Microscope

[Snub Knows]

Just get a good 10x Jewelers Loupe like a "Belomo Triplet 10x". Far more useful than those cheap pocket scopes and much easier to use.

A quality microscope worth using for trichome checking and cataloging will run you just under $200.00 with a USB imager.

Can't recommend the cheapo pocket scopes cause they are hard to use and not very good image quality.

I use a Celestron Lab Grade scope with a 2 megapixel USB digital imager in place of the optical eyepiece.

A quality Loupe will offer you far more information on your plant's state than a fuzzy off-color image from a $15.00 pocket scope. Or... You can save your money for awhile and buy something like I use! Pays for itself on the first perfectly timed harvest!

Yeah, I miss my loupe. Misplaced it months ago while medicated. It's around here somewhere, lol. But the cheapo pocket one works fine for me for now. Definitely upgrading in the near future, though. Love the pics, Goose, will definitely check out Celestron. Thanks!

[Goldengoose7]

Yeah, I miss my loupe. Misplaced it months ago while medicated. It's around here somewhere, lol. But the cheapo pocket one works fine for me for now. Definitely upgrading in the near future, though. Love the pics, Goose, will definitely check out Celestron. Thanks!

Sorry to hear that you lost your Loupe! Look at it as an opportunity to buy a BeLOMO triplet 10 this time!

I can't give that little gem enough props, it is that good for this job!

If you do decide to pick up the same rig I use, here are the actual model numbers...

Microscope:

Celestron 44104 500x Power Advanced Biological Microscope

Digital Imager:

Celestron Digital Microscope Imager

Just go to the Celestron website for more info. As I said, I got both for $170.00 with free shipping from the big online store that starts with the letter "A"

[Snub Knows]

Sorry to hear that you lost your Loupe! Look at it as an opportunity to buy a BeLOMO triplet 10 this time!

I can't give that little gem enough props, it is that good for this job!

Lol, mine WAS a Belomo! It was a replacement for the Bausch & Lomb loop I misplaced a few months before that... while medicated (haha, yes again). Bought the pocket scope cuz it was half the price and I refuse to admit that I lost another loop, lol. Anyway, Belomo is tits for sure. Huge lens on it, compared to others I've had.

[QueenTokelove]

Well I broke down and ordered a scope off the net, someone had posted a site on here earlier, glad I thought to bookmark it and ordered it from there. Cuz I don't see the post anymore..It cost 13 bucks but add shipping in there so it came out to a lil over 20 bucks. I consider it a good investment. It has 60x 100 magnification so I hope that is good. I can't wait to get up close and personal with my girls....Will post pic of it when I get it. I am so excited I am going to be hawking the mailbox......Yay!!

Btw, I did try to look for one on Radio Shack site but couldn't find the one you guys mentioned.

[HigherDrifter]

Btw, I did try to look for one on Radio Shack site but couldn't find the one you guys mentioned.

I had the same problem. You can't always count some company's websites for showing what all's available in all of their stores. I called all the stores in my area (3 of them...I think) and one of them had it in stock. Good fortune smiled upon me (again) that day; turned out to be the one just down the street from my house.

Well, you got one. It should do you fine. I don't understand why some people come down on these cheapos. I used it on my last years crop and I didn't have any problems with it. Heck, I was scopin the buds at night while they were still on the plant and I could see the trichs without too much hassle.

You only need the scope at about 80x to get a clear shot of the trich's colors. You can set the range before you look at your buds with it and then just adjust the focus accordingly once you've got the bud in the scoping view area.

[QueenTokelove]

Thanks Drifter....I am so giddy about now waiting for it to come. Now I'll be able to see those pistils and what looks like balls growing on the side of the one plants stem. Due to the holiday I prolly won't get it til Tuesday or Wednesday...

[Maer]

Balls! Post pics right away it could be a male! You don't want him bedding down your girls and impregnating them! ASAP!!!!!!!!!

[QueenTokelove]

Maer, Yes but they are on the side of the stem not where I have seen others which were between the stem and leaf. Excuse me for not knowing the proper term. I would love to post pics but everytime I try with my cell phone, they show up blurry. When my phone actually allows me to get close ups. I've tried setting them against the white wall, placing a white envelope behind them and everything. It is so frustrating. If you look at my gallery you will see what I mean. I will try to take another one of it and post under my hello thread. I don't wanna hijack this one...

[Crookedfinger]

Hey Goose,
Would you recommend the BelOMO 20x or would that be overkill? I have one of the plastic radio shack jobs and agree their a pain to use.

[TorturedSoul]

not sure why the link isn't working

Site auto-censor munched it. It's a link to a seedbank that is not a sponsor and this site has seedbanks as sponsors. Just a courtesy to the sponsors.

does the stretch continue through the entire process?

No. The stretch takes place during the first 40% of the flowering period. Which is useful to know; if you know the accurate total flowering period, you can accurately estimate the length of the stretch period while if you have kept accurate count of the stretch period you can accurately predict the harvest date. See my blog entry on the 40:60 rule for more information and some simple formulas to use.

Lol, mine WAS a Belomo! It was a replacement for the Bausch & Lomb loop I misplaced a few months before that... while medicated (haha, yes again). Bought the pocket scope cuz it was half the price and I refuse to admit that I lost another loop, lol. Anyway, Belomo is tits for sure. Huge lens on it, compared to others I've had.

When you find your loupe - or one of them, lol - tie a cord to it. And tie the other end to something you won't easily misplace. Since you've now lost two of them, I suggest...



















...a three-hole cinder-block, lmao <~TS~ RUNS FOR COVER>

BtW, that is a nice microscope/imaging setup, Goldengoose7. I used to have a decent old microscope that I got (legitimately) from a high school. Even had an oil-film lens. Lost it along with about half a truck load of other stuff during a move 20 years ago. Every now and then I'll kick myself for doing so. It was a window to another world.

[LookN2Resurch]

Im so lost. I'm a repeat, but is there any microscope that is handheld that can show Trich's like the Dino-Lite? Ive heard people have problems with celestron handhelds. Can someone who has a friend on here who has a $200 or cheaper scope that will show the Trich's post their model and images of the Trich's. I'm at the end & HAVE to be able to see, but cant. Read the cheaper LED lit one (which is 1st mentioned) was very inaccurate. The Amazon reviews are not nice about it. Some say they bought several and literally threw them away.

I'm on my 3rd scope now. I can't get even close to an accurate view. Suggestions, PLEASE? :(

[LookN2Resurch]

That looks like about 10 to 20x magnification, not 400x.

If you want something accurate and of quality for checking your trichs on a budget, just get a good 10x Jewelers Loupe like a "Belomo Triplet 10x". Far more useful than those cheap pocket scopes and much easier to use. Even the products in the under $100.00 are crap in my opinion. I tried several and returned them all before buying what I use now.

A quality microscope worth using for trichome checking and cataloging will run you just under $200.00 with a USB imager. Can't recommend the cheapo pocket scopes cause they are hard to use and not very good image quality.

I use a Celestron Lab Grade scope with a 2 megapixel USB digital imager in place of the optical eyepiece.

This is what I get with mine at the lowest power (80x). It can go as high as 500x but that is not very useful for this purpose.

Grand Daddy Purple Week 7:




Blueberry Kush Week 8



Here is my Celestron rig in action: (MacBook Pro Not Included!)



A quality Loupe will offer you far more information on your plant's state than a fuzzy off-color image from a $15.00 pocket scope. Or... You can save your money for awhile and buy something like I use! Pays for itself on the first perfectly timed harvest and the Trichome PORN shots NEVER get old!

What exact model are you using? I'm interested!

[Vapedogg223]

What exact model are you using? I'm interested!

Hey bro...you went right by it!

Sorry to hear that you lost your Loupe! Look at it as an opportunity to buy a BeLOMO triplet 10 this time!

I can't give that little gem enough props, it is that good for this job!

If you do decide to pick up the same rig I use, here are the actual model numbers...

Microscope:

Celestron 44104 500x Power Advanced Biological Microscope

Digital Imager:

Celestron Digital Microscope Imager

Just go to the Celestron website for more info. As I said, I got both for $170.00 with free shipping from the big online store that starts with the letter "A"

[Ammomac]

Hey LookN2Resurch - was that a plug-n-play on the macbook? I'm a mac user as well and recently purchased these the same models of scope/usb imager - can't seem to get the imac to interface it

M

[LookN2Resurch]

Hey LookN2Resurch - was that a plug-n-play on the macbook? I'm a mac user as well and recently purchased these the same models of scope/usb imager - can't seem to get the imac to interface it

M

I know it looks like I posted those images (they aren't), but I have done a lot of research and I can tell you some, because I have looked all over this site and I can't find information that is consistent about any specific magnification to see trichomes on the actual bud instead of assuming that the trichomes on the leaves are exactly how mature the actual buds are. First I'll say that I've looked at Amazon for reviews on the model and everyone with Macs were really upset with the software not functioning properly, or something along those lines. I do think there is a workaround for it somehow. I would definitely read the reviews just to kind of get an idea so that you can communicate with people who are trying to do the same thing you are (hook the machine up to a Mac Book). I think some people have figured out a workaround but I do know for fact a workaround for a Mac that is not a dinosaur (meaning it's running off the same chipset as IBM compatible PC's and you can install Windows even though it is a horrid last resort after spending money on the microscope). I hope this somewhat helps. You also may be able to find a Windows emulator so that your Mac could possibly read some Windows information, and that might be your quick fix
Please keep me informed or send me a PM, I'd like to know. I built my first PC when I was 9 so if you're still having problems, I'd still like to help you try to get to the bottom of it. I know it has to stink having that wonderful piece of equipment and not be able to use it. More pieces to the puzzle after thinking you've completed everything really blows, and I totally understand...

Edit: I apologize if some of my wording is wrong, I'm withdrawing from a medication right now and it makes me think that what I'm typing is nice and helpful but I find that a lot of times it comes across as being arrogant or rude, but I'm only trying to help. I almost got kicked off here the second day I was here and I was just trying to help. So in advance, in case my mind is not working at the moment, I sincerely apologize because my judgement is off.