A USB microscope connects directly to your computer, allowing you to view images on your monitor rather than through an eyepiece. A computer microscope, or a computer-connected microscope, is another name for the device. Most USB microscopes allow you to save images as picture files or even a video clip. You can now share what you’re seeing with other users.
The resolution is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a USB microscope. This varies from model to model, and is usually determined by price. If a high-quality image is important to you, buying a less expensive model may be a waste of money.
You’ll need to double-check the stated resolution figures, just as you would with digital cameras. The optical resolution, also known as native resolution, is one such metric. This is the number of pixels in the image sensor, and it affects the clarity of the resulting image, especially if you enlarge it later.
The interpolated resolution is the second commonly used metric. By artificially creating extra pixels in the image and estimating the best color to make them so that they blend in with their surroundings, this tells you how detailed a picture the microscope can produce. If you want to print larger images without any blurriness, this is a good option. Because it is an artificial method, you will not be able to see the true image of the item you have placed under the microscope.
You should also look at the image or video size that the USB microscope can produce. Keep in mind that the total size grows at a faster rate than the individual dimensions. Moving from 640×480 pixels to 1280×960 pixels, for example, gives you a four-times-larger image, not twice-larger.
Make sure the images and video generated by a USB microscope are in a format you can work with. When it comes to images, the most common format is JPG, but be wary of models that only produce the less useful BMP format. AVI is the most common video format, though it can result in very large file sizes if the picture quality is kept low. Keep in mind that some models only provide a time-lapse video made up of images taken at intervals rather than a live recording.
You should also pay attention to the microphone’s lighting features. LED lights will be used by the majority, but the number and intensity will vary. If you’re going to use your USB microphone a lot, you might want to get one with USB-powered lighting rather than batteries.