Portable microscopes?

[YoshiDavid]

Hey guys,

I had the thought to get a cheap portable microscope that attaches to an iPhone for times when I’m out (maybe at an expo) and I want to try and get a quick peek at the spermathecae or lack thereof. After discussing conventional stereoscopes it was stated that 7-45x is the sweet spot for magnification. Having said that I found a portable scope that touts 200x. My first thought is that it might be a false claim to begin with for such a cheap piece of kit but wondering if it’s even worth looking into. I’m not very well versed in microscopy and thought that 200x on a portable might not equate to 200x on a proper scope. Does anyone have any experience in this regard, if so what are your thoughts/experiences?….thanks!

 

[Shinn]

I have one of those USB microscopes and they really only work well on static specimens and while they do provide excellent magnification, they are probably not practical for what you have in mind. I tried mine on my Ts and they can work well provided the following:
1. Adequate lighting
2. Stable platform/subject

The problems:
1. Really short focal lengths - good luck getting anything unless the T is pressed against a thin enclosure wall and if it is a curved enclosure you're likely not going to be able to focus well. Any slight movements from the T or the apparatus and you will need to readjust everything.
2. They come with built in lighting in order to be able to illuminate the subject properly - if they are in any sort of opaque enclosure or scratched up containers you're going to get glare from the light that will just blind up everything and it's gonna take time and patience to adjust it to the point where you can see something.


Example capture image of my (dead) isopod carapace. As you can see focal length is crap. And this is taken with a still specimen without anything in between.

My best attempt at taking an image of my T through a curved, opaque container.

 

[YungRasputin]

with today’s tech it honestly wouldn’t surprise me if the 200x claim were true tbh

 

[Shinn]

Nah. x200 is definitely exaggeration. At best maybe x60 to x80.

 

[viper69]

Hey guys,

I had the thought to get a cheap portable microscope that attaches to an iPhone for times when I’m out (maybe at an expo) and I want to try and get a quick peek at the spermathecae or lack thereof. After discussing conventional stereoscopes it was stated that 7-45x is the sweet spot for magnification. Having said that I found a portable scope that touts 200x. My first thought is that it might be a false claim to begin with for such a cheap piece of kit but wondering if it’s even worth looking into. I’m not very well versed in microscopy and thought that 200x on a portable might not equate to 200x on a proper scope. Does anyone have any experience in this regard, if so what are your thoughts/experiences?….thanks!

Stereomicroscopes, like a Leica, are worlds apart from any USB scope. I have owned and used both.

 

[andrew jhonson]

You have done all attempt nicely. I am also agree with shinn.

 

[Smotzer]

The microscopes on Amazon that claim 1000-2000x aren’t a true magnification used for biological work. A lot of the ones I see seem to be made for doing electronics work. But they should work for your general light use needs of sexing molts

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Stereomicroscopes, like a Leica, are worlds apart from any USB scope. I have owned and used both.

Ohhhh I sooo want a Stereomicroscope after you mentioned this.

I have one of those cheap $30 usb magnifying scopes and haven't used it once.

I looked up the Stereomicroscopes and I would love one of these.

Thanks for that information.

 

[JonnyTorch]

Stereomicroscopes, like a Leica, are worlds apart from any USB scope. I have owned and used both.

Leica have the best cameras and lenses

 

[viper69]

Leica have the best cameras and lenses

I disagree. Manual- very good. However, their digital cameras (maybe not all) are actually made by Panasonic.

 

[JonnyTorch]

I disagree. Manual- very good. However, their digital cameras (maybe not all) are actually made by Panasonic.

Ya. Their lenses are good though. They're definitely quality cameras. To each their own though. But the company is a good company.

 

[YoshiDavid]

Ohhhh I sooo want a Stereomicroscope after you mentioned this.

I have one of those cheap $30 usb magnifying scopes and haven't used it once.

I looked up the Stereomicroscopes and I would love one of these.

Thanks for that information.

One of the members of the forum had recommended an AM Scope trinocular stereoscope to me in an earlier discussion. While some of these can be prohibitively expensive they are certainly worth looking into. Definitely worth saving the pennies for!

 

[viper69]

Ya. Their lenses are good though. They're definitely quality cameras. To each their own though. But the company is a good company.

Thought you meant the bodies, didn’t see the part on glass- was rushing