Microscopes and Microscope Accessories
Question: “What microscope do you use?”
This is the #1 question that people often ask on TikTok and Instagram. To answer that question, I created this page.
If I sent you here, welcome and thanks for stopping by! Here are the makes/models of the two microscopes that I own, along with the camera I use to take photographs. Hopefully you find this informative!
Microscope #1
Manufacturer: AmScope
Model: SM-4TZ-144A
Type: Greenough stereoscopic
Maximum Magnification: 225x
The feature that I use the most on this microscope is the multi-pivot boom-stand. The configuration is critical to getting just the right angles in my photos. This scope comes with 10x/20 eyepieces, and two different barlow lenses, a 0.5x and 2.0x. With an adjustable objective lens from 0.7x to 4.5x, this leads to an out-of-the box range from 3.5x to 90x magnification (10x eyepiece * 2x barlow * 4.5x objective = 90x). I upgraded the eyepieces to a pair that is 25x, which give me a maximum magnification of 225x.
This model also comes with a 144 LED ring light with control box, and a has a mount for a camera.
Microscope #1 Optics
With the default included optics from above, I could only achieve a maximum of 90x magnification. To get more “zoom” out of this scope, I upgraded the eyepieces from the default 10x to 25x, a 2.5x improvement over stock.
Manufacturer: AmScope
Model: EP25X30E
The downside to using the 25x eyepieces are a decreased field of view. The original 10x eyepieces have a 20mm FOV, whereas the 25x only have a 9mm FOV.
Microscope #2
Manufacturer: AmScope
Model: ME580TA-PZ-2L
Type: Metallurgical
Maximum Magnification: 800x
This microscope compliments the first one. The total magnification of this microscope is almost 4x more than the first microscope, which allows me to take even more detailed photographs. It has fixed magnification intervals so it doesn’t have as much flexibility compared to #1. It does have an objective platform that can be moved in X-Y directions with knobs, and also a coarse and fine adjustment knob for the focus which makes dialing in what you want to look at super easy.
In addition to the increased magnification, this microscope also has superior illumination, thanks to its design. The black box on the back contains a halogen light source which is reflected off of the object on the platform and goes back up into the eyepieces. This allows for very bright and clear pictures of the object, even at high magnifications. This microscope also has slots in the light path for filters, allowing for polarized images to be taken. For translucent objects, they light source can be switched to come from underneath to view them as well.
The microscope came with two sets of eyepieces, 10x and 16x. Depending on which objective is selected, the overall magnification changes. The objectives are all on a rotating mechanism which makes it super easy to swap between them. The objectives that it came with are 5x, 10x, and 50x. Using the 16x eyepieces with the 50x objectives allows me to see details 800x larger than normal. I can easily make out details that are only 1 micrometer wide, and some details that are even smaller. A 20x eyepiece is available that would allow me to see up to 1000x, but that might be the limit of the microscope. I’ll have to get one and see!
Camera
While my microscope does have a mount for a camera, I have found that simply holding my cellphone in front of the eyepieces yields great photos. I can move the phone around to get a slightly different angle without having to move the entire microscope, and the pictures are on my phone, ready to post to Instagram without any additional hassle.
I did purchase a camera, which is the OMAX 18.0MP microscope camera, the A35180U3. The software that this camera uses leaves me wanting more. It seems like it doesn’t fully take advantage of what the camera is capable of. The camera can also record 1080p at just under 30fps, but on the other hand my cellphone can record 4K @ 60fps, which is another reason why I opt for my cellphone camera.
This camera does have its uses though. For example, since it is mounted securely into the microscope, it could be used to take many close up shots and then stitch them together for one larger shot. Perhaps if I can automate the knobs on the side of the microscope to control the x-y movement, along with the fine focus knob, I might be able to do those types of pictures in the future.
