MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

A very Newbie question
I have an inexpensive Amscope student microscope with 10x and 25x eyepieces and a 640 x 480 USB camera that fits into the tube. There are adapters that fit to the eyepiece to accommodate the camera. When I have the camera directly into the tube with no eyepiece, everything’s good. But when I try to use the camera with the 10x eyepiece, all I see is a bright white circle. I’ve tried modifying the illumination and the aperture, but still have the same white circle. Any ideas?

It sounds like your camera is an 'eyepiece camera' [i.e. it has its own integrated eyepiece] ... If so, this is not designed to work in conjunction with the normal eyepiece.

Some photos, or model numbers, would be helpful.

MichaelG.

The cheapest eyepiece cameras have no optics in them at all, besides an IR/UV cutting filter. I have one of those. The sensor is set for the intermediate image from the objective to fall on it. If the objective needs to be used with a compensating eyepiece, the compensation doesn't happen, but the image might not be too bad near the field center.

desertrat wrote:The cheapest eyepiece cameras have no optics in them at all, besides an IR/UV cutting filter. I have one of those. The sensor is set for the intermediate image from the objective to fall on it. ...

I didn't know that, Rick

MichaelG.
.
... Forgive my previous comment please
I have just remembered that the only camera of this type that I have used has a 0.5x relay lens attached to it.
... The basic camera is just as Rick describes.

Thanks for your replies. My scope is an Amscope M149 student microscope. The camera model is MD35. Since the whole thing cost less than $130, I'd suspect that it doesn't have its own optics.

Yes, Michael that's what came with the scope. I plan to upgrade when the budget allows.

Maryfox wrote:Yes, Michael that's what came with the scope. I plan to upgrade when the budget allows.

Please see my embarrassed edit, above.

But, although my first explanation was not valid, the fact remains that your camera is not designed to image the output of an eyepiece.
For comparison: Have a look at how Motic does it [by adding a lens to the camera]
https://youtu.be/xqSWITLUeLM

MichaelG.

Thanks very much for your help. I'm disappointed at the facts, but it's true that You Get What You Pay For. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to upgrade, but in the meantime I'm enjoying having a closer look at the things in my world.

Maryfox wrote: ... in the meantime I'm enjoying having a closer look at the things in my world.

That's what it's all about, Mary ... Keep enjoying the view.
Meanwhile, if you have a 'phone with a decent camera; try using that at the eyepiece.
... You might be very pleasantly surprised.

MichaelG.