Best tool to check Trichomes?

Hey guys.

Just a pondering about what other people use to check trichomes. I'd love to get a full macro lens but don't have the funds right now. Used the scopes, loops, etc. Lately I've used my cell phone with macro attached lens, main drawback is that I can't set white balance. Curious if anyone else out there has some great methods?

Curious if anyone has tried this
http://www.instructables.com/id/10-Smartphone-to-digital-microscope-conversion/

Or these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/60X-Microscope-Loupe-LED-Magnifier-Currency-Detecting-Cellphone-Micro-Lens-ES9P-/281162337354?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item417694cc4a

Go to radio shack and get a 60-100x, preferably with an led on the end, and you'll really see those trichomes.

How the hell are you supposed to use the first one on your plants?
The next one is interesting...But I don't like crAPPLE phones.
I use this one.
http://4hydroponics.com/40x-active-eye-microscope

DrJohnStivers said:

Go to radio shack and get a 60-100x, preferably with an led on the end, and you'll really see those trichomes.

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This. $12. Works like a champ

I have this one which works pretty well
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WKR88G

It's cheaply made and sometimes hard to focus.. you have to hold it directly to the bud to get a clear shot of your trics. For 10 bucks it's worth it IMO.

Lots of people use the radio shack kind. The local grow store has a lot of models to choose from. But i prefer to use methods that allow me to take pictures. Haven't used any of these cheap scopes yet that can compare to my phone + macro lens on a 28" screen.

Get a little ways into the nutso category, but I am a photographer as well so it's something I like.

Found this one as well (although it looks expensive):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSLhDH4zWeE

http://www.keeploop.com/en/shop/

Not sure what 6-10 micron resolution means.

or you could just use a magnifying glass

Ohh, that looks cool. Awesome post. Thanks! So far this looks to be the winner, gonna try this today.

Been asked a million times and this is all you need. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2179604

amazon 420 scope

Cobnobuler said:

Been asked a million times and this is all you need. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2179604

Click to expand...

Eh... I've used those, and others which are better. They really aren't that great. Do they work? yeah. But I'm more interested in ways to do it better.

Currently attaching a scope similar to that, or a macro lens adapter to a cell phone is the best method I've found.

Has far more magnification.
Can be documented.
And allows much more detail to be explored.

It's a bit like having a digital portable microscope. Just not as powerful.

Main drawbacks are lens quality, lighting, white balance.

Another issue is the depth of field... Can't control aperture. Ideal solution would be a macro lens on DSLR, or even a P&S with good macro mode or macro attachment as the P&S has far more depth of field due to the smaller sensor.

Was hoping to find others that are interested in exploring these kind of techniques... Rather than just a powerful blurry magnifier. Which does work, but not as well as it could.

40x jewlers loupe, ebay....$4

DrJohnStivers said:

Go to radio shack and get a 60-100x, preferably with an led on the end, and you'll really see those trichomes.

Click to expand...

This is what I use. I keep it on 60x zoom and then its easy just using one knob to focus. Takes a little getting use to. The downside is that you need to sorta smush the bud to get the lens near enough to check out the trichomes.

I still use this technique, but I never harvest until 75+ percent of the pistils have receded into the calyx and the seed bract has swelled with resin no matter what the trichomes are telling me.

Here is a shot today using a 70-300 lens and a 17-70 lens turned around, held together. Getting closer to what I am after... Basically a Macro setup so I can really see what is going on. Extreme for sure, but fun

And one taken with a macro lens on my Galaxy Note 2:

dangledo said:

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I just happened to have a $3 laser pointer laying around that I bought for my cats, so I decided to give this a try with my phone. Turns out my phone has a magnet on the back so I didn't even need to tape the clip or anything. Using a small flashlight, I was able to take some really fricken cool pictures. Worked much, much better than I thought it would.