Review of inexpensive digital microscopes

[JohnTheMathGuy]

Digital microscopes don't need to be expensive. I have posted part two of my reviews of some digital microscopes that can be had for under $100.

http://johnthemathguy.blogspot.com/2017/01/comparison-of-inexpensive-digital_12.html

 

[Deleted member 16349]

Gordon, you have some competition regarding inexpensive microscopes. As far as I can see, the images of dots you had shown, quite a while ago, seem to be of better quality and higher magnification than Johnthemathguy's images (part 1, on blog).

I had a quick look at your and John's microscopes and I don't think they were the same but I could be wrong. Hope you can comment. A microscope sure seems like a good tool for printers and others who want to get a close look at things.

 

[gordo]

Gordon, you have some competition regarding inexpensive microscopes. As far as I can see, the images of dots you had shown, quite a while ago, seem to be of better quality and higher magnification than Johnthemathguy's images (part 1, on blog).

I had a quick look at your and John's microscopes and I don't think they were the same but I could be wrong. Hope you can comment. A microscope sure seems like a good tool for printers and others who want to get a close look at things.

The (20x - 200x) USB microscope I use cost me about $60 about 10 years ago (see attached). It seems similar to John's however the intensity of the LED light on mine can be adjusted from 0% to 100% (his can't). Also, mine has a clear plastic snoot which makes focussing easier - and external lighting if needed. I've also marked mine so that I can align the angle of view of the microscope.

You can see samples of different printing methods viewed with my scope here:
http://the-print-guide.blogspot.ca/2010/08/how-was-it-printed-simple-ways-to.html

You can see samples of how I use the scope in this thread:
https://printplanet.com/forum/press...ent-excessive-dot-gain-tvi-on-all-units/page2

From what I can tell the phone camera attachment is better than nothing but a proper scope is so relatively inexpensive and so valuable for the shop that IMHO there is no reason not to have one.

 

[Deleted member 16349]

The (20x - 200x) USB microscope I use cost me about $60 about 10 years ago (see attached). It seems similar to John's however the intensity of the LED light on mine can be adjusted from 0% to 100% (his can't). Also, mine has a clear plastic snoot which makes focussing easier - and external lighting if needed. I've also marked mine so that I can align the angle of view of the microscope.

You can see samples of different printing methods viewed with my scope here:
http://the-print-guide.blogspot.ca/2010/08/how-was-it-printed-simple-ways-to.html

You can see samples of how I use the scope in this thread:
https://printplanet.com/forum/press...ent-excessive-dot-gain-tvi-on-all-units/page2

From what I can tell the phone camera attachment is better than nothing but a proper scope is so relatively inexpensive and so valuable for the shop that IMHO there is no reason not to have one.

Thanks for providing great photos for us. Pour nous photos.

 

[curiosity]

No Title

I've had the Beta ColorViewer III for several years. An invaluable tool for me. For some reason our pressmen are not impressed. Can't figure out why (sarcasm).

Check out attached pics.
Setup time is about 30 seconds, and now I can share what I see rather easily. Well....almost what I see. I did enhance the 25x shot, but not the 100x.

I also got the microshot thingy that Gordo uses, but I haven't had much luck with it. Occasionally worked okay for me. And setup time is longer. So I reverted to the cellphone setup.

Maybe someday I'll further enhance those bad-ass dots to landscape pics. Maybe then the pressmen will be interested. NOT.