Digital microscopes: How useful are they?
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Digital microscopes: How useful are they?
Just out of curiosity, what is the available practical magnification of digital microscopes. There are some pretty elaborate claims out there. I do know there are some very nice images taken with top-notch digital microscopes. I have 3 digital microscopes that are in the range of practical and useful but limited in terms of magnification. What is the general feeling about digital microscopes. I am starting to play with them again.
- blekenbleu
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Re: Digital microscopes: How useful are they?
I have a USB magnifier from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WD843ZM
.. used mostly for opaque subjects which fit neither compound nor stereo microscope.
It became much more useful to me with the rack ... from one of these stands:
.. hacked to hang from a magnetic dial indicator base:
.. used mostly for opaque subjects which fit neither compound nor stereo microscope.
It became much more useful to me with the rack ... from one of these stands:
.. hacked to hang from a magnetic dial indicator base:
Metaphot, Optiphot 1, 66; AO 10, 120, EPIStar, Cycloptic
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Re: Digital microscopes: How useful are they?
Yes I agree about the rack. The ones without a rack like that are pretty useless. My digital microscopes can only marginally image cells on a leaf. They are only useful on subjects that can be seen with the unaided eye. They are more a photography tool than a scientific tool.
- blekenbleu
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Re: Digital microscopes: How useful are they?
Here is an image captured by that USB magnifier, using its LED illumination,what is the available practical magnification of digital microscopes
placed directly against a microscope slide chrome target with full width of 1mm.
Contrast (and resolution) would be better if backlit by a microscope condenser... Slightly higher magnification is possible for objects slightly protruding into its clear chimney.
Metaphot, Optiphot 1, 66; AO 10, 120, EPIStar, Cycloptic
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Re: Digital microscopes: How useful are they?
I must say I'm a little disappointed in digital scopes. What they generate in low power they emphasize in distortion. I wonder if I will ever discover anything new with one.