LBussy]

If there's one thing that gets people all geeked around here, it's microscopic pics of edges. I have been trying to use a lighted loupe for a while and there are some shortcomings for me that cause me to start looking at other things. For instance:

• Questionable magnification. It says 80x but I really doubt I'm getting it. I could use more.
• Limits of the technology. I don't think anyone is going to get more than 80x on a hand-held loupe.
• Proximity to my face. The focal length is so short the blade is up near my face, the whole posture is screaming "buy butterfly strips!"
• Multitasking. Because I am worries about where the blade is, maintaining the focal distance, maintaining depth of field, not dinging the edge and not slicing my fingers or face, I don't get a good picture of what's up with my edge at times.
• Sharing. I can't snap a pic and post it here asking for opinions or assistance.

I know there are a lot of folks who are very successful with a hand-held loupe. I know there are people saying if you can't see it with a 10x you don't need to see it. I know there are people that are saying they don't need a loupe, that the (HHT, TPT, TNT, other test) is all they need. Assume for the purposes of this thread that anyone looking to buy a microscope can benefit from one.

Here's a list of technical requirements that I think would cover most of the guys in my boat:

• <$100
• USB connection to computer
• Software and drivers compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and/or Mac OS X 10.7 - 10.10
• => 100X optical zoom
• Ample lighting or capable of effectively using external light

Then of course there is the "does it take a good picture?" thing.

So I'd like to ask folks for their experiences with some of the microscopes out there, preferably in the spirit of the requirements list, and post pictures ideally that they have taken with their microscope. That would give guys like me some ideas on what to look for and what might make a good microscope to have. This could even be a living reference; as people get new equipment they could add information here. So, if I might suggest, if you have a digital microscope and would like to share, please share the following:

• Make, model, model number preferably
• Price when you purchased it
• Software compatibility (or at least what OS you run that it works on)
• Optical zoom level
• Lighting
• Sample pic(s) from microscope
• Optionally, a link to the manufacturer's site

Anyone that shares information gets a thanks and a virtual handshake from me. I don't know what else a guy could need?!

 

[Doc226]

Veho

Works with photo booth on the Mac without issues.

 

[Brianskeet]

http://www.amazon.com/AGPtek®-Digit...qid=1406381205&sr=8-5&keywords=USB+microscope

26 bucks on Amazon. I play with mine all the time and really enjoy the thing. It has its limitations, but it takes good pictures and I have had no complaints.

 

[LBussy]

I've seen Doc's pics ... can't find them at the moment.

Brian do you have one handy to post so I can see the quality please?

 

[Brianskeet]

A strop, a coti, a couple edges, and some flax linen.

 

[Brianskeet]

Don't look to closely at those edges. I can do better than that now!

 

[LBussy]

Thanks Brian. That one and the one Doc has look very close to being the same - yours having 2MP and his is 1.3. I think either will work.

As an aside I saw one of those "people who bought this also bought" things and one of the suggestions was a lazy susan. Erugh?

 

[Brianskeet]

No lazy susan needed, but my base is not as stable as I wish. A roll of tape is my cure.

 

[Silverirae]

No lazy susan needed, but my base is not as stable as I wish. A roll of tape is my cure.

I got this same scope, but I can't get anywhere close to the magnification. Are you using the included software? I wonder if the included base is too short to be able to focus.

 

[Brianskeet]

I got this same scope, but I can't get anywhere close to the magnification. Are you using the included software? I wonder if the included base is too short to be able to focus.

A couple thoughts. There are several of these USB scopes out these days and they have wildly differing magnification levels available. Check your scope to see what it says it will do. If it is the same 220x scope then the trick is how far away from the lens the subject is. At about an inch from the end of the clear sleeve I can focus and get low magnification images. If I want to get up to 200x (or at least what my scope says is 200x) then I have to place the subject near touching or touching the clear sleeve. Put your subject as close to the lens as possible and see if you can crank up the power.

 

[Silverirae]

A couple thoughts. There are several of these USB scopes out these days and they have wildly differing magnification levels available. Check your scope to see what it says it will do. If it is the same 220x scope then the trick is how far away from the lens the subject is. At about an inch from the end of the clear sleeve I can focus and get low magnification images. If I want to get up to 200x (or at least what my scope says is 200x) then I have to place the subject near touching or touching the clear sleeve. Put your subject as close to the lens as possible and see if you can crank up the power.

Thanks, I guess I wasn't close enough.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Holy hell. So I was digging around in the basement and found an old desk lap I used to use at school. I set it up on my scope for a top down light, and sweet baby Jebus, the scope porn I could make with this thing... EVERYTHING looks so damn perfect lit from the top. At 400x the edge still needs to at least be good, but by god, at 100x a fresh beveled edge looks like it's damn near finished with this lighting.

Here's a 600 grit finish at 400x.

 

[Brianskeet]

So get to posting some pics! ! We love edge porn!

 

[SliceOfLife]

DMT 600 @ 400x


DMT 1200 @ 400x


DMT 8000 @ 400x



The 8k image was very hard to get rid of the halo effect at the bottom... I need a rig where I can have an eyepiece and the camera attached at the same time. Trying to adjust the razor with the camera delay turns a 2 second job into a 20 minute one. Also, a rig to hold the razor at a very subtly adjustable angle would be massively helpful... very careful use of play-doh may work for one-off jobs. You really can't demonstrate how much you can see of the bevel in profile shots like these, since the razor is held flat under the scope, if you can angle it upwards slightly, to the tune of 5 degrees or so, you can get as clear detail as you see in Brian's shots above. This may be possible with the razor flat with a more maneuverable lighting solution, also.

 

[Brianskeet]

I think you are getting great images. You can see more of the actual edge in yours. Looking at bevels is fun and somewhat educational, but I am always trying to see the edge better. Play-doh is wonderful by the way.