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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 10, 2011 15:24:00 GMT -5
Does anyone have any experience with, or know of someone who has one of these ? www.carsonoptical.com/Pocket_Microscopes/Pocket_Microscopes/MM-640I'm thinking of buying one, to try out on micro specimens. I've read pages of reviews on this item. Many were very positive, and for the most part the negative reviews can be put down to people not properly reading and following the instructions. One review was especially interesting. The guy wanted to take detail pics of areas on larger specimens. He modified an old Dremel model 210 drill press to hold the digital microscope, giving him more control of the microscope over the specimen. Just happens that I have one of the old 210 drill presses out in the garage, gathering dust and spiders. If anyone has any info about these digital microscopes, I'd sure like to hear from you. ---- Don
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 10, 2011 16:35:03 GMT -5
Geoff, That's what I like about this thing. I can capture images on my PC for editing, then I can post them to sites like this one. In their add, they show a button on top of the unit that is used to capture images. This could cause movement while capturing the image. What they failed to say is that a mouse click will also capture an image. The camera will accept a 2 GB memory card. Easy to capture images while editing on the PC screen. Then remove the memory card, and put it in the card slot on my PC for uploading.
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Post by parfive on Oct 10, 2011 16:40:42 GMT -5
Jake – I’ve got one sitting right here on my desk. Xmas present from the wife two or three years ago.
Lazy ass me has never used it. The one I’ve got is branded Sharper Image, but it’s the Carson unit.
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 10, 2011 16:53:55 GMT -5
Man, how do you do it ? I couldn't stand to let a new toy sit around without playing with it.
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Post by parfive on Oct 10, 2011 16:55:07 GMT -5
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 10, 2011 17:31:56 GMT -5
Must be nice to be able to afford all of those fancy cameras and things.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 10, 2011 17:55:00 GMT -5
Don:
I got a similar one last Christmas. They typically go from 1X to 10X and are a heck of a lot of fun.
A few things to look out for. (1) You need a microscope style base to zoom in. You will never hold the microscope steady enough (even at 10X) without it. (2) Mine has a built in LED light which is needed for most applications, but no good for cabs. All my cab photos refelct the three high-intensity LED lights in every photo. I can not switch the light off. Grrr!
Darryl.
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 10, 2011 18:14:21 GMT -5
Hey Darryl, this one has 4 LED's arranged just above the removable base. From what I understand, the brightness can be adjusted via the included computer program, or turned off completely. There's a zoom ring at the bottom, and a fine adjust ring at the top. If all goes as planned, it'll be mounted in an old Dremel drill press so it can be adjusted up and down as needed to fit above the specimen, and locked down to prevent movement. There's also an optional horse shoe shaped base that will allow smaller specimens. There's an optional computer program which has a high precision scale to show measurements, and allow you to draw marks and make notes right on the picture. All nice to have for micro specimen pics.
Don
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 10, 2011 20:13:58 GMT -5
Well, that was easy. I can pick up my new digital microscope on my birthday in about 14 days. I ordered the newer MM-740 model with better resolution Don
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Post by parfive on Oct 10, 2011 20:20:34 GMT -5
Ah, fiddlesticks. Had a burst of energy after twelve cups of coffee and . . . gotta find the CD-ROM. Sloppy seconds for now, Jake.
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 10, 2011 20:29:19 GMT -5
Only 12 cups ? Man, you're a light weight. I just put on my 4th pot. Hey, that's a sweet slab you have it sitting on.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,688
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 10, 2011 21:44:25 GMT -5
Only 12 cups ? Man, you're a light weight. I just put on my 4th pot. Hey, that's a sweet slab you have it sitting on. Thats called "Dakota" drinking,anything over 3 to 6 pots a day...Been there done that..LOL Nothing like a black brew!
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 10, 2011 22:09:16 GMT -5
Nah, I'm an old retired Navy guy. I was known for always having a cup in my hand. Hot, strong and black.
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Post by parfive on Oct 11, 2011 2:26:58 GMT -5
Bingo. Here’s a few quick shots. Bear in mind this thing’s just been lyin' around on a heavy smoker’s desk for almost three years, so the lens and the LEDs have got to be a wee bit crusty. ;D Zoomed out at 26x, the field of view is about 10mm. As you zoom in towards 130x, the pic gradually gets darker. About half way to 130x is still an acceptable pic. All these shots are at 26x, rough slabs, nothing polished, no editing for sharpness, brightness, etc. Beat up old wooden rule, showing 10mm FOV at 26x. Two Ocean Jaspers Laguna Two Mexican Crazy Lace
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 11, 2011 8:15:38 GMT -5
Cool. Can't wait to get mine and start playing with it.
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Oct 11, 2011 8:30:04 GMT -5
I use a Konica minolta digital camera with 12x zoom and it takes real good closeups with no other thing that putting it in macro mode with automatic settings, easy and good most of the time...but these seem to be much better
Charlie
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 11, 2011 8:52:26 GMT -5
While googling reviews on these things, I found several sites that had freeware add on programs for the camera. I'll be damned if I could find them again last night. I'll look again today, and if I find them, I'll bookmark them. I'm sure there's much more that can be done with these "toys", with the right software.
Don
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 11, 2011 11:38:30 GMT -5
Just a thought. I'll bet PVC pipe fittings would make nice light box bases for the microscope, They'd give room for larger specimens, and could be set on various colored bases for contrast. I have some 1/8" sheet PVC that could be cut to fit just like the stock base, and glued to PVC bell reducers of various sizes.
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Post by parfive on Oct 11, 2011 14:30:50 GMT -5
Jake – Post those links if you find them, I’ll be curious.
Right now, I don’t see much point in drill presses and PVC bases and whatnot. I’ll probably try setting it off a slab a little to shine more light in there, but cleaning the innards is first up. Color accuracy is not the greatest – Crazy Lace reds looking brownish – but that might be Marlboro haze. ;D
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 11, 2011 14:56:58 GMT -5
I still haven't found them. Still looking. I don't have to worry about the smoke haze. Mama won't let me smoke indoors. lol.
I want to try building a couple of optional bases to fit over larger specimens. I have a geode cut in half that besides the expected quartz crystals, has a couple of tiny sprays of metalic black looking crystals. Too small to ID, even with a loupe. I'll need to remove the stock base and raise the camera above the geode.
If I can find those programs again, I'll post the links here.
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