No More Loupe!

[woleizihan]

I replaced my loupe today with a USB microscope and I'd like to share with everyone my experience. In general, it's better in almost all perspective.

 

• You don't have to crawl on your desk, just put the nib under microscope and look at the computer screen in front of you. This is a much more comfortable position for me.
• You don't have to worry about magnification. Is 10x enough? Is 30x enough? The microscope is enough.
• Very easy to take and good quality nib pictures. Just press the button on the microscope. The microscope comes with adjustable light as well as more than enough range of focus. This works essentially like your webcam so you can even take nib videos if you like.
• Reasonably priced. I paid ~$27, compared with a ~$20 10x loupe or 30x loupe, this is a steal.

Finally, hope everyone could enjoy my recent nib acquisition taken by the microscope and hopefully, this will make your nib works more enjoyable.

 

 

[CupTea]

Interesting, I have been thinking about purchasing one. Is the one you have made by Plugable?

[woleizihan]

Interesting, I have been thinking about purchasing one. Is the one you have made by Plugable?

I think so. It's the one with a mat.

[siamackz]

A valuable suggestion. Thank you

[Honeybadgers]

I have a usb microscope as well and while it's nice, it's no replacement for a 30/60 loupe for quickly checking since a loupe doesn't need to be focused or booted up. I think they're both useful tools, but the loupe is definitely the more essential tool.

 

The hardest part about that microscope is taking a dead-on picture like this

 

 

This is not an easy picture to take or easy to see. for checking for baby's bottom, the loupe is superior.

 

Still, I really like mine and think they're a great value.

Edited January 10, 2018 by Honeybadgers

[woleizihan]

 

This is not an easy picture to take or easy to see. for checking for baby's bottom, the loupe is superior.

It's actually quite easy for mine. The microscope has an adjustable neck and I just have to put the pen in a pen cup, pull the microscope towards the nib and try to adjust focus.

 

 

I agree that loupe is good for checking the nib quickly. However, the bootup time for microscope is instant if you have the software installed. And for a loupe you still have to adjust focus by positioning your eyes, it's just a different procedure. Personally, both my eyes and neck feel much more comfortable looking at the big picture on the screen as opposed to look through the loupe.

Edited January 10, 2018 by woleizihan

[sdbruder]

a link to the usb microscope?

[woleizihan]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XNYXQHE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

This is the one I bought. I think it's pretty basic and the software is also bare bone but it works for me.

[PAKMAN]

Wow that looks great, I may have to try one of those!

[minddance]

Yea, this is the way I should be heading.

[praxim]

Something which has a direct function while also serving as a third hand always appeals to me. Not yet though. As already mentioned, a loupe is quicker to use. Otherwise the hand-saving function is served for me by an optivisor which is also quick and convenient. The unappealing thing about the digital microscope is trying to do something with what you are examining, other than look at it. I find it non-intuitive to handle one thing while looking at a picture of it to the side, and if one is only looking at it then a loupe is a perfectly good bit of equipment, the quickest available.

[Honeybadgers]

It's actually quite easy for mine. The microscope has an adjustable neck and I just have to put the pen in a pen cup, pull the microscope towards the nib and try to adjust focus.

 

 

I agree that loupe is good for checking the nib quickly. However, the bootup time for microscope is instant if you have the software installed. And for a loupe you still have to adjust focus by positioning your eyes, it's just a different procedure. Personally, both my eyes and neck feel much more comfortable looking at the big picture on the screen as opposed to look through the loupe.

That shot is not a good one for telling baby's bottom. I think if you want to really make the most of the microscope, you should get a small hobby/panavise.

 

I don't disagree that it's a phenomenal tool. But it's not as simple as you make it out to be, when held against a loupe for quick checks while you are tuning, stubs in particular.

 

They're both useful, but a loupe is 1/4 the cost and takes up no space and can't break, so it's definitely the first tool. A scope is for those of us more into the hobby, just like an ultrasonic cleaner would be.

 

I have one of these same inexpensive Chinese microscopes, and I use a panavise to great effect, but when I'm tuning, the loupe is the tool of choice. I think we mostly don't buy powerful enough loupes. I have a 30x/60x, most are in the 15-30 range. I highly recommend the higher magnification, far less eye strain, magnification is similar to the pictures you posted.

Edited January 10, 2018 by Honeybadgers

[Driften]

Thanks I was wanting to get one of these but was unsure of which one. This one seems fine for the price from your pics.

[Honeybadgers]

Basically all of 'em are just fine. Just make sure you get one that doesn't require a minidisc for drivers. The one I got had the driver software online and was easy to install, works through the windows webcam.

[Driften]

I bought the Plugable one in the link above and really like playing with it.

[BentNibs]

I have several for my business. They don't allow me to go near them...there is a lot of ohhh let me see what this looks like under there...ohhh what about this? Wow..i never knew that would look like that...lets try this....

 

They are awesome, when you can see every fiber of a piece of paper or every strand of cotton on a rag it gives you a different perspective on things. For pens i have looked at my writing etc and the output tells you alot about the pen, paper and your writing.

Congrats on your purchase!

[woleizihan]

I've done a couple of nib tuning with it and I'm still pretty happy with mine obviously. Now I have the microscope mounted on my monitor stand so whenever I need it, I just pull it towards the nib. I also plan to buy an LED craft light mat to replace the mat it comes with because I noticed the microscope underperform without good ambient light source.

[thx1138]

This forum is a bad influence on me.

I had to buy one of these after seeing the images.

[praxim]

While I will probably get a version of a USB microscope eventually, for now I have doubled down on loupes, buying a 7x and 20x from Edmund Optics (NJ) to go with my 10x Belomo and 14x B&L (and 3x plastic watchmaker's eyeglass).

 

The EO loupes came with a quality resolution chart, comprising a plastic card with 1 mm lines at 1mm spacing, plus a "1951 USAF Test Pattern Groups 0-3". Comparisons on this were interesting. I might find a more loupe-related thread in which to write about it.

[ac12]

It is just another tool in the toolbox: loupe, magnifying glass, OptiVisor, USB microscope, stereo microscope, etc.

A good craftsman will pick the appropriate tool for the job and the situation.

There is no "one tool that will do everything." Or as the saying goes, "jack of all trades, master of none."

 

It is on my shopping list to add to my toolbox.

 

For me, my computer and my workbench are in 2 different parts of the house.

So I would have to setup my laptop to use the USB microscope.

Not quite as convenient to use, as your setup.