USB microscopes

[kchan1111]

Hi guys, I've just been reading the thread again on the old USB microscopes. It's been awhile just wondering if anyone has bought one lately and interested in any thoughts on the best one to get today.

[robbiegal]

ditto
i'd be interested to know
I gave mine (that I got from Aldi) to AJ as I didn't really use it much, but I sort of miss having one now

[runway]

Jaycar

[trout]

I haven't needed to use my USB Gizmo since I bought my DSLR camera as I can blow up the images too see all the finer details on a coin now :good:

[kchan1111]

Thanks runway. Prices look much steeper on jaycar website than lots of ebay sellers for what seems to be also lower specs?

I only have a little point & shoot pocket digital camera. Getting a fancy DSLR is too expensive for just this purpose, and too heavy to carry around on holidays for me.

[JeffH]

If you run windows 10 be aware that, with latest update, it will apparently not run usb microscopes, webcams etc. The net is awash with people asking where they can find a driver that works in Windows 10.

[Nevol]

Just some general info.

The majority of them come from the same factory in China regardless of the Brand on them or where you buy them.

I'm on my 3rd Kaiser Baas (can't get them anymore), but it was my own fault the first 2 went bung.  I kept forgetting to turn the lights off, so they overheated and something inside melted, but even so Harvey Norman eventually replaced them.

My 3rd is still going OK, one light is a bit dicky.

When ALDI had them a few years ago, both my son & I examined them as closely as it was possible in the packaging, and both of us came to the conclusion they looked exactly the same as the KB ones, just with different stickers.    

All 3 that I've had have 50x & 200x Magnification, but IMO they don't really do up to 200.

While I was waiting for Hervey N to decide whether they would replace one of mine, I was having withdrawal symptoms so I bought a 10x - 300x one from Jaycar. OMG what a nightmare!  It's so touchy to control it drove me nuts!

I still have it here somewhere, but every time I decide to have another go with it, it gets put away again quick smart, but at least I have a back up if needed.

OK, just checked and Jaycar have one on sale for $51.16, which if you want to buy in Australia, is quite reasonable:
https://www.jaycar.com.au/2mp-usb-digital-microscope-with-200x-zoom/p/QC3197

[Basil]

I'm on my 3rd Kaiser Baas (can't get them anymore), but it was my own fault the first 2 went bung.  I kept forgetting to turn the lights off, so they overheated and something inside melted, but even so Harvey Norman eventually replaced them.

No expert on these as i've only been using them for the last 4 years or so but the type like this USB Microscope work with KB software and probably came out of the same factory.They can be purchased from China/Hong Kong sellers for around $30 but are getting scarcer.
The type that dominate Ebay at the moment has the light switch on the cord instead of alongside the Red Snap button and seem inferior to the older design and won't work with KB software.  
I also the purchased the new Aldi one that was on sale last year and that has some serious grunt but a bit more finnicky to use than the tube type.Aldi Microscope
I'm using 10 anniversary and everything works,USB Microscopes,Cameras,old printers etc., but i've read the horror stories of people loosing USB connected items.A neighbour lost her printer/scanner when she updated but it was a simple fix by using a USB 2 port,for some reason the Canon S/W couldn't see the printer thru the  USB 3 port after the update.Almost anything can be made run on 10,it just takes time to set up XP or 7 compatibility mode for the printer,camera etc.

[Nevol]

The one in you first link looks fairly similar to my KB, except the snap button on mine is white and mine doesn't have the On/Off function.  Mine is turned on/off by a small wheel which turns on the 8 LED's.

Hmmm...The On/Off slide may turn out to be better than the wheel. Not sure.
Maybe others will be able to comment on that.  

I have literally flogged all of mine, as I take heaps of images. There are over 2000 images in my Gallery and I probably have about 5000 that haven't made it there yet.

That ALDI one looks nothing like the ones my son & I looked at.

My KB and Jaycar both operate from the same software.

[kchan1111]

Thanks for all the feedback!

I was thinking of something like these?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/191909237514?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121982253136?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

These seems to have much higher magnifications. What are the important specs?

- Magnification
- Resolution
- Megapixels
- Easy to adjust arms

?

[JeffH]

One says "Resolution: Up to 10 mega pixel". That probably refers to possible output with interpolation. Real resolution likely way less at $38.89 posted from Singapore. It doesn't state what the sensor resolution is and that is what really matters. I would give it a miss.

The other one states "Image/Video resolution: 640 * 480 pixels" which is likely to be true but much lower resolution that what $62.85 would usually buy now, for example the Jaycar one mentioned above.

[robbiegal]

If you run windows 10 be aware that, with latest update, it will apparently not run usb microscopes, webcams etc. The net is awash with people asking where they can find a driver that works in Windows 10.

I am having dreadful problems with google chrome running
Could Windows 10 be causing a problem with that as well by any chance?

[JeffH]

That I don't know but I do know that problems seem to be par for the course with Windows.

[kchan1111]

One says "Resolution: Up to 10 mega pixel". That probably refers to possible output with interpolation. Real resolution likely way less at $38.89 posted from Singapore. It doesn't state what the sensor resolution is and that is what really matters. I would give it a miss.

The other one states "Image/Video resolution: 640 * 480 pixels" which is likely to be true but much lower resolution that what $62.85 would usually buy now, for example the Jaycar one mentioned above.

Yeah that 640x480 worries me.

If you run windows 10 be aware that, with latest update, it will apparently not run usb microscopes, webcams etc. The net is awash with people asking where they can find a driver that works in Windows 10.

I am having dreadful problems with google chrome running
Could Windows 10 be causing a problem with that as well by any chance?

No. Been running Chrome on Windows 10 just fine for me - on more than one machine even. What issues are you having?

[Fulvio]

Could Windows 10 be causing a problem with that as well by any chance?

HOW many warnings about Win 10 being crap have we had? And still people ignore the warnings and install it anyway?