Better than a loupe?

[GiovanniJones]

Hey y'all! I'm just hitting week 7 of my first grow and the cheap pocket microscope I bought is really difficult to use. The optics are pretty bad! I'm thinking of getting a Belomo loupe, which a lot of growers seem to be happy with, but then I saw this video:

That dude uses something called a pocket comparator, American-made and apparently loves it. Does anyone have any experience using one for checking trichomes? It seems like one of these might be a good score, but I wouldn't know for sure.

Thanks.

 

[Father Ramirez]

I made it only 12 seconds into that 6 minute video that before exiting.

You sound like you’ll selling the product. But in case you’re legit, get a digital microscope

 

[GiovanniJones]

You sound like you’ll selling the product. But in case you’re legit, get a digital microscope

It's a vintage tool that hasn't been manufactured in decades.

 

[Father Ramirez]

That’s nice. I used to own a really beautiful typewriter

 

[Renfro]

I use my smartphone camera, get as closeup a pic as I can (no flash) and then zoom in on the resulting image. Only some trichomes will be in the focused field of view but take several pics and it's enough.

 

[Lucky Luke]

I use this if spending any time evaluating. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1000X-1600X-Digital-Microscope-8-LED-Endoscope-USB-Zoom-Magnifier-Camera-Stand/382662679565?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Fora quick check of anything i just use a cheap 60x pen style loupe. But the above link type thing are bloody unfknreal

 

[Kingrow1]

Week 7 first grow - suggest you put the loupe back in the wrapper and wait till it looks done before pulling it back out

 

[HitemwiththeHine]

Yeah if it's your first I would get a really good idea of what the finished plant LOOKS like, and check the trichs after.

Your phone camera is a decent enough tool. You can stick a loup in front of the sensor if you want a closer shot.

 

[Father Ramirez]

I use this if spending any time evaluating. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1000X-1600X-Digital-Microscope-8-LED-Endoscope-USB-Zoom-Magnifier-Camera-Stand/382662679565?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Fora quick check of anything i just use a cheap 60x pen style loupe. But the above link type thing are bloody unfknreal

I have a different brand but nearly identical and it’s good. The below looks great. Considerations for a microscope are
a) Is it easy to focus
b) is it sharp
I had to adapt mine a little to make it better. It’s ok bordering on very good but not superior. I want pictures like @edrosenthal posts
Wireless Bluetooth records images and video to your phone $50

https://www.amazon.com/Microscope-Veroyi-Magnification-Magnifier-Adjustable/dp/B07QYXJXC5/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=digital+microscope&qid=1572952319&sprefix=digital+micro&sr=8-5

 

[GiovanniJones]

Week 7 first grow - suggest you put the loupe back in the wrapper and wait till it looks done before pulling it back out

Yeah, I don't plan on cutting the plants just yet, but because three of the strains in my grow room are 7-8 weeks flower according to the breeder, I want to see how the trichomes develop as part of my learning process. I've been reading and talking to people like crazy and want to get better at seeing clear vs cloudy vs amber. Here's a pic of one of my plants that I took last week.

 

[GiovanniJones]

Thanks for all the info, guys. The reason that loupes interest me is because my work background has been in Tool & Die making and I feel comfortable with them. After reading a bunch of forum posts about growers still loving good loupes to this day, it kind of resonated with me enough to try an older one out if it's cheap enough.

I just pounced on a vintage one similar to the one in my original post on eBay, used, for $12 plus shipping. It's not a lot of cash to see how it works, but you're right, the USB or smartphone scopes are pretty awesome looking.

 

[Kingrow1]

Positive vibes back at you, few take the time to learn. Yo plant looks like it is healthy enough to show those changes if you leave go long enough.

Trichs move slow - look now then in a week and note the changes, once amber starts it will rapidly increase.

As you learn the loupe note that the plant also shows changes at each stage which is why the loupe is not essential and we can do from eye

Theres no trick to being pro here just do it a bunch of times and ye are now the master

Yeah, I don't plan on cutting the plants just yet, but because three of the strains in my grow room are 7-8 weeks flower according to the breeder, I want to see how the trichomes develop as part of my learning process. I've been reading and talking to people like crazy and want to get better at seeing clear vs cloudy vs amber. Here's a pic of one of my plants that I took last week.

View attachment 4416788

 

[GiovanniJones]

Thanks for the kind words. I actually just harvested some outdoor plants, but I didn't check the trichomes because I felt uncomfortable with the cold weather. Check out the pic, this is just before harvesting.

 

[PURPLEB3RRYKUSH]

Thanks for the kind words. I actually just harvested some outdoor plants, but I didn't check the trichomes because I felt uncomfortable with the cold weather. Check out the pic, this is just before harvesting.

View attachment 4416880

Dank outdoor

 

[vostok]

Hey y'all! I'm just hitting week 7 of my first grow and the cheap pocket microscope I bought is really difficult to use. The optics are pretty bad! I'm thinking of getting a Belomo loupe, which a lot of growers seem to be happy with, but then I saw this video:

That dude uses something called a pocket comparator, American-made and apparently loves it. Does anyone have any experience using one for checking trichomes? It seems like one of these might be a good score, but I wouldn't know for sure.

Thanks.

often it can be info = overload ..IMO
anything that gives a clean 20-40x resolution is good
then again other noobs like to examine gnat scat too

its not the info you get.. its how you react to it?

good luck

 

[xtsho]

 

[GiovanniJones]

Fwiw, I got a Belomo 10X loupe on eBay. It's a true triplet loupe with glass lens. Checking trichomes with it was pretty straightforward, but I also took a chance and ordered a vintage Bishop Graphics Peak 10X loupe on eBay and it came in today.

The image on the vintage loupe is unreal. It's so much more clear and has a wider field of view. That says a lot considering that the Belomo loupe is well-respected in the jeweller's world. I can't wait to look at my trichomes when the lights go on in my room tonight!

Having a cheap portable handheld microscope and a good loupe, I feel that I can see the trichomes much, much better with a loupe. I don't like the microscope at all because it has such a narrow field of view and very short depth of field. Then again, it's a $25 scope with a plastic lens and I realize you get what you pay for. If you can find a vintage Bishop Peak loupe on eBay, and you're ok with loupes, I'd highly recommend one. Super-crystal-clear image and cheap.

Keep in mind that I'm a rookie at this and I admit that I don't know s%$t, but I do have a background in Tool & Die and Quality Assurance, so my work history kind of drives my preference.

 

[GiovanniJones]

Just in case you're curious, check out these images.
This one was taken with my iPhone:



This one is magnified with a 10X Belomo loupe in front of my iPhone camera lens:


Finally, here's a pic I took with the old, Bishop Peak loupe in front of my camera lens. You can really see how clear the magnification is here, might be great for checking trichomes if you're ok with loupes:



If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll post how well the Bishop Peak is with checking trichomes.

 

[Shucks]

Just in case you're curious, check out these images.
This one was taken with my iPhone:

View attachment 4421571

This one is magnified with a 10X Belomo loupe in front of my iPhone camera lens:
View attachment 4421572

Finally, here's a pic I took with the old, Bishop Peak loupe in front of my camera lens. You can really see how clear the magnification is here, might be great for checking trichomes if you're ok with loupes:

View attachment 4421573

If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll post how well the Bishop Peak is with checking trichomes.

Just ordered a bishop, is it as good as the belomo?

 

[lusidghost]

It's funny how we get caught up on every little thing. In this instance all we really need is to see the colors, but we're trying to see the molecular structures. If we had a Magic School Bus we'd drive right on into that trichrome field to have a look.