Sponsors

RichHelms · 08-25-2010, 04:56 PM

There are USB cameras that fit in the eyepiece. They start at $350 and go up. As the image is not very bright it takes a good unit to capture the image

I would love to get one eventually. My other alternative is to get a macro lens for my DSLR.

Austin · 08-25-2010, 10:03 PM

I would like to see you do that. I've seen pics that way of Bugs and what not, but never a bean.

RichHelms · 08-26-2010, 09:09 AM

http://www.bootcoffee.com/ROAST2.pdf

I referenced this article before. It has close-ups of green and roasted beans

Austin · 08-26-2010, 09:27 PM

Never seen a bean that close. That's awesome.

RichHelms · 08-30-2010, 06:30 PM

Found a small digital microscope for taking images of the beans. It is a little digital unit from Celestron

http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?ProdID=557

I run Win 7 64 bit and this unit supports that. Many of the small digitals don't. I'll update as I get it.

KimmyDe · 09-08-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichHelms

http://www.bootcoffee.com/ROAST2.pdf

I referenced this article before. It has close-ups of green and roasted beans

Great link. Thanks Rich!

kau · 09-13-2010, 03:28 PM

I saw a line of Celestron's at Fry's but I had mixed feelings on the quality. They seemed a bit cheap in their construction. Would love to play with one but I don't know anywhere locally I can go to see them in action.

RichHelms · 09-13-2010, 03:52 PM

If you check the web you may find local suppliers. Places which sell telescopes often sell microscopes also. A stereo microscope is not as common so it has to be a more serious store.

I had gone to Efston Science but the units there didn't have a very wide field. It is the biggest challenge using it for coffee. You want low power with a wide field of view. The lover end units were a small fields of view

The digital microscope I got is pretty cool. The depth of field is very shallow. Focusing is touchy. I may mount the unit on a better stand to make it easier to use. The software is basic but works well

RichHelms · 12-13-2011, 03:22 PM

I recently added a Celestron digital camera eyepiece to the stereo microscope. Using the microscope focusing system is more accurate but the field is not very wide. I was recording grind size and did the same shots on the portable unit as well as the eyepiece unit. The digital unit has a much wider field of view. I'll have to post some comparison shots.