Using RadioShack Mini-Microscope Tips

As many of you know, seeing anything can be quite difficult with this "toy".
Shaky hands, super tough focus, sqashing trich-heads . . . it's maddening at first!
But it's a week later and I've stumbled on a few ways of making things easier. Please add more if you can. Thanks.

Obviously anything re: hands would be reversed for lefties.

Stick to 60X.

Don't start trying to use this scope on your buds first. If you've a stash, focus on a piece of that, or anything microscopic, like maybe your penis?
(Comedy relief . . . this scope can be s t r e s s f u l ! )

What you're trying to do here is get this thing focused from as far away as possible . . . this seems to be about 1/2 an inch. The way this scope is designed is for you to "press it into" the object. I don't know about you, but I'm not doing that to my juicy buds. Anyhow, this done . . .

Now you're ready to have a glimpse. I am MUCH steadier sitting above my plant than standing above it. A LOT! I suggest you might be too.
That done . . .

With your left hand, reach out and take the target bud gently in your grip, thumb towards you, fingers around, or under growth. It's kinda like holding a brandy snifter, if you know what I mean. Anyway, unless one is brand new at growing, we all know how to touch a bud w/o smashing anything. Let common sense be your guide here.
Growth in hand, you can put the scope to your eye and lean on in, now using that thumb-on-top to not only support your scope hand, but also as a gage as to how far away you are . . . ideally in that 1/2" honey spot you set in the beginning.

This is how I've been able to finally effectively use this mini-microscope.
It ain't perfect, but it works, helps protect your trichs, and I really wish I'd known what you now do before I smashed a few beautiful droplets of your highness.

More tips?

Almost forgot, occasionally most of us are gonna shake too much to use this thing anyway . . . just try again later, after your adrenaline has settled, or whatever.

yea i got one...
the clear plastic guard at the bottom serves no purpose besides keeping the bulb safe from what i can tell. so what you do to avoid smashing those purrdy lil trichomes is remove the guard while viewing, this also allows for greater maneuverability of the scope itself. just be careful not to block the beam of light from the bulb, sometimes you really need it. good luck mayne

Just got mine 2day.

I've just been snipping off a tiny trich covered leaf. Place on a white sheet of paper, place scope over it (resting on paper), and view.

I haven't even tried viewing on the plant. Judging by the care and steadiness needed with my way, I don't know if I even want to try viewing on the plant. Must be way harder.

I love this toy, I look at everything with it! Thanks for the good advice, it
always gives me a crick in my neck.

Hawk said:

I've just been snipping off a tiny trich covered leaf. Place on a white sheet of paper, place scope over it (resting on paper), and view.

I haven't even tried viewing on the plant. Judging by the care and steadiness needed with my way, I don't know if I even want to try viewing on the plant. Must be way harder.

Click to expand...

This is the only true way to use a 60X scope. any movement at all is also multiplied. The trichs on the leafs of the buds will show the same % or clear/cloudy and amber.

i cut a little piece of bud w/ lots of trichs on it and put it on a flat surface i like hawks idea white paper then put a light in front of the scope to give you a better look the light thats on the thing sucks and gets worse with time. i actually took pics using the scope and they came out good dont have my camera cord today but i'll post later. another trick i've found when taking pics of close ups is to use a magnifying glass. put the magnifying glass up to the camera lens and take the pic through that for some reason i can get better clearity

are we all talking about the same thing?

finally got my cord back

nice