Thoughts on these Microscopes for molt sexing?

[jrh3]

There are so many to choose from but I narrowed it down to these. Before I pull the trigger am I missing anything or should I go with a different style, zoom, ect. I was leaning towards trinocular just to add a camera but they are only 1-3mp so not sure if they are worth it or not.

This will be 99% used on sexting molts.

https://amscope.com/products/sw-2t13z

AmScope SW-2 Series Super Widefield Binocular Stereo Microscope 10X-20X-30X-60X Magnification on Pillar Stand with Top & Bottom Lights

This is a top-class binocular stereo microscope with 10X-20X-30X-60X magnification settings. It incorporates all the most excellent features of a high quality laboratory instrument. Designed to meet the demands of modern professional microscopy applications, this microscope exceeds all...

amscope.com

AmScope SE305 Series Compact Multi-Lens Binocular Stereo Microscope 10X-60X Magnification with Angled Head, Metal Track Stand, Top & Bottom Halogen Lighting

This binocular arm-stand stereo microscope offers four magnification powers, 10X, 20X, 30X & 60X. It comes with a versatile illumination system that provides both incident (top) lighting and transmitted (bottom) illumination. You can choose between incident illumination shining down onto the...

amscope.com

AmScope SE306 Series Compact Multi-Lens Binocular Stereo Microscope 20X-80X Magnification with Angled Head, Metal Track Stand, Top & Bottom Halogen Lighting, 2MP Digital Eyepiece Camera

This binocular arm-stand stereo microscope comes with a 2MP USB digital camera. It has three magnification power settings, 20X, 40X & 80X, and a versatile illumination system that provides both incident (top) lighting and transmitted (bottom) illumination. You can choose between incident...

amscope.com

 

[A guy]

I use a children's microscope that I bought from Amazon for $20 and it works great. So yeah.... something to think about before you buy a fancy expensive one exclusively to sex out molts.

 

[jrh3]

I use a children's microscope that I bought from Amazon for $20 and it works great. So yeah.... something to think about before you buy a fancy expensive one exclusively to sex out molts.

I have a cheap one from amazon and has worked good for a few years now, but I am looking for something better and has the option for a backlight.

 

[Wenzer]

I also bought a cheap set labelled "for kids", from the Walmart website.

Robot or human?

This microscope is actually metal exterior, not plastic. It reminds me more of the microscopes we'd use in science class during elementary school, nothing fancy compared to the kinds you have linked but it definitely doesn't feel cheaply made either

My only minor complaint is I wish I had opted for a microscope that offers digital image capturing. This one has a bracket that slips onto the eye piece and you can secure your phone to it to get pictures, but it's a little finicky. It's not a product issue, it's just my preference now that I know what I'd rather use!

Here are some examples of images I've gotten using this microscope, maybe it can help you decide! I have a couple more images in my gallery using this microscope but I think I've written/added enough here already

Ephebopus cyanognathus, 0.75" DLS

• Wenzer
• Nov 8, 2023
• 16

I'm in love with this new microscope. I have a couple of my E. cyanognathus molts sitting around...

Ephebopus cyanognathus sling

• Wenzer
• Feb 8, 2024
• 2

I made sure to label which spider my skins came from this time

Does the ridge-like structure...

 

[jrh3]

I also bought a cheap set labelled "for kids", from the Walmart website.

Robot or human?

This microscope is actually metal exterior, not plastic. It reminds me more of the microscopes we'd use in science class during elementary school, nothing fancy compared to the kinds you have linked but it definitely doesn't feel cheaply made either

My only minor complaint is I wish I had opted for a microscope that offers digital image capturing. This one has a bracket that slips onto the eye piece and you can secure your phone to it to get pictures, but it's a little finicky. It's not a product issue, it's just my preference now that I know what I'd rather use!

Here are some examples of images I've gotten using this microscope, maybe it can help you decide! I have a couple more images in my gallery using this microscope but I think I've written/added enough here already

Ephebopus cyanognathus, 0.75" DLS

• Wenzer
• Nov 8, 2023
• 16

I'm in love with this new microscope. I have a couple of my E. cyanognathus molts sitting around...

Ephebopus cyanognathus sling

• Wenzer
• Feb 8, 2024
• 2

I made sure to label which spider my skins came from this time

Does the ridge-like structure...

I'm sure the real talent is getting the molt opened up, ha.

 

[Wenzer]

I'm sure the real talent is getting the molt opened up, ha.

That is definitely the most difficult part for me haha. Specifically, prying the abdominal skin apart without it folding back in on itself! That being said, I've managed to sex a couple of tiny skins using this scope (though I'm waiting for more growth to verify). I think the smallest skin was between 0.5" and 0.75", I was curious if I could even see anything and nicely surprised!

 

[Mirandarachnid]

There are so many to choose from but I narrowed it down to these. Before I pull the trigger am I missing anything or should I go with a different style, zoom, ect. I was leaning towards trinocular just to add a camera but they are only 1-3mp so not sure if they are worth it or not.

This will be 99% used on sexting molts.

https://amscope.com/products/sw-2t13z

AmScope SW-2 Series Super Widefield Binocular Stereo Microscope 10X-20X-30X-60X Magnification on Pillar Stand with Top & Bottom Lights

This is a top-class binocular stereo microscope with 10X-20X-30X-60X magnification settings. It incorporates all the most excellent features of a high quality laboratory instrument. Designed to meet the demands of modern professional microscopy applications, this microscope exceeds all...

amscope.com

AmScope SE305 Series Compact Multi-Lens Binocular Stereo Microscope 10X-60X Magnification with Angled Head, Metal Track Stand, Top & Bottom Halogen Lighting

This binocular arm-stand stereo microscope offers four magnification powers, 10X, 20X, 30X & 60X. It comes with a versatile illumination system that provides both incident (top) lighting and transmitted (bottom) illumination. You can choose between incident illumination shining down onto the...

amscope.com

AmScope SE306 Series Compact Multi-Lens Binocular Stereo Microscope 20X-80X Magnification with Angled Head, Metal Track Stand, Top & Bottom Halogen Lighting, 2MP Digital Eyepiece Camera

This binocular arm-stand stereo microscope comes with a 2MP USB digital camera. It has three magnification power settings, 20X, 40X & 80X, and a versatile illumination system that provides both incident (top) lighting and transmitted (bottom) illumination. You can choose between incident...

amscope.com

I think the middle option is the one I have. Love it.

 

[jrh3]

I think the middle option is the one I have. Love it.

Do you find the bottom light to be too bright? I noticed it doesn't have dimmable option like the others.

Ended up going with this one.

AmScope SE305 Series Compact Multi-Lens Stereo Microscope Angled Head 10X-60X Magnification With Metal Pillar Stand, Top & Bottom LED Lighting

This cordless LED binocular stereo microscope has both top and bottom lights. It is designed for indoor and outdoor applications, powered through an outlet or by batteries. It is a portable microscope that can be taken out to field sites. This microscope offers sharp clear stereo images, four...

amscope.com

I will update how it works and a review.

 

[l4nsky]

So there is a vendor/entomologist on the local show circuit around here that has a trinocular setup she uses to sex molts for people, displaying the view on a large TV screen and I peppered her with as many questions as I could before I got my setup. I ended up grabbing this microscope:
https://amscope.com/products/sf-2tra

This supplemental LED ring light:
https://amscope.com/products/led-144

A large 6" petri dish as a surface to spread the wet molts on the microscope platform, and a pair of esthetician tweezers from Amazon for manipulating molts. Works great, now I just need to find the motivation to finish running through my backlog of molts ....

 

[jrh3]

Do you find the bottom light to be too bright? I noticed it doesn't have dimmable option like the others.

Ended up going with this one.

AmScope SE305 Series Compact Multi-Lens Stereo Microscope Angled Head 10X-60X Magnification With Metal Pillar Stand, Top & Bottom LED Lighting

This cordless LED binocular stereo microscope has both top and bottom lights. It is designed for indoor and outdoor applications, powered through an outlet or by batteries. It is a portable microscope that can be taken out to field sites. This microscope offers sharp clear stereo images, four...

amscope.com

I will update how it works and a review.

I finally got around to using my new scope. I used an amazon usb for the past 5 or so years. All I can say is there is absolutely no comparison to this scope. I regret not upgrading years ago. I was able to sex a 1” obt molt with ease and the clarity is unreal. Anyone that thinks their amazon usb scope is great, you don’t know what you’re missing.

 

[l4nsky]

I finally got around to using my new scope. I used an amazon usb for the past 5 or so years. All I can say is there is absolutely no comparison to this scope. I regret not upgrading years ago. I was able to sex a 1” obt molt with ease and the clarity is unreal. Anyone that thinks their amazon usb scope is great, you don’t know what you’re missing.

I know exactly what you mean! There is no comparison to a legitimate microscope and it's actually quite enjoyable to use. At this point, I'm trying to sex every molt I get just for the experience and the chance to use my microscope lol. So far, this is the smallest molt I've managed to sex:

 

[jrh3]

I know exactly what you mean! There is no comparison to a legitimate microscope and it's actually quite enjoyable to use. At this point, I'm trying to sex every molt I get just for the experience and the chance to use my microscope lol. So far, this is the smallest molt I've managed to sex:
View attachment 469006
View attachment 469007

That’s impressive!!! I know what you mean about being enjoyable now, I sexed 7 molts today and now I’m thinking about rehousing a few c. leetzi so I can sift through the substrate to find molts.