usb microscope

Wyrmypops

Wyrmypops

New member
Anyone used one?

I just became aware these exist. A nifty lil gadget one plugs into the computer. Amongst their uses, they're purportedly useful for getting pics of collectables like our mini's.

Seems like a possible worthwhile purchase. Getting a camera good enough to zoom in to the level we need can require a camera of such a quality they're not exactly the ones found on the cheap page of listings. Even owning one, something like this could still be a worthwhile, I know I don't much enjoy monkeying around with tripods and all that toot. These ikkle things appear to be going for £30-50, so ain't priced out the range of many of us eh.
 
PegaZus

PegaZus

Stealth Freak
I've got one, ostensibly for sculpting really really tiny fish. It hasn't really turned out that well, but I haven't spent a whole lot of time working with it either. One of the big problems is that it's got a single plane of focus, so it's really hard to see what I'm doing.

I'm not sure how useful it would be to take very close up shots, either. Close up shots of the paint grain don't provide that much additional info over what a modern camera would. Still, plan to play around with it some more.
 
D

daGoz

New member
I have one of these kicking around somewhere. I can't say it was fantastic (it is very old so things may have changed), it required a LOT of light and even then the 640 * 480 pics were fairly dark, grainy and noisy.
It was neat to show the kids what a mosquitos nose looked like and such, but on the whole it was really just a toy.
A quick search shows that there are some new ones that let you use your 5MP+ camera with them, but then you are buying a pretty good camera anyway so you could dispense with the microscope. And the native resolution is still only 640 * 480 with out a good camera so the pics wouldn't be any too usefull for CMON and such. And they carry a $360 price tag, with which you could get a pretty decent actual camera with and be able to take holiday pics and such with as well.
BUT thats just my opinion, they may be just what you are looking for.
 
L

Legacy Account

Active member
I'd say it'd be quicker to just flush your 30-50 quid down the bog.

Image quality will be non-existent and you'll need masses of light. You'd be better off using the camera in your phone.
 
Wyrmypops

Wyrmypops

New member
Yeah, I got convinced to shake the idea of them as appropriate. Got enchanted by the idea of having a camera set up that didn't take up much room and had the power to get a decent macro shot. These just don't fulfil the latter. C'est la vie.

Perhaps one day a painting geek will cross the road into nerddom and make an ikkle usb camera with its own led lighting and mini tripod, designed for our needs instead of general use so keeping the cost down. An odd dream perhaps, but it's better than the one about being chased by zombie sheep.
 
A

aon14

New member
Not quite what you wanted, but a coupla thoughts:

I recently bought a canon sx110is second hand.
You can use it tethered to a pc via USB.
Transfers pictures to the pc immediately so I can review, alter setup and repeat.
It's a pretty handy setup for me since I'm rubbish at taking pictures.
BTW not all canons will work like this and the sx120is eg definitely doesn't.
(Maybe that's a firmware issue and I noticed that topic on hacking firmware ).

Anyhow.
Setup:
http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w352/aon14/MiniaturePhotography/Remote_Capture_Setup.jpg
Screen capture
http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w352/aon14/MiniaturePhotography/Remote_Capture_Screen.jpg
Result
http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w352/aon14/MiniaturePhotography/Remote_Capture.jpg

You can also buy wi-fi enabled sd cards.
They can be set to send pictures to your pc as you take them.
Whilst that gives you immediate transfer and flexibility of location you (obviously) would still then have to walk from your garage or wherever over to your computer.

Aren't the foundry pictures done on a scanner?
Mine produces washed out rubbish pictures but maybe that's just an issue of type of scanner.
Scanning the things would be pretty convenient if you could get it to work.
 
Necroghast

Necroghast

New member
I had one, it was fun but I don't think it'd be very useful for taking pictures of miniatures. I'd take some test shots for you but I dont even know if I still have it.
 
Tercha

Tercha

Member
I dont have one, though I am in the market for a camera now.. and looking at the olympus medical range.....
 
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