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Tangential question: does anyone have recommendation for a good beginner's microscope? Preferably that plays well with Linux and can be used to record photos/sh

Tangential question: does anyone have recommendation for a good beginner's microscope? Preferably that plays well with Linux and can be used to record photos/short videos etc. Something to get the kids excited :)

buescher 6y ago
Take your chances with any of the inexpensive USB microscopes. I remember being thrilled as an adult to pick up one of the old Intel QX3 microscopes for photographing small parts. Anything you get in that vein will be much better today.
- avian 6y ago
  ~50 EUR, random no-name USB microscopes are surprisingly good these days. I use them for inspecting PCBs and SMT solder jobs. Model names seem to change daily, but they are all very similar. Standard USB video device-class, so no software necessary. I just use guvcview under Linux. Pick one that has "full HD" in the name - it's usually not true 1080p, but in my experience the picture quality is still better than the other ones that will have a PAL-like sensor in it. Also, get one with a stand where you can adjust the height of the scope above the object with a screw.
steve_adams_86 6y ago
I got one used from a university for around $50. I can mount my phone onto it (aftermarket attachment) to get pretty cool images. I don’t have any handy now, but here are some I took with my phone just in my hand. https://imgshare.io/image/ppVR4g https://imgshare.io/image/ppVR4g https://imgshare.io/image/ppVlc7 https://imgshare.io/image/ppVlc7 https://imgshare.io/image/ppVaiq https://imgshare.io/image/ppVaiq My kids really enjoy it, so that’s good enough for me. I’d definitely take a look around for cheap used stuff!
- noisy_boy 6y ago
  Thanks! The photos are quite impressive - I was thinking of buying a new one but having seen these, I'll probably also look for a good quality used one.
  - steve_adams_86 6y ago
    Similar to cameras, going used and skipping fancy features can get you incredible glass for very low prices. My scope is a V 350 Wilomed which normally goes for around $400 CAD on the used market. I’d happily pay closer to that amount for this scope. When I got it I thought I’d be getting something much worse given the price, but it’s a real lab-capable device. If you got something considerably less powerful I bet you could spend very little and still have a ton of fun. You definitely don’t need something this powerful. I hope you find something awesome!
londons_explore 6y ago
A $10 USB microscope is a lot of fun for children. Try pointing at at your fingerprint, then try to control a sweat gland (which sits between the ridges) with thought alone. With practice you can do it! The first time you see a sweat gland erupt with sweat you'll be disgusted..
ipsum2 6y ago
From the same website: http://www.gaudi.ch/GaudiLabs/?page_id=328 http://www.gaudi.ch/GaudiLabs/?page_id=328 > To use a regular usb computer web-cam as a microscope, only a few modifications are needed. Basically flipping the lens upside down does the trick. No extra optics needed
kasbah 6y ago
>The OpenFlexure Microscope is a customisable, open-source optical microscope, using either very cheap webcam optics or lab quality, RMS threaded microscope objectives. https://openflexure.org/projects/microscope/ https://openflexure.org/projects/microscope/

buescher 6y ago

Take your chances with any of the inexpensive USB microscopes. I remember being thrilled as an adult to pick up one of the old Intel QX3 microscopes for photographing small parts. Anything you get in that vein will be much better today.

avian 6y ago
~50 EUR, random no-name USB microscopes are surprisingly good these days. I use them for inspecting PCBs and SMT solder jobs. Model names seem to change daily, but they are all very similar. Standard USB video device-class, so no software necessary. I just use guvcview under Linux. Pick one that has "full HD" in the name - it's usually not true 1080p, but in my experience the picture quality is still better than the other ones that will have a PAL-like sensor in it. Also, get one with a stand where you can adjust the height of the scope above the object with a screw.

steve_adams_86 6y ago

I got one used from a university for around $50. I can mount my phone onto it (aftermarket attachment) to get pretty cool images. I don’t have any handy now, but here are some I took with my phone just in my hand. https://imgshare.io/image/ppVR4g https://imgshare.io/image/ppVR4g https://imgshare.io/image/ppVlc7 https://imgshare.io/image/ppVlc7 https://imgshare.io/image/ppVaiq https://imgshare.io/image/ppVaiq My kids really enjoy it, so that’s good enough for me. I’d definitely take a look around for cheap used stuff!

noisy_boy 6y ago
Thanks! The photos are quite impressive - I was thinking of buying a new one but having seen these, I'll probably also look for a good quality used one.
- steve_adams_86 6y ago
  Similar to cameras, going used and skipping fancy features can get you incredible glass for very low prices. My scope is a V 350 Wilomed which normally goes for around $400 CAD on the used market. I’d happily pay closer to that amount for this scope. When I got it I thought I’d be getting something much worse given the price, but it’s a real lab-capable device. If you got something considerably less powerful I bet you could spend very little and still have a ton of fun. You definitely don’t need something this powerful. I hope you find something awesome!

londons_explore 6y ago

A $10 USB microscope is a lot of fun for children. Try pointing at at your fingerprint, then try to control a sweat gland (which sits between the ridges) with thought alone. With practice you can do it! The first time you see a sweat gland erupt with sweat you'll be disgusted..

ipsum2 6y ago

From the same website: http://www.gaudi.ch/GaudiLabs/?page_id=328 http://www.gaudi.ch/GaudiLabs/?page_id=328 > To use a regular usb computer web-cam as a microscope, only a few modifications are needed. Basically flipping the lens upside down does the trick. No extra optics needed

kasbah 6y ago

>The OpenFlexure Microscope is a customisable, open-source optical microscope, using either very cheap webcam optics or lab quality, RMS threaded microscope objectives. https://openflexure.org/projects/microscope/ https://openflexure.org/projects/microscope/