Quote:
Originally Posted by JennyS  Hi Melanie - what equipment are you using for the microscope images you post?
I desperately need a microscope set-up but I don't think I'd be able to see too much with an ordinary microscope - one eye sees much better than the other, with or without glasses!
Your 'down the scope and onto the screen' set-up sounds like it could be what I need........
Jenny |
Hi Jenny
I've got a pretty basic Zenith microscope (Advanced Student series), and a down the microscope camera DCM130 (USB2.0), max resolution 1.3M pixels from Brunel. The camera is plugged into the USB port and the picture shows real-time on my computer screen. I do have a dirty great big screen, mind you, but it works almost as well on my small 15 inch lcd, but I do have to scroll the picture on that to get the extreme edges at max resolution. The picture via the camera does have murkier colours than my eye interprets direct, (compare Rob Sutton's micro photos with mine for an idea) but I see things in far greater detail on the screen than I do down the scope, and it is very relaxed viewing.
However resolution of the camera is very important. If the max is 800x600 you don't get the level of detail that would make a difference. Hence I'd suggest not less than 1.3M pixel (which gives 1280x1024) if you intend to use the screen real time for viewing. Higher than 1.3Mp has other problems, in that the processing time is longer so there is a time lag between the pic being taken and it appearing on the screen, which can make focussing difficult as you are always overshooting.
Maybe there is someone out your way with a similar set up who could do a demonstration? There is nothing like seeing for yourself what you get to know if it will suit your needs, particularly as microscopes and cameras don't quite come in the cheap category.
Cheers
Melanie