USB microscope camera official thread

[mytimetoshine]

Starting this thread because someone posted some really cool pictures using a USB microscope. I decided to buy one and while searching Mac supported devices I only came up with one option. The AGPtek USB 800x digital. It was available on EBay as well as Amazon. Since the price was the same I went Amazon. Shipped quick which is typical for Amazon but it doesn't work.

The Mac software doesn't work. I glanced at the reviews but didn't really read them because it could find no other options.. Well those reviews said the Mac software was bad...lol.

Anyways I'd like to see what others are using and especially if there is a Mac option.

 

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[mytimetoshine]

I would suggest using a Windows based PC then all your MAC problems will disappear.

Windows blows. Once you go MAC u never go back. Unless you can only afford a crappy PC I guess..

 

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[goldenIrishman]

Well I figured out a new little trick. I found that if I zoom in with the phone camera I can get rid of the circle around the pics. Here are the latest ones. Some of my "California CornFlakes" at 100X.









I also found a holder for the phone on E-bay that locks the phone into position over the microscope. They think of everything now days!

 

[goldenIrishman]

Playing again

This is some gold that I recovered out of some "clean" black sands I had. I ran about 3/4 of a cup through my tumbler for 24 hours with some old deep well sockets in the barrel to do the grinding. Acted like a rod mill and made the stuff like talc. When I went to classify it with my 100 mesh is fell through right away. When it came out of the grinding I panned it down and under the microscope it looked pretty nasty so I soaked it for a few hours in white vinegar to clean it up. There was a nice little pile of it in the pan but this is some I sucked up.



I sure hope that when I get the USB setup that I can get more depth on the field of focus. So now I need to build a miller table and once the black sands have been ground to this size and run on it, that will be quite enough processing for me. Anything left in it afterwards will be donated back to Mother Nature. (aka my garden) And I don't care if it is tiny. It all adds up!!!!

 

[Oakview2]

Partner beeped this out of some frozen ground in Groveland last year. Nice specie half grammer, came out good with the USB

 

[goldenIrishman]

Nice looking sample of gold still in the matrix Oak!

 

[mytimetoshine]

Just purchased the Dino Light AM 2011

135 bucks with stand, CA tax and shipping.

https://youtu.be/A-csS4QPkyc

 

[mytimetoshine]

These things go up to $1000.00

The one I bought was at the top spectrum of what I'd be willing to pay and good think too cause I couldn't really find a quality brand that supported Mac for much less. For those of you who like the idea but don't wanna spend the $ I found this:

https://youtu.be/KpMTkr_aiYU

 

[Finn]

Hi Guys

Here is an article where a professional metallurgist compares few low cost microscopes for those interested of minerals and and nuggets and stuff like that. It was very good for me at least.

Size by Size Microscopy & Optical Mineralogy -Basics - Mineral Processing/Metallurgy Research/Testing

Salud

Finn

 

[Jimmydolittle]

Here is the one I bought for $20.00:

Just purchased the Dino Light AM 2011

135 bucks with stand, CA tax and shipping.

https://youtu.be/A-csS4QPkyc

 

[mytimetoshine]

Here is the one I bought for $20.00:

Had it. Returned it. Mac software doesn't work as previously stated.

 

[goldenIrishman]

Now for something a little different. This is a shot of some "Flowered" Mercury @ 160X. The individual "balls" look like gray dust to the naked eye but under magnification you can see them for what they really are...

 

[PurpleGold]

This thread looks pretty unofficial to me

 

[goldenIrishman]

This thread looks pretty unofficial to me

Get a microscope and contribute to the thread then. A person can learn a lot about the geological makeup of the area they're working by doing so. I know I have. By sharing these pics here other can learn a thing or two as well.

 

[mytimetoshine]

This thread looks pretty unofficial to me

This guy... What have you ever contributed to the forum? Oh that right nothing..

 

[mytimetoshine]

Well it must be a conspiracy.. The Mac installation software isn't working on this one either. WTF . Too bad there arnt any members out there with with a working camera for Mac that could help me out. Just ones that can make lame negative comments apparently..

 

[goldenIrishman]

Since I'm not a Mac guy I can't tell ya Time. I've noticed that my little trick with the cell phone doesn't seem to be working nearly as well lately. I've tried to get several pics since my last post and they all came out looking like ! I'm not sure if it's the cell phone, the lighting or the scope. I moved my setup into my office and since then.... It's a shame too because I've been finding some nice looking smalls lately.

 

[mytimetoshine]

This:

How can they have this in there FAQ section but no warning on the product page. They probably need to get on that... At least there is a contact link.. We will see...

 

[winners58]

Mac OS Compatibility - Dino-lite Support
not sure what Mac OS you have 10.11 just came out in September
click the apple and select "about this Mac"

 

[mytimetoshine]

Mac OS Compatibility - Dino-lite Support
not sure what Mac OS you have 10.11 just came out in September
click the apple and select "about this Mac"

OK now I'm thoroughly confused... looks like my model the AM 2111 should be compatible...?

 

[mytimetoshine]

So I called the Dino Light tech support on my lunch break at work and they were very friendly and fixed my problem. He said my model shouldn't be affected by the software issue. He suggested it was just a bad software disk and it was! Downloaded the same exact software directly from there site and bam. Microscope is on! Gonna mess around with it a little tonight try to get a couple shots. I've been freaking waiting for like 2 months for this. Lol