Powerful digital microscope on the cheap!

I did not do many still pictures yet because I mostly watch protozoa, rotifers, etc. and they move QUICK! Looking back, video actually shows MORE than the naked eye sees under the microscope!
Check out the videos! Video shows far more detail of the reality than any picture can!   You can see the currents that the cilia make, you can see smaller protozoa sucked in by the swirling current made by the predator ones.  Looking back at a video, you can see lots of stuff which you missed as you narrated!
The big difference between this instructable and all the others is video with sound. You can narrate what you see AS you see it. Because instructables is about sharing, this narration as it happens vastly increases your productivity. 

I used the microscope in the foreground but the one in the background also works (it is just in poor condition).

Step 1: Chosing a webcam

I decided to get a webcam to skype with my family. 
I use linux so I was happily surprised to find one that supported it.  Even more happy that it was the cheapest webcam in the store at  $19.95. 
And even more happy when it works in everything immediately. It even works in my old aspire netbook.
So it is the facecam1000 for windows mac and linux.  It works with windows xp  sp2 and higher. A vital think that it has is a focus ring.  I very much doubt that a fixed focus cam will work. I just focused it on something the length of the microscope barrel away and it worked great.  Another great feature is automatic adjustment to the light levels.  You go from 40X to 100X and it takes a few seconds to adjust to the weaker light but then it is perfect again.
So once again.  Focus ring is vital.

Comments

[zomfibame]

neat idea.

[rimar2000]

This is very interesting, thanks for sharing it.

[warrengoff]

Thanks for the concept.