Convert Your Smartphone Camera Into A Microscope With 12 Dollars!

[bloomington-lib]

http://wonderfulengineering.com/convert-your-smartphone-camera-into-a-microscope-with-12-dollars/?utm_source=zergnet.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_11311

The creator, Thomas Larson from Seattle, is a graduate of the University of Washington, BS Mechanical Engineering ’13 with specialization in Mechatronics. He began working on the Micro Phone Lens in early 2012, in the Cell Biomechanics Lab under Prof. Nathan Sniadecki. He further developed the Lens with team “Cell Focus” and they came in the top 16 of the University of Washington Business Plan Competition. Upon graduation, he received the UW Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Research Award for his work.

Being compact in design and durable, with no moving parts; the Micro Phone Lens works with almost any Cell Phone or Tablet. It can be used in three simple steps, sticking to the device camera lens, focusing the image and capturing the miniatures!

It has various distinct properties that make it an astounding invention. Optical similarity to glass, scratch-free lens, great adherence properties, washable and ultra-small to be carried anywhere and also having the patent pending platinum catalyzed silicone technology making the lens ultra compact. The technical specifications of this invention are as follows:
Base magnification: 15X
Max magnification: 60x with phone zoom
Minimum recommended camera: 5 megapixels
Product diameter: 1/4” (approx. 6 mm).

In future, he aims to make a 150X version of this Lens. He feels that such an addition to the world of science would have enormous implications for health and disease preclusion in the developing world.

[greyl]

1. or $9.59 if you can't wait

Neewer 60X Zoom LED Clip-On Microscope Magnifier Micro Lens for Universal Mobile Phones
That one does have LEDs powered by 3 LR1130 cell batteries (included), but is much clunkier than Larson's in OP. Pretty cool.

[William Seger]

4. Those that clip on like that are hard to use

Any attachment lens needs to be precisely aligned with the camera lens to work properly, and with those clip-ons, even after you get it right, it's too easy to move the lens enough to ruin the alignment -- focusing is very frustrating. I now have a 60-100x one that attaches to a case made to fit my S4 phone. If you can find one of those for your phone, you'll be much happier with it.

http://www.amazon.com/amar-60-100X-Digital-Microscope-Magnifier/dp/B00KYFUXXK/ref=sr_1_15?s=electronics

[greyl]

5. That makes lots of sense, thanks for the link! nt

[William Seger]

6. Oops, sorry, that's not exactly the same as the one I got

... so I don't know if that one is any good, but at any rate, I strongly recommend something with a fitted case. Same for the telephoto lenses.

I sometimes use a microscope app (Cozy Magnifier) with it, if I want maximum magnification, and those apps are pretty useful on their own for my weakening eyes. (Gawd, I hate it when important directions are tiny, low-contrast letters on a colored background.)

[mucifer]

2. That's cool . some doctors are using smartphones for simple electrocardiograms.

only $200 for the adaptive piece:

http://store.alivecor.com/collections/heart-monitors/products/alivecor-heart-monitor-for-iphone-5

[Sienna86]

3. Very cool

I want one!