| Discussion Forum: Thread 338894 |
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| | | Author: | WoutR  | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 08:27 | | Subject: | USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 149 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| I recently posted a few images taken with my new USB-microscope-camera-toy. I
got several messages asking for additional information, so here is a quick review
I do not have any previous experience with digital microscopes, so I got frustrated
trying to find good information to make an educated choice. In the end, I just
got one of the “Best Sellers in Lab Handheld Digital Microscopes” (currently
listed #6). The main selection criteria became 1) price, and 2) the availability
of a vertical stand that provides the possibility to adjust height precisely
(using gear wheel on gear rack). So that was a bit of a “guess this will be good
enough”-buy.
Cost:
Digital microscope ~50 euro
Stand ~25 euro
I later found out that I could have gotten that stand for free if I posted a
5 star review on Amazon.
Positive remarks
+ easy to use
+ does what I want it to do
+ I can read the smallest LEGO mould numbers now, I am amazed at what LEGO can
do now.
+ the led lights are usually good enough to illuminate your subject
Negative remarks
- the 8 lights do reflect on the object and will sometimes be visible in the
captured photo
- comes without proper stand, the default is not good enough. Sold separately
(or free if…)
- No camera raw image capture, limiting the possibilities for later editing (maybe
different webcam software would help... I don't know if any is available.)
- The center of view is in focus, at distance there is some blurring and reduced
light. (Because the short focal length this is to be expected).
- A perfect vertical mount in the universal stand is difficult. Again, “good
enough”.
- I have mine connected to my computer. It does not come with it own software,
but uses the general camera software (like a webcam).
- There is colour adjustment in that software, some colours are difficult to
capture.
- I had some problems with the image freezing, replacing the provided cable with
a new one and adjusting the computer setting that allowed the computer to shut
down usb devices for power saving seem to have almost completely fixed the problem
- It should be possible to connect the device to my phone by WIFI, but I never
used it that way. It would use the wifi connection that also connects the phone
to the internet, and I don’t want to remove that automatic connection.
Resolution:
The captured image is 3840 x 2160 pixels (~8 MP in 16:9 aspect ratio).
Placing an object under the protective cover/shield, I can fill the image frame
with 1 cm. That 1 cm is captured with 3840 pixels (long edge of the image). Placing
the object within the cover, a bit more magnification is possible.
There is a second focal point, although it is more tricky to find which shows
approximately 2.85 mm to 3840 pixels (again, object below the cover). This means
that 0.01 mm details can be seen.
At the other end, moving the microscope up to increase the field of view, I can
take an image of a 2x4 brick. I guess the maximum would be about 35 mm width
(4 studs and a bit), but then the effects of the distance from the focal point
become clearly visible.
This captured digital image can then be displayed on your phone or computer screen.
When I worked in a printshop, we advised prints of 150 pixels per inch. (Then
the print will appear to be sharp under normal viewing circumstances, assuming
that the original image was sharp.)
3840 / 150 = 25.6
25.6 inch = 65 cm
So large screens or prints should be no problem.
Sample images
The captured images were taken at 3840 pixels, and then later scaled to 1000
for upload on this forum.
top view
inside view
inside view
Inside view and outside detail
Lightsaber ends, images from both focal points
Comparing old and new parts
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| | | | | Author: | WoutR | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 08:28 | | Subject: | Re: USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| Additional images
The ruler was provided with the microscope. I added one image of the scale taken
from higher distance (showing more of the object). The other two images are from
the two focal points with the microscope in its lowest position (ruler below
the cover).
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| | | | | Author: | WoutR | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 08:31 | | Subject: | Re: USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| | Edited image, comparing the inside view of |
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| | | | | Author: | WoutR | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 08:43 | | Subject: | Re: USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| One final image, showing the digital microscope in use.
I think most questions should be answered now
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| | | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 11:40 | | Subject: | Re: USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| In Off Topic, WoutR writes:
| | One final image, showing the digital microscope in use.
I think most questions should be answered now
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Thanks for sharing!
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| | | | | | | Author: | maxx3001 | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 13:54 | | Subject: | Re: USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| In Off Topic, WoutR writes:
| | One final image, showing the digital microscope in use.
I think most questions should be answered now
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Cheaper than a good pair of glasses 
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | WoutR | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 13:56 | | Subject: | Re: USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| In Off Topic, maxx3001 writes:
| | In Off Topic, WoutR writes:
| | One final image, showing the digital microscope in use.
I think most questions should be answered now
|
Cheaper than a good pair of glasses
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I also have those,
but I can't read all part numbers with those
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| | | | | | | Author: | maxx3001 | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 14:45 | | Subject: | (Cancelled) | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| | (Cancelled) |
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| | | | | Author: | 1001bricks | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 12:04 | | Subject: | Re: USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 40 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| | Very fine info, thank you WoutR!!! |
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| | | | | Author: | yoavheskia | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 12:11 | | Subject: | Re: USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 49 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| This is really useful instrument!
Thanks for sharing.
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| | | | | Author: | Give.Me.A.Brick | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2023 19:14 | | Subject: | Re: USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 55 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| | WOW, pretty awesome indeed! |
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| | | | | Author: | Sadler_Bricks | | Posted: | May 1, 2023 22:52 | | Subject: | Re: USB-microscope-camera-toy | | Viewed: | 28 times | | Topic: | Off Topic | |
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| Looks pretty good especially with the pics
Sadler_Bricks
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