Unfamiliar Microscope

I was given this microscope but I'm not familiar with it and what things might be interesting to look at under low magnification? The eyepieces say WF10X which isn't very high. At first it seemed like a meager microscope but doing a cursory search it's valued for looking at larger things it seems.

I read the WF10x marks on the eyepieces designate wide field. On the knob below the eyepieces there're the same gradation numbers going from 4.5 to 0.65 on my microscope so it looks like 45x would be the maximum magnification as stated on this specification chart below the image.
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/00254375
I didn't see any eyepieces for it above 15x.
https://www.2spi.com/item/09878-ab/stereo-microscopes/



[Edited on 17-11-2022 by Morgan]

Quote: Originally posted by Twospoons

Thats the type I use all the time in PCB inspection and soldering, though I have a ring light around the objective. I have x10 and x20 eyepieces, as well as x2 and x0.5 barlow lenses which screw on below the objective. Having a x0.5 Barlow may seem odd ( it cuts magnification in half), but what you get in exchange is a much greater working distance, which is very useful for getting tools under the microscope.

The first thing I did when I got the microscope was unscrew the housing or cowling around the objectives to see how it was designed. The deep spiral grooves in the brass must have a function but they don't interact with any external gear or anything when turning the knob to focus something. They just twirl independently driven by the plastic gears above. Apparently there's some internal goings on because there is no apparent raising or lowering of the objectives when turning the 0.65 to 4.5 knob.



[Edited on 18-11-2022 by Morgan]

Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1

These are used in biology for dissection and looking at things like insects and flowers. They are lower magnification but have higher depth of field. That combined with the stereo image gives good three dimensional viewing. If you look closely at the objective lens you will find that it is actually two lenses: providing two separate images for stereo viewing.

Quote: Originally posted by Twospoons

It is possible to take pictures through a microscope using a phone camera, but it requires a very steady hand, and very careful placement of the phone camera above the eyepiece. The grooves will be part of the zoom mechanism, and will be moving some internal elements of the objectives.

I gave it a shot with my phone but wow it is exceedingly tricky to hold the phone still over the correct spot above the eyepiece, the slightest movement and the whole image disappears. This was but a meager quick test with a tiger beetle however it's interesting that you can use a phone.




[Edited on 19-11-2022 by Morgan]