I am a retired veterinary pathologist who loves microscopy. Your video rekindled my excitement over exploring our world at high magnification. I just purchased your favorite hand of held microscope for camping trips, water analysis where I can use my cell phone to document my findings. You clearly have an expert knowledge of this field & love to share it, as I do. Please continue your exciting work on You Tube! Respectfully, Jim Eastep, DVM
I'm sorry. I'm a retired physicist and a microscopist. It's not magnification but numerical aperture that defines the resolution and depth of field of the optics system and therefore the quality. (ref.- Wikipedia). Everything else in your video is pretty good. I liked it.
You are correct. I unfortunately have to strike a balance between giving technically accurate information and being so in the weeds that it alienates beginners and causes people to click off the video. I chose to not bring up numerical aperture because most lower end consumer compound microscopes have objectives that scale magnification and numerical aperture at the same time. Thank you for your comment!
One thing to watch out for: As you say, a lot of these scopes are made in generic factories and then branded by different companies, which opens the door to all kinds of knock-off products. I bought a digital microscope for casual use (I have a Zeiss binocular for "real" studies) and although it was highly rated online and I'd actually seen one in person, the one that came to me wasn't the same. Its software for capturing and downloading images had the right name on it, but it was a long obsolete version that wouldn't work with any modern computer device. It was then that I realized exactly why Amazon sellers will take returns only if repackaged in the original materials, because a closer inspection of mine showed that it had previously been opened and used by someone else before I got it. Undoubtedly they'd discovered what I did and returned it, allowing the seller to collect a restocking fee and then simply send it out again to the next person (me) who had bought one through their Amazon store. Eventually they know that a defective item will be bought for a gift or something, and its problems won't be discovered within the 30-day warranty window, so at that point it's all profit for them, and they'll have made just as much money off of a bad product as they would have if they'd tossed it in the trash and replaced it with a good one. So beware, thoroughly check out everything you buy, and don't miss that return limit window!
hi grampsinsl have you become a flat earther yet? If not I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. I got it in my about tab.
Without going into details, I was once looking at an ants head through an old Swiss microscope (a Wild Heerbrugg M8). The ant was 'knocked out' so it wasn't moving (although the antennae were swaying slightly). The clarity of the microscope was astounding - the compound eyes were pin sharp. Suddenly, it woke up and the mandibles started moving. I literally jumped back several feet in shock and actually fear. It was like an 8k version of some horror movie about giant ants. I actually didn't want to look at it again! That really gave me an understanding of what exceptional optics actually meant.
There is one aspect of using a microscope that is becoming more commonplace: Vintage PCB repair. Repairing the traces on, for example, a Macintosh LC logic board needs the use of a microscope to see the condition of the traces and also to ensure that all of the electrolyte/alkaline regurgitation from batteries and capacitors is removed from the logic board. Note: The Macintosh LC series is plagued by being "battery bombed", i.e., severe battery leakage from the PRAM battery that is there to keep time, date, and misc. settings saved.
WOW great intro.I've been collecting scopes for 40 years,i have about 20.Mostly cheaper ones,the best being a swift.Amateur stuff,but I've gotten so much use and learning enjoyment out of them.the last few years I've bought USB corded scopes very cheap ones,and i can say they are way easier to use and give good views with even rough handling.I will defiantly watch your video's,it's great that you started a channel,i tinker with computers and find a scope so useful that i don't know how i got by without it before.thanks a new viewer.
Hi, I just got the $25 one shown at 9:13 for coins, but I didn't get the drivers... Im using a desktop without a CD player. So Im looking for the app and drivers to make it work. Found one app but they want $17+ for drivers. So this old man is looking for help. Thx
I put together research grade microscopes myself from parts I bought off of eBay. I did this when I was working and had a job to pay for the stuff. All the equipment I put together was only barely affordable because I stuck with "last generation" (160 mm tube length) equipment. Best of luck with your quest. Maybe you can apply for a grant?
I found a Leica DMLS for 300.oo bucks on eBay. Untested and no power cord. I bought a cord at radio shack and (Lucky me) it worked perfectly. I love this scope.
Retired electronics engineer, life time electronics hobbyist. At work used a Vision Engineering Mantis- Stereo Microscope For home found one on Bay, it has large 5" * 3" eye piece, your head position is nor critical, I can sit in front of it hours with out eyes getting tired.
Good video! But I really want to show my appreciation for the effort you've put into on your website, specifically for the mobile microscope compatibility + specifying the maximum distance the center of a camera can be from the edge of a mobile device - excellent attention to detail.
I use the flat screen type for electronics. One of their downfalls is the stand. Stand is great for most stuff but if you need to fit a larger board under the scope you have to remove it from the stand and jerry rig something. On the budget ones the led's are usually too high in the frequency spectrum too white or too blue. Contrast can be way too high. But other than that a budget microscope is a great tool. One trick with a mobile phone is to set it to video and turn the torch (video recording + led lighting) on at the same time. Then zoom in and focus. I would like to see a stand with a longer swing arm that can be moved into a wider range of positions.
This video is phenomenally well-done and deserves far more views. Thank you for taking the time to compare and present this information for us who are searching and interested in entering this world of learning!
Ever since I watched silent running film back in the 70's I have tried to find a connection between oscilloscopes and plants and repairing small pcb's... you have given me a good in sight into what I would need :-)
I would have to go with the TinyScope or the cheap $20 USB-one in order to examine videoheads in situ on the video drums inside VCR's. Perhaps retrofitting the cheap one with better optics could give better results, but it would be overkill and a comprehensive task. About USB. Even the old USB-1.1 is @12mbit/sec specified datarate is absolutely capable of transmitting FullHD 1080p, though it has to be be very compressed, like you see on TV streaming services and so, who'd notice ? People are actually paying their hard earned money for these services and watching it on their 50"-85" monitors. 30-50mbit/sec like you'd see watching BluRays is of course preferrable. And here comes USB-2 with its specified 480mbit/sec datarate. Where did you get the impression, that this interface wouldn't be capable enough ? Maybe the manufactorers of the USB-2 microscopes chosed a 720p videostream and lured you. Anyway, thanks for this upload. Very useful for my decision making and much appreciated. Thanks man. Cheers mate.
What about the polarization attachment? In my opinion, Andostar AD205 is the best, although for a $60 microscope you will have to buy preparations for $25. This is the price per piece, unless someone knows how to make it themselves.
You will want magnification somewhere in in the 1000x ish range. Mono vs binocular is user preference. Mono is just cheaper but if you are attaching a live view camera onto it anyway than it doesnt matter.
@@micro_safari would you please recommend one for such use, mono, under $100... For someone just starting and would use it for fun but would like to see citoplasm, membrane and nucleus and such things in small creatures 👽 thank you! Video is great though i think at the face pace video could stay shorter and more engaging for wider audience. :)
3:20 lol , same phone microskope i bought randomly at a vecation ... funny.. i barly try it.. but i know where it is.. now i have to test it again..lol .. I came here to find a 100-200 usd range lcd screen microskope tip... hope these on the table there are not like super expensive..!
I'm new to microscopes. I'm using one on my Homestead for Pond,Creek,Lake & Septic. I really enjoy watching and learning so much from your Video's Thank you.
Oh my! I Love it! I am trying to find out what is coating my hair! Well I know it's spinal fluids but still I want to get some pictures of the changes in my hair; microscopic looks at it! I also want to periodically check my cats fur/poop/ and just check out their bodily fluids! I have always been very interested; ever since I was a little girl! That video of microscopic entities you have shown is fabulous! I actually have a EDKKIE! It does have the 7 inch screen, but the things I need to see; like blood, tears, or mites from my cats! Just do not come out as well at all as I'd like! I'm interested in looking at so many things! I have had a very very different life! Due to outside influence from some people who just don't want the truth out about things they have done to me! And my life has been difficult enough staying on this earth so far! I'm not looking for anything else even remotely troublesome! Before all negative things happened just because I gave Love back to a little girl; who lost her Momma so young! I became made disabled! Before that I worked in my favorite position in the medical field! Not anymore!! But I really want to do some of my own/with one of those nice microscopes! Who knows; maybe I could find out something very helpful and interesting for the betterment of people's health! That's my dream! And just maybe those who have them; would actually find it in their heart's to help me with my dream?? I'm sure They would be blessed by A Very High personage! After all! I had an actual death and return experience on my life journey thus far! It would surely help them on their journey back home!!! ❤❤❤ please get back in touch with them! Then Me!! I've got my heart crossed!! Thanks and thank You for the Great Possibility to help another by them helping me!! Teresa Miller
I think it sounds awesome. It would probably yield a better image than a regular external smartphone microscope since it is natively integrated into their system. But it will still have the fundamental limitations such as limited magnification due to lack of mechanical rigidity of the device AKA hand shake would make it unusable at high magnifications.
Thanks. What brand has the highest magnification but still sharp and you can see more (not just those US54$ that has 3000x magnification but it's blurred) and it's not just big. God bless.
Thanks for the video! I really want to get into Microbiology as a hobby, it seems so fascinating! I heard an inverted microscope is the way to go if you want to view live specimens as well as larger specimens such as insects, is that true? If so, can you recommend any beginner inverted scopes? (maybe somewhere roughly around the $100-$200 range)
Hi what is the exact name of the microscope at 14.33? Whit rotation and vertical capabilities? I could not figure out nir google the name just the brand.Thank you ...update i found on ebay i want to use on trips in field on different surfaces orientations like trees rocks etc do you think is possible?
I have Olympus CX23, and i am looking for a camera can project the vision to the computer. EP50 is a choice, but its price is dear, does anyone know a substitution, thanks.
You'll need a compound biological microscope. The more features the better of course, but I'd recommend that anything below around $250 will be very challenging to accomplish this. Make sure that your scope has a 40x and 100x (oil) objective.
Do we have any scope to check blood capillary. We are a mfg of magnetic matress in India and we want to show before and after demonstrations. Please recommend nano scope.
What a superb comprehensive review video 👌👍. Thanks for all the efforts and time. I am from india and want to buy a value digital microscope for looking eprom chip nos. I am in hard disk industry and will be needing it to check disk platters as well. Unfortunately customs and shipping charges here are very high ( actual cost of $60 product might become $ 150) As we are reaching year end of 2023, can you pls suggest a highly reliable ruggged microscope. I want to take a snapshot of the screen as well. For quick basic check smart phone addon microscope will be enough. Another one should be relatively better product. I am also fascinated by micro organisams and will buy one for the same. Keep it up. My best wishes
Got my first microscope at 12 years old and upgraded every few years till i was in my late 20s. Kinda miss it. Maybe get back into it now that I'm close to retirement.🔬
I just picked up a nice monocular Amscope microscope from goodwill for $7. It came with no eyepieces. If I can only afford one which one should I get. 10× 16× or 20×. The eyepiece size is 23mm
If it has a mechanical stage go with the highest magnification, otherwise go with a lower magnification. Usually the lower magnification eyepieces are easier to look into and give less eye strain. If you don't have a mechanical stage you will be limited by how small of a distance you can move your sample by hand so you probably wont be able to make much use of the highest objectives + highest eyepiece magnifications.
I bought an AmScope ESSLNB 40X-2000X and have not been able to see anything other than on it's lowest magnification setting. I'm not sure it's broken, or if I'm doing something wrong, but the manual is so bad I can't quite tell. Is there a way to contact the manufacturer for help, or do you know of any useful vids specific to this model? Thanks.
Thanks for a great 2023 microscope buying guide. I spent hours drawing images of micro organism when I received a compound microscope as a pre-school kid and I'm looking forward to rekindling my micro safari interests. Based on your recommendations, I ordered a Swift microscope with digital camera attachment. However, the camera is very low resolution. Can you recommend a suitable replacement that I can attach to the microscope to view higher resolution images on my pc?
We just ordered a bulk shipment of microscope cameras to test them out and figure out which one(s) we will recommend for folks. Check out: microsafari.org/products/hd-digital-microscopy-camera Out of the shipment this one was the best performing out of all of them, including outperforming one that was 3x the price. I'm going to use it to record all future content. It is 4k, has an HDMI output to connect it straight to a monitor, a microSD card to directly record to, or a USB connection if you connect it directly to a computer. Not sure if your scope has a trinocular port, but we also have a variant that includes an eyepiece adapter if you need that. It's pretty amazing, this microscope camera outperforms my Lumix G9 mirrorless camera. I think that microscope camera image sensors must be application specific, because my microscope camera will pick up low contrast microorganisms that my mirrorless camera sensor completely misses. There may also be imbedded firmware in microscope cameras that helps with edge detection and enhancement.
I don't want to spend crazy amount of money. What do you think I need to film a turntable's needle while it's playing a record? To see it up close and maybe see some dust and debris clearly. I'd appreciate your reply. Do you think I can use the mobile microscope for that usage? Or. I need something stable. What about the $25 Microscope Crappy? As this can maybe take stand on the turntable itself?
All that sudden jerky movements is making me dizzy and pueky.... I guess one thing i learned is i definitely need a scope with controlled coarse and fine movement
Thank you for the research work you’ve done and a really big help for us whom to start for a coin collecting hobby. And what is the brand name that you suggest for me to look and order , thank you! You are a big help for most of the jobs or study looking researching for micros. Bravo!
I'm a fan of the Andonstar digital microscopes personally. Otherwise if you want a stereomicroscope, brand names are less important. Most of the consumer brands just purchase from the same suppliers anyway and slap their label on it.
I want to start analyzing the waters I've been drinking as most are filled with plastic, and It's been found that calcium carbonate encapsulates up to 80% of the 3 most common plastics found in water after boiling, making it easy to filter out. I wanna buy a microscope to experiment with different water sources and different filtration methods at home, and just have some peace of mind that I'm not drinking poison.
USB 2.0 is not a limiting factor. It can easily stream 4k capture. It is the rest of the hardware is the limit. The capture hardware is the problem. Similar to how budget mobiles may not be able to record 4k@60fps while flagships can record 4k@120fps.
Looked into this further, and you are correct. Thank you for pointing this out. It makes sense that it is a hardware limitation with the onboard video processing of the USB microscopes, not USB 2.0 itself. From what I can tell, it looks like the practical max bitrate of USB 2.0 is 30ish mb/s, which would still be enough for standard H.264 compressed 4k30fps. I found a USB 2.0 eyepiece camera that does 1080p30 and so far that is best video I've seen come off of a USB camera, but I also haven't tried some of the ultra expensive USB 2.0 cameras.
@@micro_safari I have tested USB camera modules like the ELP models for projects. They provide amazing quality, but the modules themselves are around $30 for 720p and $50+ for 1080p. They have much greater image quality than $100-$150 digital microscopes. Someone could design amazing digital microscopes for around $50 with some of those.
Your comments that you gives me in your explanations are really helpful. That's what I'm grateful to you and keep up with your good job. Your channel is really great, there is not much of them like yours.
Thank you about your fantastic show! What full not expencive but still good quality set do you recomend for photography with mirorless canon R6? I have only camera yet. Thank you again!
Spend the money on a lot of diffuse photography lights, and get creative with what you have around to put in the background! We used a printed graphic that I designed as our backdrop. If you want to go that route I recommend getting a printed fabric backdrop, not a vinyl one. The vinyl ones create a lot of glare and are a pain in the butt.
I'm forever scared now of any microscope that has that weird zoom in and out rotary dial... the last one i bought it must've fallen off the track, or the thing that stop the mechanism broke, and the camera lens ended up like... an inch inside its self.... 1:00 i looked at that video and that's a very similar type to what i had. oof.
USB 2.0 has a data throughput of 480mbps. This limits the bit rate, not the resolution. A resolution of 1920 x 1080 has a maximum bit rate of 8mbps over USB 2.0. That's not the clearest, sharpest image in the world but it's still very usable. Heck many RUclips videos are encoded at 1080p 5mbps CBR.
My interests are doing manipulations of 3D things (splinter removal, circuit board repair, jewelry & coins) under stereo microscopes. But I'm tired being a slave to the eyepiece, so I'm considering digital. I wish you had some kind of evaluation of Dept of Field which is most important to me.
Hi! Thank you for the feedback. I'll put this into the queue for making a dedicated video on. The long story short is that depth of field is directly proportional to the working distance from the bottom of the objective to the sample plane. You get more depth of field when the objective is farther away from the sample.
@@micro_safari What fascinates me is that doctors/dentists use surgical loups that are somewhere around 2-5x that have an extreme working distance like 12-18 inches. My dentist's cost about $5k. Clearly too expensive for hobbyist, it begs the question what might be available for cheap. I also saw a video of a mineral/rock guy demonstrating different microscopes and to get a full depth of field image of a sample, they take multiple "slices" of pics at different depths and then use software to "3D imaging" them together. Results look like SEM. Familiar with 3D scanning, that application totally escaped me.
Hiii there! I'm really new to microscopy and I've purchased the Amscope B120C Binocular Compound Microscope, do you have an amazon link for the phone adapter that works with this microscope? I have extremely long eyelashes and struggle to actually see something directly through the lenses. Btw loooove your content!!!
Ahh yes. Thank you for bringing this up. I added the link in the description, but here it is too: amzn.to/3FLMMRj These adapters don't work for all microscopes, but I can confirm this one works with my Amscope B120C.
Hey, love the video btw. What would you say the quality of the objectives and lenses are for the Amscope b120c? Thinking about buying that one, it'll be my first microscope and i really don'y want to mess up my purchase.
The quality of the objectives is pretty good for the price. That was my first microscope and I think it was a great first microscope to buy. I still use it here and there today, even when I have access to "better" scopes.
Hi there! Its hard for me to give an adequate answer without knowing what your sample setup actually looks like. Are you trying to grow mycelium on a microscope slide? Are you cutting fungal growth from an existing sample and trying to view that? I'd be happy to jump on a call. Send me a message through the contact page at microsafari.org and I'll send you the phone number you can call at.
Have you test a TOMLOV DM401 Pro 2K Digital Microscope 24mp? It claims a 24mp which would be quite impressive. I know my nikon camera d7200 is 24mp if I remember right and you can really zoom in a lot on a picture I could only imagine a microscope. Do you have any experience with a 24mp digital microscope and how much can you see with this resolution when using a pc to zoom in on picture?
I am looking to buy a digital microscope. I am legally blind, so a microscope with a screen or the ability to connect to a monitor is best. I am using this to view trichomes on a marijuana plant to determine the optimal time to harvest.
I purchased the clip on cell phone scope you recommended. Ah you didn’t mention it only works with smart phones with a single camera lens. And it came with a dead battery. Still a good video.
Hi Bob, you should be able to get it to work with a phone that has multiple cameras. With an iPhone 11 as an example, you just have to put it over one of the lenses that doesn't seem like it works at first, but then when you pinch to zoom in the camera app, the iPhone switches to using the other lens. Also not sure if you purchased the mobile microscope through us or Amazon, but if it was through us, send us a message through the contact page at microsafari.org and we will send you a replacement. We went and checked every unit to make sure they all had battery but its possible one could have slipped through the cracks.
Very nice video. Especially, thank you for the section on surface mount PCB assembly and repair. One needs to have enough room to get a soldering iron, tweezers, and other tools in under the scope. Having stereoscopic vision for depth perception would be great, but that looks like it would make the scope much more expensive.
Hi, I just got the $25 2.0 USB one shown at 9:13 for coins, but I didn't get the drivers... I'm using a desktop without a CD player. So I'm looking for the app and drivers to make it work. Found one app but they want $17+ for drivers. So this old man is looking for help. Thx
You should just be able to open the camera app on your computer. If you already have a webcam you might need to use the button that switches to a different camera. The USB microscopes should just show up like a webcam
Are you talking about the pluggable usb microscope in the video? That and the Carson microscope you mentioned are probably just white labeled Chinese microscopes that came from the same factory. I am kind of meh about the one in the video
It works with some phones that have multiple lenses, but not all of them. We made a list of compatible phones on our website. That list was from a couple years ago though when we made the soil version of Micro Safari so newer phones aren't on the list. Newer phones with multiple lenses might still work even if they aren't on the list, but bob is right, some phones have sensors that try to determine which lens to use automatically and putting a mobile microscopes over that sensor will wig out the phone and it wont use the correct lens. You may be able to get around this with the non-standard camera apps off the app store
For electronics repair I use a decent spec mobile phone pinch zoomed with a 10x loupe up against the back camera and it does an ok job. Don't want anything big or expensive. Any tips on lighting? Specific phones with better cameras for that purpose? Other similar basic techniques for seeing small things but with a working space between eye and object?
Check out the Labomed Z6 stereo taxonomy. That's a high quality optic stereo with built in LED top/bottom/gooseneck illumination. It's fantastic for entomology. I'd recommend an HD camera with it. Hard to beat, unless you want to spend the additional money for Nikon or Olympus.
I'm looking for a microscope just to goof around with and look at bugs and stuff. I'd love one of those chonky Zeiss microscopes, but I'm not paying even $2000 for a used one. I'm eyeing an OMAX 40X-2500X microscope on Amazon for about $500. That seems to be the brand that doctors and medical labs prefer. So if it's good enough for a medical lab, it's good enough for me...
@fredashay Hi there! I'd like to mention that OMAX is using the same Chinese manufacturers that Amscope, Euromex, Carson, and most other modern microscope brands under $1000 are using, including us. They are great microscopes, and Chinese microscopes have gotten quite good in the last few years, but just be aware that there is nothing special about the OMAX brand over others at its price point since in reality they are all made in the same factory.
@@micro_safari Thanks for the tip! I try to avoid stuff made in China, but that's nearly impossible these days unless you want to move in with the Amish, lol.
@@fredashay Haha yes, unfortunately that is the reality of economic and manufacturing consolidation and economies of scale. In any case that OMAX scope you got should be super solid and I think you'll have a great time with it!
Excellent educational video on microscopes. The new digitals are marvels of technology and allow static images, moving-videos, and variable magnificationw with a turn of the focus(with minimal realignment effort) the moveable lights can be tamed by applying a pliable adhesive to the wand.
I am a retired veterinary pathologist who loves microscopy. Your video rekindled my excitement over exploring our world at high magnification. I just purchased your favorite hand of held microscope for camping trips, water analysis where I can use my cell phone to document my findings.
You clearly have an expert knowledge of this field & love to share it, as I do.
Please continue your exciting work on You Tube!
Respectfully,
Jim Eastep, DVM
Thank you for the very kind comment, Jim. Hope to continue making you proud.
Veterinary work got me interested as well. The simplest slides are really incredible.
I'm sorry. I'm a retired physicist and a microscopist. It's not magnification but numerical aperture that defines the resolution and depth of field of the optics system and therefore the quality. (ref.- Wikipedia). Everything else in your video is pretty good.
I liked it.
You are correct. I unfortunately have to strike a balance between giving technically accurate information and being so in the weeds that it alienates beginners and causes people to click off the video. I chose to not bring up numerical aperture because most lower end consumer compound microscopes have objectives that scale magnification and numerical aperture at the same time. Thank you for your comment!
One thing to watch out for: As you say, a lot of these scopes are made in generic factories and then branded by different companies, which opens the door to all kinds of knock-off products. I bought a digital microscope for casual use (I have a Zeiss binocular for "real" studies) and although it was highly rated online and I'd actually seen one in person, the one that came to me wasn't the same. Its software for capturing and downloading images had the right name on it, but it was a long obsolete version that wouldn't work with any modern computer device. It was then that I realized exactly why Amazon sellers will take returns only if repackaged in the original materials, because a closer inspection of mine showed that it had previously been opened and used by someone else before I got it. Undoubtedly they'd discovered what I did and returned it, allowing the seller to collect a restocking fee and then simply send it out again to the next person (me) who had bought one through their Amazon store. Eventually they know that a defective item will be bought for a gift or something, and its problems won't be discovered within the 30-day warranty window, so at that point it's all profit for them, and they'll have made just as much money off of a bad product as they would have if they'd tossed it in the trash and replaced it with a good one. So beware, thoroughly check out everything you buy, and don't miss that return limit window!
hi grampsinsl have you become a flat earther yet? If not I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. I got it in my about tab.
Great advice!
Without going into details, I was once looking at an ants head through an old Swiss microscope (a Wild Heerbrugg M8). The ant was 'knocked out' so it wasn't moving (although the antennae were swaying slightly). The clarity of the microscope was astounding - the compound eyes were pin sharp. Suddenly, it woke up and the mandibles started moving. I literally jumped back several feet in shock and actually fear. It was like an 8k version of some horror movie about giant ants. I actually didn't want to look at it again!
That really gave me an understanding of what exceptional optics actually meant.
i read that out loud at my patio in a quiet neighborhood for some reason
brilliant, lol. i can just imagine that happening to me you get so caught up in it and suddenly wham the frightners !!!
@@DEVIXLERI said it out loud in my head in a quiet house.
@@JamieNotLamie I shouted it in a busy store
There is one aspect of using a microscope that is becoming more commonplace: Vintage PCB repair. Repairing the traces on, for example, a Macintosh LC logic board needs the use of a microscope to see the condition of the traces and also to ensure that all of the electrolyte/alkaline regurgitation from batteries and capacitors is removed from the logic board. Note: The Macintosh LC series is plagued by being "battery bombed", i.e., severe battery leakage from the PRAM battery that is there to keep time, date, and misc. settings saved.
Q
WOW great intro.I've been collecting scopes for 40 years,i have about 20.Mostly cheaper ones,the best being a swift.Amateur stuff,but I've gotten so much use and learning enjoyment out of them.the last few years I've bought USB corded scopes very cheap ones,and i can say they are way easier to use and give good views with even rough handling.I will defiantly watch your video's,it's great that you started a channel,i tinker with computers and find a scope so useful that i don't know how i got by without it before.thanks a new viewer.
Hi, I just got the $25 one shown at 9:13 for coins, but I didn't get the drivers... Im using a desktop without a CD player. So Im looking for the app and drivers to make it work. Found one app but they want $17+ for drivers. So this old man is looking for help. Thx
Yes, I am interested in the Zeiss Axio Imager M1 > I am research scientist at a state college-zero research budget.
I put together research grade microscopes myself from parts I bought off of eBay. I did this when I was working and had a job to pay for the stuff. All the equipment I put together was only barely affordable because I stuck with "last generation" (160 mm tube length) equipment. Best of luck with your quest. Maybe you can apply for a grant?
Yeah a 5k scope in no budget isn’t really viable, you can get great ones much less than that, that will be ideal for your research.
Price
Im interested in the m1 and would like to acquire one
;
I found a Leica DMLS for 300.oo bucks on eBay. Untested and no power cord. I bought a cord at radio shack and (Lucky me) it worked perfectly. I love this scope.
Retired electronics engineer, life time electronics hobbyist.
At work used a Vision Engineering Mantis- Stereo Microscope
For home found one on Bay, it has large 5" * 3" eye piece, your head position is nor critical, I can sit in front of it hours with out eyes getting tired.
Good video! But I really want to show my appreciation for the effort you've put into on your website, specifically for the mobile microscope compatibility + specifying the maximum distance the center of a camera can be from the edge of a mobile device - excellent attention to detail.
I use the flat screen type for electronics. One of their downfalls is the stand. Stand is great for most stuff but if you need to fit a larger board under the scope you have to remove it from the stand and jerry rig something. On the budget ones the led's are usually too high in the frequency spectrum too white or too blue. Contrast can be way too high. But other than that a budget microscope is a great tool. One trick with a mobile phone is to set it to video and turn the torch (video recording + led lighting) on at the same time. Then zoom in and focus.
I would like to see a stand with a longer swing arm that can be moved into a wider range of positions.
This video is phenomenally well-done and deserves far more views. Thank you for taking the time to compare and present this information for us who are searching and interested in entering this world of learning!
Ever since I watched silent running film back in the 70's I have tried to find a connection between oscilloscopes and plants and repairing small pcb's... you have given me a good in sight into what I would need :-)
How do I get in contact with the people who donated the microscope. Do you think that it’s still available?
I would have to go with the TinyScope or the cheap $20 USB-one in order to examine videoheads in situ on the video drums inside VCR's.
Perhaps retrofitting the cheap one with better optics could give better results, but it would be overkill and a comprehensive task.
About USB.
Even the old USB-1.1 is @12mbit/sec specified datarate is absolutely capable of transmitting FullHD 1080p, though it has to be be very compressed, like you see on TV streaming services and so, who'd notice ? People are actually paying their hard earned money for these services and watching it on their 50"-85" monitors.
30-50mbit/sec like you'd see watching BluRays is of course preferrable.
And here comes USB-2 with its specified 480mbit/sec datarate.
Where did you get the impression, that this interface wouldn't be capable enough ?
Maybe the manufactorers of the USB-2 microscopes chosed a 720p videostream and lured you.
Anyway, thanks for this upload. Very useful for my decision making and much appreciated.
Thanks man. Cheers mate.
What about the polarization attachment? In my opinion, Andostar AD205 is the best, although for a $60 microscope you will have to buy preparations for $25. This is the price per piece, unless someone knows how to make it themselves.
G1200 vs Andonstar AD207 which one is better?? Need urgent experienced opinion please
Which would be best for identifying gems?
What would you recommend to yeasts and lactic acid bacterias ? Mono or Binocular? What magnification? Thank you
You will want magnification somewhere in in the 1000x ish range. Mono vs binocular is user preference. Mono is just cheaper but if you are attaching a live view camera onto it anyway than it doesnt matter.
@@micro_safari would you please recommend one for such use, mono, under $100... For someone just starting and would use it for fun but would like to see citoplasm, membrane and nucleus and such things in small creatures 👽 thank you! Video is great though i think at the face pace video could stay shorter and more engaging for wider audience. :)
Spend $200 not $100. Get a diaphragm, 10x eyepiece, 10x and 40x objectives minimum, 160 or infinity focal length. Mechanical stage.
WHAT AN OUTSTANDING REVIEW WOW! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Coolest guy on RUclips
3:20 lol , same phone microskope i bought randomly at a vecation ... funny.. i barly try it.. but i know where it is.. now i have to test it again..lol ..
I came here to find a 100-200 usd range lcd screen microskope tip... hope these on the table there are not like super expensive..!
I'm new to microscopes. I'm using one on my Homestead for Pond,Creek,Lake & Septic. I really enjoy watching and learning so much from your Video's Thank you.
Do you know a good microscope for seeing water bacteria & crypto, etc... looking for EMP proof non-digital.
Oh my! I Love it! I am trying to find out what is coating my hair! Well I know it's spinal fluids but still I want to get some pictures of the changes in my hair; microscopic looks at it! I also want to periodically check my cats fur/poop/ and just check out their bodily fluids! I have always been very interested; ever since I was a little girl! That video of microscopic entities you have shown is fabulous! I actually have a EDKKIE! It does have the 7 inch screen, but the things I need to see; like blood, tears, or mites from my cats! Just do not come out as well at all as I'd like! I'm interested in looking at so many things! I have had a very very different life! Due to outside influence from some people who just don't want the truth out about things they have done to me! And my life has been difficult enough staying on this earth so far! I'm not looking for anything else even remotely troublesome! Before all negative things happened just because I gave Love back to a little girl; who lost her Momma so young! I became made disabled! Before that I worked in my favorite position in the medical field! Not anymore!! But I really want to do some of my own/with one of those nice microscopes! Who knows; maybe I could find out something very helpful and interesting for the betterment of people's health! That's my dream! And just maybe those who have them; would actually find it in their heart's to help me with my dream?? I'm sure They would be blessed by A Very High personage! After all! I had an actual death and return experience on my life journey thus far! It would surely help them on their journey back home!!! ❤❤❤ please get back in touch with them! Then Me!! I've got my heart crossed!! Thanks and thank You for the Great Possibility to help another by them helping me!! Teresa Miller
Is it really a 1000x magnification power? Is it just for viewing images?
what can I get for about 1000 magnification with a decent field of view?
What do you think of the oppo x3 pro microscope, comparing with all of these ?
I think it sounds awesome. It would probably yield a better image than a regular external smartphone microscope since it is natively integrated into their system. But it will still have the fundamental limitations such as limited magnification due to lack of mechanical rigidity of the device AKA hand shake would make it unusable at high magnifications.
Great video !
Do you know a good microscope for seeing water bacteria & crypto, etc... looking for EMP proof non-digital.
Thanks. What brand has the highest magnification but still sharp and you can see more (not just those US54$ that has 3000x magnification but it's blurred) and it's not just big.
God bless.
Thanks for the video! I really want to get into Microbiology as a hobby, it seems so fascinating!
I heard an inverted microscope is the way to go if you want to view live specimens as well as larger specimens such as insects, is that true? If so, can you recommend any beginner inverted scopes? (maybe somewhere roughly around the $100-$200 range)
Interesting question, but no answer yet.
Any suggestions for gem microscopes? Thanks
Can you tell me what is a good iPhone adapter
Like a smartphone microscope, or an adapter to look through an eyepiece?
Hi what is the exact name of the microscope at 14.33? Whit rotation and vertical capabilities? I could not figure out nir google the name just the brand.Thank you ...update i found on ebay i want to use on trips in field on different surfaces orientations like trees rocks etc do you think is possible?
Thank you for the detailed review for each scope. Now I ordered the cheapest one, and thinking either swift or amscope..
I’ve been looking into buying a microscope and your video really helped me decide what would be perfect for me. Excellent comparisons.
So my phone has 4 cameras which one should i use
I have Olympus CX23, and i am looking for a camera can project the vision to the computer. EP50 is a choice, but its price is dear, does anyone know a substitution, thanks.
What microscope would you suggest under $200 for taking good quality images of hair samples?
Which models, types would you suggest to see cells, bacteria’s it’s development
You'll need a compound biological microscope. The more features the better of course, but I'd recommend that anything below around $250 will be very challenging to accomplish this. Make sure that your scope has a 40x and 100x (oil) objective.
@@micro_safari would you recommend any particular model? I would like to see clearly cells, how they grow, live and develops.
Do we have any scope to check blood capillary. We are a mfg of magnetic matress in India and we want to show before and after demonstrations. Please recommend nano scope.
What a superb comprehensive review video 👌👍. Thanks for all the efforts and time.
I am from india and want to buy a value digital microscope for looking eprom chip nos. I am in hard disk industry and will be needing it to check disk platters as well. Unfortunately customs and shipping charges here are very high ( actual cost of $60 product might become $ 150)
As we are reaching year end of 2023, can you pls suggest a highly reliable ruggged microscope. I want to take a snapshot of the screen as well. For quick basic check smart phone addon microscope will be enough. Another one should be relatively better product.
I am also fascinated by micro organisams and will buy one for the same.
Keep it up. My best wishes
An looking for best microscope to check my coins. Can you tell me which one is the best please.
Got my first microscope at 12 years old and upgraded every few years till i was in my late 20s.
Kinda miss it.
Maybe get back into it now that I'm close to retirement.🔬
I just picked up a nice monocular Amscope microscope from goodwill for $7. It came with no eyepieces. If I can only afford one which one should I get. 10× 16× or 20×. The eyepiece size is 23mm
If it has a mechanical stage go with the highest magnification, otherwise go with a lower magnification. Usually the lower magnification eyepieces are easier to look into and give less eye strain. If you don't have a mechanical stage you will be limited by how small of a distance you can move your sample by hand so you probably wont be able to make much use of the highest objectives + highest eyepiece magnifications.
I noticed that this video is over 1 year old and I wanted to know if you’re still selling these?
I bought an AmScope ESSLNB 40X-2000X and have not been able to see anything other than on it's lowest magnification setting. I'm not sure it's broken, or if I'm doing something wrong, but the manual is so bad I can't quite tell. Is there a way to contact the manufacturer for help, or do you know of any useful vids specific to this model? Thanks.
I would like to see a review or comparison of portable field microscopes such as the ioLight and Em 1 microcopes.
I really like the Swift as an introductory microscope. How would I connect my phone as a view screen?
With a 'universal' smartphone microscope adapter.
Thanks for a great 2023 microscope buying guide. I spent hours drawing images of micro organism when I received a compound microscope as a pre-school kid and I'm looking forward to rekindling my micro safari interests. Based on your recommendations, I ordered a Swift microscope with digital camera attachment. However, the camera is very low resolution. Can you recommend a suitable replacement that I can attach to the microscope to view higher resolution images on my pc?
We just ordered a bulk shipment of microscope cameras to test them out and figure out which one(s) we will recommend for folks.
Check out: microsafari.org/products/hd-digital-microscopy-camera
Out of the shipment this one was the best performing out of all of them, including outperforming one that was 3x the price. I'm going to use it to record all future content. It is 4k, has an HDMI output to connect it straight to a monitor, a microSD card to directly record to, or a USB connection if you connect it directly to a computer. Not sure if your scope has a trinocular port, but we also have a variant that includes an eyepiece adapter if you need that.
It's pretty amazing, this microscope camera outperforms my Lumix G9 mirrorless camera. I think that microscope camera image sensors must be application specific, because my microscope camera will pick up low contrast microorganisms that my mirrorless camera sensor completely misses. There may also be imbedded firmware in microscope cameras that helps with edge detection and enhancement.
I don't want to spend crazy amount of money. What do you think I need to film a turntable's needle while it's playing a record? To see it up close and maybe see some dust and debris clearly. I'd appreciate your reply.
Do you think I can use the mobile microscope for that usage? Or. I need something stable. What about the $25 Microscope Crappy? As this can maybe take stand on the turntable itself?
All that sudden jerky movements is making me dizzy and pueky....
I guess one thing i learned is i definitely need a scope with controlled coarse and fine movement
Thank you for the research work you’ve done and a really big help for us whom to start for a coin collecting hobby. And what is the brand name that you suggest for me to look and order , thank you! You are a big help for most of the jobs or study looking researching for micros. Bravo!
I'm a fan of the Andonstar digital microscopes personally. Otherwise if you want a stereomicroscope, brand names are less important. Most of the consumer brands just purchase from the same suppliers anyway and slap their label on it.
I want to start analyzing the waters I've been drinking as most are filled with plastic, and It's been found that calcium carbonate encapsulates up to 80% of the 3 most common plastics found in water after boiling, making it easy to filter out.
I wanna buy a microscope to experiment with different water sources and different filtration methods at home, and just have some peace of mind that I'm not drinking poison.
What the best microscope to identify diseases on plant leaves. Thank you for
Great video ordered your reccomended microscopes off your website and love them! Very excited about the new hobby.
Thanks Erik! Glad you like your new kit. Let us know if we can ever be of support on your microscopy adventures!
USB 2.0 is not a limiting factor. It can easily stream 4k capture. It is the rest of the hardware is the limit. The capture hardware is the problem. Similar to how budget mobiles may not be able to record 4k@60fps while flagships can record 4k@120fps.
Looked into this further, and you are correct. Thank you for pointing this out. It makes sense that it is a hardware limitation with the onboard video processing of the USB microscopes, not USB 2.0 itself. From what I can tell, it looks like the practical max bitrate of USB 2.0 is 30ish mb/s, which would still be enough for standard H.264 compressed 4k30fps. I found a USB 2.0 eyepiece camera that does 1080p30 and so far that is best video I've seen come off of a USB camera, but I also haven't tried some of the ultra expensive USB 2.0 cameras.
@@micro_safari I have tested USB camera modules like the ELP models for projects. They provide amazing quality, but the modules themselves are around $30 for 720p and $50+ for 1080p. They have much greater image quality than $100-$150 digital microscopes. Someone could design amazing digital microscopes for around $50 with some of those.
Your comments that you gives me in your explanations are really helpful. That's what I'm grateful to you and keep up with your good job. Your channel is really great, there is not much of them like yours.
Thank you about your fantastic show! What full not expencive but still good quality set do you recomend for photography with mirorless canon R6? I have only camera yet. Thank you again!
Spend the money on a lot of diffuse photography lights, and get creative with what you have around to put in the background! We used a printed graphic that I designed as our backdrop. If you want to go that route I recommend getting a printed fabric backdrop, not a vinyl one. The vinyl ones create a lot of glare and are a pain in the butt.
Is there any giveaway for microscope
Can one mount a canon dsl camera on the amscope 120c binocular scope?
I'm forever scared now of any microscope that has that weird zoom in and out rotary dial... the last one i bought it must've fallen off the track, or the thing that stop the mechanism broke, and the camera lens ended up like... an inch inside its self.... 1:00 i looked at that video and that's a very similar type to what i had. oof.
The Tomlov DM201unit looks exactly like the MOYSUWE MDM201 and it probably the exact same.
USB 2.0 has a data throughput of 480mbps. This limits the bit rate, not the resolution. A resolution of 1920 x 1080 has a maximum bit rate of 8mbps over USB 2.0. That's not the clearest, sharpest image in the world but it's still very usable. Heck many RUclips videos are encoded at 1080p 5mbps CBR.
hi, just started to get interested in microscopes and this video was great! very informative thank you so much! you have a new subscriber :)
Thank you so much for this video. It helped tremendously to navigate the overwhelming amount of options out there.
Thank you for such an informative review, How can I get the Zeiss Axio Imager M1? Are these still available.
Hi, yes, send me an email through the microsafari.org contact page and I'll put you in touch with the right person.
@@micro_safari sent twice now - could you follow up? Thx
Superb presentation. Learned so much. Many thanks 👍👍👍
I am interested in the big microscope
You have left out my favorite microscope brand, Accu-Scope Inc.
My interests are doing manipulations of 3D things (splinter removal, circuit board repair, jewelry & coins) under stereo microscopes. But I'm tired being a slave to the eyepiece, so I'm considering digital. I wish you had some kind of evaluation of Dept of Field which is most important to me.
Hi! Thank you for the feedback. I'll put this into the queue for making a dedicated video on. The long story short is that depth of field is directly proportional to the working distance from the bottom of the objective to the sample plane. You get more depth of field when the objective is farther away from the sample.
@@micro_safari What fascinates me is that doctors/dentists use surgical loups that are somewhere around 2-5x that have an extreme working distance like 12-18 inches. My dentist's cost about $5k. Clearly too expensive for hobbyist, it begs the question what might be available for cheap. I also saw a video of a mineral/rock guy demonstrating different microscopes and to get a full depth of field image of a sample, they take multiple "slices" of pics at different depths and then use software to "3D imaging" them together. Results look like SEM. Familiar with 3D scanning, that application totally escaped me.
Hiii there! I'm really new to microscopy and I've purchased the Amscope B120C Binocular Compound Microscope, do you have an amazon link for the phone adapter that works with this microscope? I have extremely long eyelashes and struggle to actually see something directly through the lenses. Btw loooove your content!!!
Ahh yes. Thank you for bringing this up. I added the link in the description, but here it is too: amzn.to/3FLMMRj
These adapters don't work for all microscopes, but I can confirm this one works with my Amscope B120C.
Thanks for the very helpful video! Great recommendation.
Hey, love the video btw. What would you say the quality of the objectives and lenses are for the Amscope b120c? Thinking about buying that one, it'll be my first microscope and i really don'y want to mess up my purchase.
The quality of the objectives is pretty good for the price. That was my first microscope and I think it was a great first microscope to buy. I still use it here and there today, even when I have access to "better" scopes.
@@micro_safari Ok, thanks
Final some real video from a real microscopy expert!
Are these good enough to view mold/fungal morphology? If so, which would be best for that purpose?
Hi there!
Its hard for me to give an adequate answer without knowing what your sample setup actually looks like. Are you trying to grow mycelium on a microscope slide? Are you cutting fungal growth from an existing sample and trying to view that?
I'd be happy to jump on a call. Send me a message through the contact page at microsafari.org and I'll send you the phone number you can call at.
Have you test a TOMLOV DM401 Pro 2K Digital Microscope 24mp? It claims a 24mp which would be quite impressive. I know my nikon camera d7200 is 24mp if I remember right and you can really zoom in a lot on a picture I could only imagine a microscope. Do you have any experience with a 24mp digital microscope and how much can you see with this resolution when using a pc to zoom in on picture?
Pls Make a short pls with the best 1000x and cheapest 1000x most portable 1000x and add affiliate links
From Tunisia, how can I get one and the price?
I am looking to buy a digital microscope. I am legally blind, so a microscope with a screen or the ability to connect to a monitor is best. I am using this to view trichomes on a marijuana plant to determine the optimal time to harvest.
I have a vintage tasco. It works well.
You might be able to adapt a microphone holder as a microscope holder.
so basically it is worm compost in a glass case?
I purchased the clip on cell phone scope you recommended. Ah you didn’t mention it only works with smart phones with a single camera lens. And it came with a dead battery. Still a good video.
Hi Bob, you should be able to get it to work with a phone that has multiple cameras. With an iPhone 11 as an example, you just have to put it over one of the lenses that doesn't seem like it works at first, but then when you pinch to zoom in the camera app, the iPhone switches to using the other lens.
Also not sure if you purchased the mobile microscope through us or Amazon, but if it was through us, send us a message through the contact page at microsafari.org and we will send you a replacement. We went and checked every unit to make sure they all had battery but its possible one could have slipped through the cracks.
Very nice video. Especially, thank you for the section on surface mount PCB assembly and repair. One needs to have enough room to get a soldering iron, tweezers, and other tools in under the scope. Having stereoscopic vision for depth perception would be great, but that looks like it would make the scope much more expensive.
where did he talk about PCB repair?
What do you recommend? My life is falling apart so I’m upgrading repairing all type of broken shit I’ve accumulated over the years.
Hola Victor, Podrías mirar BR Broadridge Finantial Solutions? Like preventivo. Te veo en diferido
I am a phd scholar. I need a good cost effective microscope for identifying mosquitoes and its tissues. What will be a great microscope for this?
Hi, I just got the $25 2.0 USB one shown at 9:13 for coins, but I didn't get the drivers... I'm using a desktop without a CD player. So I'm looking for the app and drivers to make it work. Found one app but they want $17+ for drivers. So this old man is looking for help. Thx
You should just be able to open the camera app on your computer. If you already have a webcam you might need to use the button that switches to a different camera. The USB microscopes should just show up like a webcam
i want microscope price please
can the mega chonksters be delievered over seas?
Probably. Send me an email and we can work out a shipping cost for you.
I saw you had what appears to be a Carson MM-840 eFlex Digital Microscope on your table but did not review it. Any comments on it?
Are you talking about the pluggable usb microscope in the video? That and the Carson microscope you mentioned are probably just white labeled Chinese microscopes that came from the same factory. I am kind of meh about the one in the video
hi are you still in the microscope market -
Where can you buy the clip on microscope?
Be careful. Single lens phones only.
It works with some phones that have multiple lenses, but not all of them. We made a list of compatible phones on our website. That list was from a couple years ago though when we made the soil version of Micro Safari so newer phones aren't on the list. Newer phones with multiple lenses might still work even if they aren't on the list, but bob is right, some phones have sensors that try to determine which lens to use automatically and putting a mobile microscopes over that sensor will wig out the phone and it wont use the correct lens. You may be able to get around this with the non-standard camera apps off the app store
For electronics repair I use a decent spec mobile phone pinch zoomed with a 10x loupe up against the back camera and it does an ok job. Don't want anything big or expensive. Any tips on lighting? Specific phones with better cameras for that purpose? Other similar basic techniques for seeing small things but with a working space between eye and object?
What would you recommend for insect taxonomy with a video camera. I have two very old stereoscopes but would like to upgrade.
Thank you.
Check out the Labomed Z6 stereo taxonomy. That's a high quality optic stereo with built in LED top/bottom/gooseneck illumination. It's fantastic for entomology. I'd recommend an HD camera with it. Hard to beat, unless you want to spend the additional money for Nikon or Olympus.
I'm looking for a microscope just to goof around with and look at bugs and stuff. I'd love one of those chonky Zeiss microscopes, but I'm not paying even $2000 for a used one. I'm eyeing an OMAX 40X-2500X microscope on Amazon for about $500. That seems to be the brand that doctors and medical labs prefer. So if it's good enough for a medical lab, it's good enough for me...
@fredashay Hi there! I'd like to mention that OMAX is using the same Chinese manufacturers that Amscope, Euromex, Carson, and most other modern microscope brands under $1000 are using, including us. They are great microscopes, and Chinese microscopes have gotten quite good in the last few years, but just be aware that there is nothing special about the OMAX brand over others at its price point since in reality they are all made in the same factory.
@@micro_safari Thanks for the tip! I try to avoid stuff made in China, but that's nearly impossible these days unless you want to move in with the Amish, lol.
@@fredashay Haha yes, unfortunately that is the reality of economic and manufacturing consolidation and economies of scale. In any case that OMAX scope you got should be super solid and I think you'll have a great time with it!
Hi,
I need transmitted light for document verification, can I only get that with a microscope? Any other suggestions would help. Thanks 😊
What would you suggest for geology? Trying to magnify rocks.
A digital microscope with reflected light illumination through gooseneck lights
@@micro_safari Thank you, any particular one you like?
@@tutzking3318 amzn.to/37XRONL
the MDM201 should work well for your application.
Can I order micro scope
Excellent educational video on microscopes. The new digitals are marvels of technology and allow static images, moving-videos, and variable magnificationw with a turn of the focus(with minimal realignment effort) the moveable lights can be tamed by applying a pliable adhesive to the wand.
I dunno how you don't have more subscribers but I subbed after one video lol keep em coming
Thank you for the great video , I liked Amscope B120C and will buy it.