DIY Microscope

[Barmaley]

I got more than a dozen of optics from older photo and video cameras. While I was paying for them hundreds of dollars then they are useless now. I wonder, is it possible to pry them apart and use lenses to make a microscope to see my knives edges?

 

[Glenn Goodlett]

May work if you need a new hobby but, a cheap WiFi microscope is less than $50.

 

[UncleBoots]

Cheap WiFi microscopes are useful, but they can in no way match what you get with high-quality optics and large lenses.

 

[Barmaley]

Thank you Glan, but I bought a cheap microscope. First the lenses are made of plastic and it is designed to watch bacteria and not blades. They provided some slides which I am not interested.

The lens on my cameras were very expensive and high quality. I know that nobody is interested in 35mm cameras any more of 4 MP cameras which 20 years ago were $1500. I am sure that it would be possible to make a nice tool to see blades if I get knowledge on how to do it. I was surprised that where were not advice since on this forum there are many very smart and educated people,

 

[bhb1034]

you can definitely make a working magnifier, you will just have to take the lenses apart and play with different combos to get something to work. the reason thetes no write up on the interwebs is because each lens has a different focal length and it would be impossible to say what would work bc those focal lengths aren't published anywhere. Also, high end zoom lens could contain 20+ individual lenses. If they arent worth anything, go for it, its fun to tear up expensive shit sometimes

 

[eKretz]

Not worth it. You won't know any of the focal lengths of the individual lens elements once disassembled. They can be measured with the correct instruments and focal length can be calculated but you also don't know what the coatings on the glass are or which lenses are aspheric, etc. All of those things affect focal length and chromatic aberration, etc. That will make it very difficult to figure. Trying to find a coherent assembly will be a royal pain in the butt.

IMO, you'd be way better off selling the lot for whatever you can get and buying an old surplus reflected light metallurgical microscope.

 

[Barmaley]

Thank you eKretz. Seems that you know the staff you are talking about. About focus length. Is not is easy to to measure be focusing the Sun's light and measure the distance between the lens and focal point? I understand the importance of geometry of the lens (aspheric) but that is the significance of coating for the microscope lens? I may not be able to built a microscope but it is very educational anyway.

 

[not2sharp]

Vintage optical microscopes are easy to come by. The dissecting scopes work best, but the biological scopes will work as long as you can provide a light source.

n2s

 

[eKretz]

Thank you eKretz. Seems that you know the staff you are talking about. About focus length. Is not is easy to to measure be focusing the Sun's light and measure the distance between the lens and focal point? I understand the importance of geometry of the lens (aspheric) but that is the significance of coating for the microscope lens? I may not be able to built a microscope but it is very educational anyway.

No, the focal length needs to be precisely measured and lens elements set proper distance apart and dead coincident to each other or you'll have lots of issues. Problems in these areas can result in fuzzy edged images, images not flat (in focus) across the field of view, etc.

The coatings can block or help transmit certain frequencies of light through the lens, depending on the coating material and how thick the coating is. Different frequencies of light have different focal lengths through the same lens.

 

[Titanium]

You could try: Reverse Lens Macro Photography

Reverse Lens Macro Photography: A Beginner's Guide

Discover a cheap, easy way to create gorgeous macro photos: reverse lens macro photography. We share everything you need to get started!

digital-photography-school.com

Reverse Lens Macro - How to Make Macro Photos with "Backward Thinking"

Occasionally a little “backward thinking” can be a good thing, especially when it comes to coming up with an economical way to do macro photography. Sure, you can shell out a few hundred dollars for a nice macro lens. You might give extension tubes or bellows a try, or even buy some closeup...

digital-photography-school.com

Reverse Lens Macro Photography - Intro and How To Guide

Hemant offers quick tips and techniques for shooting extremely close macro photographs without buying any new gear at all!

casualphotophile.com

Secrets of macro photography using reverse lens technique

A complete macro Photography guide for reverse lens technique. A complete guide to set up reverse 50mm lens to do macro photography.

shutterstoppers.com

You need no new lens just an adapter.

 

[jeepin]

You can always take out the lenses and start a monacle manufacturing business. LoL