Microscope imagers or minicams?

[SheffieldLass]

I've been using my microscope a great deal recently for identifying in particular those pretty but difficult Hygrocybes, but it is worsening a neck/back condition I have. I'm very keen to get a microscope imager/minicam which would allow me to view pictures real-time on my computer screen instead of squinting down the eye piece, and which would also allow reasonably accurate measurment and capturing still pictures. I've done a web search for reasonably priced ones and have come across one by Celestron and two by Brunel Microscopes. It also seems that people have made their own using webcams. Have any of you used these or similar ones and are they any good? Also if you have any DIY tips I'd be keen to hear. I'm not after impeccable pictures (though that would be nice!), but something user friendly, reasonably priced and up to the job.

My microscope is a robust but basic monocular Zenith Ultra 400L Advanced Student.

Thanks ....

[Chris Yeates]

hi SL and welcome to WAB fungusworld . . .

can't comment directly except to say that I've always found Brunel very helpful - they even steered me away from a more expensive microscope I was considering buying from them as a they assured me a less expensive one would do just as good a job for mycological use
they are happy to answer queries before you buy anything

I am not related to them in any way! honest

good luck

Chris
(also in Yorkshire!)

[kiltoncomp]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

I've been using my microscope a great deal recently for identifying in particular those pretty but difficult Hygrocybes, but it is worsening a neck/back condition I have. I'm very keen to get a microscope imager/minicam which would allow me to view pictures real-time on my computer screen instead of squinting down the eye piece, and which would also allow reasonably accurate measurment and capturing still pictures. I've done a web search for reasonably priced ones and have come across one by Celestron and two by Brunel Microscopes. It also seems that people have made their own using webcams. Have any of you used these or similar ones and are they any good? Also if you have any DIY tips I'd be keen to hear. I'm not after impeccable pictures (though that would be nice!), but something user friendly, reasonably priced and up to the job.

My microscope is a robust but basic monocular Zenith Ultra 400L Advanced Student.

Thanks ....

i bought a similar one to the celeston, while it was ok for some things i could not get a good enough focus from it to display the spores with enough sharpness/detail,
it has now been disposed of and i am awaiting delivery of a conventional one to which i hope to fit a microsope eyepice camera,
just hope ive made the right choice this time

hope this is of some help to you,

Brian.

[NickCantle]

Good evening SheffieldLass. No need to ask where you're from Welcome to WAB by the way. Please stick around!

I too found myself asking this question a short while ago, and upon recommendation from FungiJohn (A very knowledgeable moderator of this website) I decided to look at the Bresser USB Microscope. I'm not sure of the exact name, but I think it's something along the lines of 'Bresser Microcular PGA-II'.

It came with software, but I'm unable to comment on it due to it not being Mac compatible. However, I managed to wangle it by downloading a compatible Mac driver which works very well. My images aren't amazing, but they're clear enough to show defining features of spores and microscopic details. It retails no higher than £65 I think, which is much cheaper than some of the Brunel ones. I'll probably take the plunge for a Brunel one day, but for now, this'll do. I use a Brunel Westbury SP40 Binocular

Here are some examples for you to look at and make of what you will,







It produces images of a standard size (640x480 I think) but I generally reduce the size to retain sharpness.

Nick

[Chris Yeates]

hi Nick

while I know the site is about ALL mycology it's nice to see, occasionally, some (good) microphoto's . . .

Chris

[SheffieldLass]

Your speedy replies have been really useful. I'd not come across the Bresser Micro Ocular, but it looks identical to the Celestron, but is quite a bit cheaper.

Seems from your experiences that the Bresser Micro ocular 640x480 pi (thanks for the photos Nick, they are proof of what these systems are capable of, in the right hands!), or the Brunel's 1.3 mpi would do the job ... the higher resolution was tempting though could I really justify the considerable extra cost for the higher resolution? ... Rang Brunel's (thanks Chris for that advice!) and it turns out the price for the higher res one has dropped by £35 so I think that clinches it ...

Brian, I can sympathise with you on not getting the choice right first time ... I opted for a microscope that didn't have the focusable condenser lens for oil immersion capability, and the other only cost about £15 more ... now kicking myself, though I guess it is upgradeable. So I wanted to get this bit of kit right ....

Nick ... those photos are excellent quality. Out of interest, what magnification were you using on your microscope for those? I do like the appearance of asci spores, very photogenic.

Now we just need it to stop raining and the ground to dry a bit to get those fungi popping up again in earnest.

Melanie

[NickCantle]

Using the x60 objective on those Melanie Thank you

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Seems from your experiences that the Bresser Micro ocular 640x480 pi (thanks for the photos Nick, they are proof of what these systems are capable of, in the right hands!), or the Brunel's 1.3 mpi would do the job ... the higher resolution was tempting though could I really justify the considerable extra cost for the higher resolution? ... Rang Brunel's (thanks Chris for that advice!) and it turns out the price for the higher res one has dropped by £35 so I think that clinches it ...




Melanie

Melanie
Exacltly which product are you getting from Brunel and what was the price quoted.
Thanks
Mal

[SheffieldLass]

Mal
The 1.3 megapixel minicam ... £124 inc VAT. Their website had it listed at £160 inc VAT.

Melanie

[flaxton]

Thanks Melanie
Mal