Taking decent pictures with USB Microscope

Well I'm very frustrated now, as I mentioned earlier in this thread I haven't used my Canon a whole lot since Vacation last year. Anyway, with my 18-55mm kit lens I keep getting an Error 01 for lens communication. It started a few days ago then went away, but now it's constant, lens won't auto focus anymore either. I've cleaned the contacts but no dice. My 75-200 Telephoto lens works fine. Thinking the ribbon cable inside my kit lens is junk. So until I can pony up the dough for a new lens I guess I'm done using my DSLR for coin photography. @rmpsrpms did you say you shoot Canon? Does this sound like my kit lens is junk?

Not to be completely defeated I mounted my Nikon Coolpix S33 point & shoot to see how my diffused lighting setup with an LED bulb would look. Here's the result, it's not horrible but I definitely need a better background other than black construction paper.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I think it's common for the 18-55 kit lens to have this or another problem. There are always 18-55's on eBay that need repair.

Do you need auto focus? If not there are many good manual focus options to replace your 18-55 that will give much better results.

 

I don't NEED AF, but this would be my main lens used for various things so it would be nice. I'll start checking around, maybe even a prime lens would be a good choice at this point. Will do some research and price shopping.

 

Making the camera flexible between coins and other purposes creates an additional hurdle to jump over. Usually the only solution that works well for both is the 100mm macro lens, which is not cheap.

 

If he can live without AF in a macro, why couldn't he consider a M42/PK/OM/Nikon/CY mount with an inexpensive adapter?

 

Overall, the constraints are too many:

- Walkaround camera for macro and other purposes. Need infinity focus.
- Full-coin camera. Need up to 1:1 typically for small coins.
- USB Microscope replacement. Need up to 5:1 for detail shots

Obviously, one lens won't do all of this, so some prioritization and grouping is required to make good lens choice(s).

 

I would tend to agree that trying to have an all purpose lens is not ideal. I would love to have an arsenal of different lenses but it's just not in the budget. I really can't even afford to replace this lens at the moment. Maybe I need to hold off on the coin photography for a bit til I can spring for a proper lens.

No need for AF in a macro lens for me, maybe this would be an option

 

Here is a potentially interesting option for your USB high mag replacement...

A couple posts ago you disclosed you own a 75-200mm telephoto. This lens might give you something to work with for mounting a reversed regular lens, enlarging lens, or an "infinite" microscope objective for higher mag work. If you have interest in this option we can explore how to do it.

edited to add: Hmm, I went back to the OP, and realize that taking high mag pictures may not be one of the functions you're looking for. Is this right? If so, then perhaps you're not all that constrained after all. Are you only looking at taking full-coin pics?

 

Wow, I had to look that up as I'd never heard of it. Interesting technique, although my main reason for doing this is for full coin photos and I'm thinking this might give me too much magnification. Something to think about anyway I suppose. BTW, thanks for the help and insight so far. As I stated before I'm not new to photography but new to close up photography.

 

OK, then if you take 5x off the table, and are willing to do MF, then something like a 55mm f/3.5 Micro Nikkor may be your best bet. On its own it can go to 0.5:1, but adding a PK13 or M2 extension will take you to 1:1. This would give you a replacement for the non-working 18-55 (but fixed at 55) that would go to 0.5:1 for walkaround, or up to 1:1 with a quick addition of the PK13.

 

If willing to forgo AF, and a simple adapted macro would suffice, you've a lot of very affordable options. Due to the fact that Canon's EF/EF-S flange distance is smaller than a number of other mounts, you can quite easily adapt to your camera. The below link lists the most common mounts. Those with a larger flange distance may be possibilities if wishing to use the lens for other purposes, but if only for macro you're not going to need infinity, so other mounts can/may be useful as well. Just be sure you understand what you're getting into in regards to those with shorter flange distances.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flange_focal_distance

Considering you're on a budget, perhaps it would be wise to consider lenses not bearing one of the major names. There are many lenses by third party makers/vendors that offer excellent optics for little money compared to their counterparts, and in some cases are every bit as good or better (just because a lens has a brand name on it, this doesn't necessarily mean they made it).

Since lenses in the 100mm range have been mentioned, Kiron produced a 105mm macro that is very well regarded and is available under different names such as Lester Dine (105/2.8), Vivitar Series 1 (105/2.5), and as Kiron (105/2.8) among others. However, the same lens was also sold as a Vivitar 100/2.8 Macro and can usually be had at a significant discount to the aforementioned.

There are also 90mm macros made by Tokina (also sold as Vivitar), Sigma, and Tamron that are quite plentiful, some MF and other versions with AF.

There is also a 100mm 3.5 AF macro (native 1:2 or 1:1 with the accessory) available in EF mount produced by Cosina and sold under a number of different names. While the build quality supposedly leave much to be desired, word has it the optics are pretty good. I mention this mostly due to the AF and the fact it's available in your mount, but if you can live MF and are willing to adapt there are certainly better options. Again, and just as a start if wanting to look more into this, below is a link.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/cosina-100mm-f1-3-5-mc-makro.html

Considering your camera is APS-C and the Micro Nikkor 55/3.5 (which itself is far from costly) has been mentioned, perhaps consider the Vivitar (Komine-made) 55mm 2.8 macro which offers native 1:1 without the need for tubes. It seems fairly well regarded and I've seen them go for as little as $20-$30 on goodwill. Here's a little more info if you'd like to look into it...

https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/vivitar-55mm-f2-8-1-1-macro.html

Either way, I fail to see how you wouldn't be significantly better off that you are now.

Since I mentioned goodwill, perhaps I should address potential concerns with buying from such a venue. The key is to be patient and use a little common sense regarding condition. Shipping is often very costly and some vendors do not take returns, but if one is careful it's really a great option. I regularly scan their listings and have had very good luck with them.

 

Thanks for the very detailed response, I have much to consider and quite a few options to think about. I've had sigma lenses before and never had a complaint, never had a Tamron though.

 

I just realized I have 2 more lenses, but they are Nikon F mount for my Film SLR, I can't remember what the heck they are so I'll have to look when I get home, maybe an adapter is all I need.

 

Manual or AF? If manual, it's a cakewalk and can be done for peanuts with a simple dumb adapter. However, if AF it may depend on the lens. If I recall correctly, AF-D lenses have a classic aperture control ring on the lens, but if aperture control is needed, adapting may be somewhat more difficult. Off the top of my head, I'm not sure if there is an adapter that will allow for the control of a Nikon lens' aperture, but there are adapters with built-in aperture. Unfortunately, experiences seem to vary as to how useful this actually is (at least regarding adapted Minolta AF glass).

 

Could a fellow whose eyes seem to get worse by the day hook up one of these to his laptop and simply magnify his coins for personal viewing?




PrevNext
5X-500X 2MP 8-LED Zoom Digital USB Microscope Endoscope Windows 7 & 8 & Mac
SKU: UBW500X02MP
Availability: In stock
Regular Price: $159.96
Special Price $79.98
Quick Overview

• Offers 5X-500X Magnification ratio, captures 2MP still images, streams live video

• Ultra-clear image processing technology provides excellent image and video quality

• Compatible with Windows 7 & 8 and Mac OS (driver free). This is NOT compatible with Windows 10.

• User-friendly software provides advanced editing, processing and measuring features

• Metal stand and built-in white light 8-LED ring light

 

Sure could...I've had a dino scope since they came out....love it!

 

Such things have been discussed many times in the past, so you may want to consider searching out such threads. In particular, DesertGem has often addressed the shortcomings/pitfalls of such things, and the insight he's offered is worth the effort to locate. I had a "USB microscope" some years ago and found it to be mostly worthless for both viewing and especially for photos. Even with my less than stellar vision, simply using a quality loupe was significantly better for basic viewing.

That said, the ones Paddy mentioned seem better than most, but isn't something I'm personally familiar with.

 

I purchased a dino light which I believe to be top of the mark, that said....I use mine more so for varieties than photos. Coins larger in diameter than a quarter don't image well. I will say that I personally have no issues with a scope. And it has severed me well for like 15 years.

 

Thanks, Paddy, for taking the time to clarify.

 

I like using my canon with a copy stand for taking quality pics of my coins. I do however have a little Celestron usb microspope and I have used it for getting extremely closeups of parts of a coin. Works pretty good. Not magnificent quality as my canon, but serves its purpose.