Microscopes for model building?

[peteski]

well, no .. but small SMD LEDs are still doable with my eyes [glasses off] ... for REALLY small stuff i do have an optivisor, or a camera / microscope combination that i can use [USB or battery powered]  .. plus i normally deal with HO scale stuff which is a bit larger than N scale ..

Well, you are lucky being nearsighted. It comes handy for your hobbies.  Most aging adults develop Presbyopia which is the opposite of what you have.  We have to put glasses (or Optivisor) on to see up close.

[ncbqguy]

I just did a search on Amazon for Digital Microscope and sorted it lowest time highest price.   Some of the entries are bogus prices with stupid shipping but scroll until you see a unit for $12.95 and free shipping.  It connects to your computer via USB and has a built-in light.   True, it isn’t stereo and there is little depth of field but for the money it has some utility.
Charlie Vlk

[reinhardtjh]

@peteski Do you have the "simul-focal" or the regular trionocular?  The simul-focal sounds interesting but I don't know if it would detract from the regular use by sharing the left ocular lens with the camera.

Any thoughts?

[peteski]

@peteski Do you have the "simul-focal" or the regular trionocular?  The simul-focal sounds interesting but I don't know if it would detract from the regular use by sharing the left ocular lens with the camera.

Any thoughts?

Regular trinocular.  In order to enable taking pictures the left eyepiece is disabled.  I tried it, but I have not really used that feature yet.  Back when I bough mine I don't recall AmScope even offerinig the simul-focal version.

[Snorkworth]

Miniature painter as opposed to model train guy here, but the issues are the same. Eyes are getting old and I have decided that my Magnivisor is not enough for real detail-intense painting. It seems like microscopes potentially suited to hobby work fall into two categories: (1)  stereo (aka "dissecting" or "binocular") microscopes, which I have used; and (2) digital microscopes, which I have not used. The latter are affordable at $75-150, but I worry about depth of field when trying to paint, for instance, a 1 cm deep figure (model train equivalent might be an N-gauge pickup truck). If I can only get great magnification without blurring  for a paper-thin slice of the mini it is not going to do me much good, and I would like to know what I am getting into before I buy, not after. Any advice?

[Maletrain]

There is also this: https://www.micromark.com/Micro-Mark-BrushCam

i just bought one at the Micro Mark booth in Springfield after getting my paws on one at a clinic.  They do work well to see the tip of the paint brush.  But, I have trouble seeing where that tip is located with respect to the surface where I want to apply the paint, because there is no depth perception with the screen view.  I have to watch the brush tip directly with my eye to see how far above the intended surface it is, then switch my attention to the screen to watch the X-Y moves to get the paint in the intended place.

I was also thinking that this device is a handy way to look at fine details in hard to see locations, because it has both magnification and light that shines directly on the subject.  I am a little disappointed that it doesn't focus a little closer for that off-label use, but it is still nice to have.

I have not used my stereo microscope much yet (too many macro projects with higher priority), but the depth of field is nice to have.  Of course, the depth depends on the magnification.  But, you can get replaceable eyepieces with 10x, 20x, 30x and 40x.  For instance: https://www.ebay.com/itm/256170153437 .  Getting zoom cost more: https://www.ebay.com/itm/145236348139 .

I just grabbed these examples, so don't assume they are the best, or even good deals.  Others here can probably give better specific choices and more experienced advice.

[Snorkworth]

Thanks for the detailed and informative response. Lack of depth perception problems on Micromark Brush Cam and for digital scopes worries me.

I went to the Amazon site for the Amscope stereoscope and ended up looking at a somewhat more expensive one entitled: "AmScope SE400-Z Professional Binocular Stereo Microscope." This appears to afford lots of working room for hobby work, a good field of view at 10x (but perhaps not 20x) and a good price for what one gets ($166.99 with free shipping from Amazon). There are some complaints about the LED light, instruction manual downloading and some buyers getting a European plug (not so good if one is in the USA), but the overall rating is good. If I can figure out what is going on with the plug I may roll the dice and try that one.

[mark.hinds]

So time has passed, and I'm revisiting this. 

@peteski, what do you think of these 2?  It's on sale, perhaps because it's being discontinued?  Can I wear my glasses with this?  Granted no camera port and the stand is smaller, but that saves a few hundred. 

Scope:  https://amscope.com/collections/stereo-microscopes-zoom-power/products/c-sm-1bs-48w
.5X Barlow lens:  https://amscope.com/products/sm05

MH

[peteski]

Mark,
That looks like a good deal.  I believe that all AmScope microscopes all share internal components, and the main body (sans the camera port) look the same.

As for the Barlow lens, back when I bought mine the only option was 0.5X. Now I believe they have one that is 0.65X or similar.  II think that would be a better choice. Slightly shorter working distance and more magnification.  When I use mine I have to adjust mu chair to the highest position which is a bit awkward (the scope sits a bit too high over my bench).

Regarding use of eyeglasses, I don't wear them so I have no experience, but the rubber eye cups are removable.  It might be kind of awkward to get the eyepieces lined up while wearing glasses though. I don't really know.  You should be able to remove your glasses and still adjust the focus to the optimal setting.

[Snorkworth]

So I bought an Amscope SE400-Z stereo microscope. It works, which is to say one can clearly see the miniature at a magnification much higher than an Optivisor or the equivalent. Also, it will provide enough working space and depth of field to paint miniatures (DoF was a concern with respect to the digital ones with me). While it comes with both 10x and 20x eyepieces, I cannot imagine needing the latter for painting miniatures or doing most aesthetic things one might do (i.e. painting, modifying) with respect to even z-scale trains. I have two regrets, neither of which have to do with the scope itself: (1) I waited too long, lost the good price Amazon had (around $167) and ended up paying around $202; and (2) regrettably, the microscope has revealed that viewed close up, my miniature painting sucks. I guess that is the problem one buys a stereo microscope to solve.

Regarding mark.hinds' comment, could the (more expensive) AmScope SM-1B Series be overkill? Remember, 10x magnification means 10x in each of two directions, for a total of 100x, which in this context is huge. Also, I love that the SE400-Z has the big working space in front. Regarding glasses, it would be awkward - I like to have my eyes right up against the oculars. However, I am quite nearsighted, have glasses and do not need them when using the microscope (or an Optivisor). I suppose it might be more problematic if one were farsighted.

[peteski]

. . . the microscope has revealed that viewed close up, my miniature painting sucks. I guess that is the problem one buys a stereo microscope to solve.

Exactly!  For super fine work, I do it while viewing the items I'm modeling under the microscope.  That, along with steady arms/hands allows for super precise modeling.  My hands aren't as steady as they were 20 years ago, but I developed ways to steady them while working.

[Snorkworth]

Re: The "AmScope SE400-Z Professional Binocular Stereo Microscope."

Seven months later: Wow. This has been a game changer, and I imagine it would also be a game-changer for train or military hobbyists painting very small stuff. As it turns out, even master mini-painter work looks rough when magnified under a stereo microscope (based upon my inspection of a highly "Coolminiornot" rated mini I bought from a lady in Poland). I bet Vince Venturella's stuff looks rough under the scope, and he is among the best. This is not a dig at the lady from Poland or Vince, both of whom are amazing. It is just that there is a limit to human vision, and most people don't walk around with stereo-microscopes on their head. I have been using it with the 10x ocular, which I think <???> means that the object looks 100-fold bigger because the field of view has an x axis and a y-axis (i.e. 10 x 10 = 100). My stuff looks rough under the scope as well, but worse. However, when I look at it with my unaided eye my response is "Holy S*** - I painted that?" (in a good way). My thoughts if you are contemplating buying one:

(1) Get one with a good bit of distance between the ocular and the stage so that you have room to work;
(2) My Amscope also has a light on a flexible neck, which I like; and
(3) Look up "physiologic tremor," which is normal, only matters when doing really delicate work, and believe it or not IS controllable with diet, bracing etc.

Lastly, if anyone can confirm or refute my hypothesis that 10x means a 100-fold larger object I would appreciate it.

[peteski]

I'm not a microscope expert, but have been using the stereo microscopes for many years (at work and for  hobbies). A Barlow lens you attach to the microscope's objective reduces magnification but increases the working distance. 
As for magnification, the units indicate how much larger than life-life size the object appears.  Magnification of one is life size (not magnified).  Less than one the object will appear smaller than actual. and greater than one, the object will be magnified.
10x means the object appears 10 times its actual size. If the optics are stacked, then the total magnification value is a multiplication of all the optics in the stack.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I have one of the AmScope units.

The zoom microscope head itself has a magnification range of 0.7-4.5x.
The eyepiece has magnification of 10x.

The combination of those gives you magnification range of 7-45x.
If you were to also add the 0.5x Barlow lens, then the magnification range would be 3.5-22.5x but with increased (doubled) work distance.

Good illumination is vital for working under the microscope.  A ring light provided better more even illumination than a single-source goose-neck lamp.