USB Video Microscope Vs Macro

[Hundred Gram Oz]

Hey all, what do you make of these USB Microscopes? I think they look great, heres a link:
http://www.firebox.com/product/2161/USB-Microscope

My 50" tv has a USB port, imagine looking at your trichs on that I think this is a gret wee tool to have. What you think?

HGO

 

[actech]

SHARPER IMAGE

SHARPER IMAGE

that looks cool. i have a similar USB microscope from THE SHARPER IMAGE. I think they work just as good as an expensive camera. Mine cost around $40 when i bought it. good luck.

 

[Space Ghost]

what is the usb port on your tv for? I have one on mine, but it is for the manufacturer to diagnose problems, not to connect devices. I think you'd have to plug it into your comp and then have one of your video outs on you comp go to the tv.

Great idea though...

 

[FreezerBoy]

The microscope only magnifies at 20x or 200x (Standard) 20x or 400x (Deluxe). It cannot magnify in between.

This strikes me as a concern. I've a BioniCam that does 100, 200 or 400 and find the 200, 400 settings useless. I much prefer the Radio Shack's 60X setting but it has no camera and is much harder to use in the garden.

 

[CannabisTHC]

I've been thinking about this recently. I've used a 400x USB micrscopes to check out trichs and it does a pretty good job. But in all honesty I want a camera that can take high quality macro pics, the USB micrscope just doesn't do it for me. If what your trying to do is determine when to chop your plant I think a cheap USB micrscope will work perfectly for what you need. But if you want high quality images of trichs then a DSLR with macro capabilities would be your best bet.

Obviously theres a big price difference between the two, trying to take macro shots depending on the gear you have already could be expensive.

 

[Hundred Gram Oz]

what is the usb port on your tv for? I have one on mine, but it is for the manufacturer to diagnose problems, not to connect devices. I think you'd have to plug it into your comp and then have one of your video outs on you comp go to the tv.

Great idea though...

I can hook up a usb to look at photos with the usb port, hopefully it work with the video microscope, if not then I'll hook it up to my laptop > TV.

I've been thinking about this recently. I've used a 400x USB micrscopes to check out trichs and it does a pretty good job. But in all honesty I want a camera that can take high quality macro pics, the USB micrscope just doesn't do it for me. If what your trying to do is determine when to chop your plant I think a cheap USB micrscope will work perfectly for what you need. But if you want high quality images of trichs then a DSLR with macro capabilities would be your best bet.

Obviously theres a big price difference between the two, trying to take macro shots depending on the gear you have already could be expensive.

I hear ya man, for myself I'd just want to see what stage I'm at and for out of interest to see how yummy they look. I think the microscope is a great deal, lol you should see what I'm using at the moment.....Discovery Channel's kids toy microscope.

 

[master shake]

I would recommend you stay away from that. At work we have some exactly like that, same specs (1.3mp 20-200x zoom) called the Luxo Midas http://www.luxous.com/product/midas-526.aspx

Trust me the 1.3 megapixel is not enough. I brought one home, hooked up to my computer and tried to look at some trichs. Wish I took a still shot, I would show you how crappy the image looks. You might be able to tell if the trich is amber vs cloudy/clear but it's all pixelated and horrible color translation.

 

[rick shaw]

If your in the DIY mood.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-USB-Digital-Microscope-in-60min-15/

 

[StealthDragon]

I went out and got a 30$ usb microscope from toysrus today and I'm loving this thing. It kinda sucks that it's usb only...powered by usb and no view screen. It shows live video/images on your PC.

Pretty much the same specs that mastershake mentioned; 1.3 mp with 20x or 200x Here's some sample shots of some dried buds:

20x


200x

quality looks pretty damn good to me for 30 bones. It also has it's own leds with different color settings...white, white/red, white/orange,white/red/orange, none. like I said it needs to be plugged into usb to work, but maybe there's a way to hook it up to a phone or something.

I'm also going to figure out a way to do some macro timelapse with this thing (my pc is right next to my grow) ..maybe just a simple screenshot program that takes a pic every few seconds, then compile them into a video...seems easy enough.

I hope this saves someone a few bucks...I just got this thing but so far it's one of the coolest things I've ever bought. oh btw it's a "eduscience handheld digital usb microscope"



I also have a 42" hooked up to my pc...

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

Huh. That's 200x? I just bought a usb microscope that goes to 2000x. Maybe it's not the most useful for mj, but it still should be fun! I've always wanted to DIY phlebotomy.

 

[RoachClip]

HGO that's close to the one I picked out at amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-443...roscope/dp/tech-data/B001UQ6E4E/ref=de_a_smtd