Post by: colarris on 05/04/2021 21:59:02
Post by: evan_au on 05/04/2021 22:15:15
- Clip onto the camera of your mobile phone, to provide an optical close-up lens
- Plug into the USB port of your computer. These sometimes have built-in illumination of the subject
- Both of these allow you to take photos and videos, without an expensive camera attachment required by "traditional" desktop microscopes.
Holding the device steady, at the right distance from the subject is a real challenge. Look for one with a built-in spacer (which doesn't block the light).
Post by: charles1948 on 05/04/2021 22:34:49
These days, you can get quite cheap and portable microscope attachments which:
- Clip onto the camera of your mobile phone, to provide an optical close-up lens
- Plug into the USB port of your computer. These sometimes have built-in illumination of the subject
- Both of these allow you to take photos and videos, without an expensive camera attachment required by "traditional" desktop microscopes.
Holding the device steady, at the right distance from the subject is a real challenge. Look for one with a built-in spacer (which doesn't block the light).
This shows how the science of microscopy has advanced!
These days you can do it with a mobile phone Without an actual microscope! Is that good?
Post by: Colin2B on 05/04/2021 23:30:06
The type @evan_au mentions should be adequate, but make sure you have really good lighting eg led desk lamp.
If you really get into it and want a ‘proper’ microscope I would recommend a secondhand dissecting microscope
This was taken with iphone + adapter but many usb ones are just as good and real cheap.
4B5EDF7C-09EA-4978-91E7-EA3055B026BB.png (100.72 kB . 306x298 - viewed 4285 times)
Post by: charles1948 on 06/04/2021 00:31:01
I suppose that's progress. I was inclined to complain. But the sharp full-colour image taken by Colin, above, with mobile phone, has silenced my complaint.
Post by: colarris on 06/04/2021 11:19:40
I also see a lot of cheap microscopes that are aimed at children on Amazon etc. Would they be good enough?
Post by: Colin2B on 06/04/2021 23:45:22
I also see a lot of cheap microscopes that are aimed at children on Amazon etc. Would they be good enough?I’m afraid it’s a case of you get what you pay for. That said, there are some cheap microscopes which are surprisingly good quality at lower magnification - up to 200x which is plenty for your application. Often resolution is best at centre of field with some colour fringing at the edges, but you can usually improve that by using a blue or green filter to make monochrome light.
Worth noting that most cheap usb microscopes are little more than close focussing webcams. Often the magnification quoted is for digital zoom, which mean poor quality at high mag. Still ok around your working requirement.
I do know of one model which focusses, I’ll send you a link.
Post by: colarris on 07/04/2021 17:37:51