Microscope for cartridge inspection

Elliot, Re the photo you posted above. If that is "1000X" according to your USB camera, it operates very differently from my optical Olympus lab microscope, because according to the Olympus owners manual, the max magnification I can achieve is 140X (achieved by zooming on a 10X image, rather than by altering the lenses).  At that max setting on my microscope, I am very much closer to the stylus tip than what I can see in your published photo. I can see a lot more detail.  I guess this speaks to the difference between digital and optical ways of calculating magnification.  You’ve spurred me to acquire the capacity to make photos for comparison. But for sure you do not need 1000X magnification if using an optical microscope.

Be careful of microscopes (and telescopes) that claim magnifications using area. Honestly reported, magnification means that a linear dimension appears to occupy a wider segment of your field of view, so that for, say 10x, a 1mm object appears to be 10mm (technically, the angle subtended by a linear dimension of the object studied is in a 10:1 ratio magnified to unmagnified). But some will report that such an object now occupies 100x the area in your field of view. That would be fine if they were open about what they mean by magnification, but that is rare.

Doggie, You have an Olympus too, correct? How do the images you see compare to the photo E posted? Or maybe you are inferring that E's USB microscope uses the "area" criterion to define "magnification" that you describe.

@lewm 

I don't know if Elliott's photo was taken at the claimed 1000x magnification, but I'm pretty sure that isn't an actual 1000x!

250-400x is enough for looking at a stylus. Unfortunately I cannot photograph through the Olympus. I used to know a jeweller in Toronto who had a lovely Leica microscope with a video camera mounted on it and a little TV screen showing a live view. That would be great for stylus inspection!

There's a thread at Lenco Heaven that might be of interest:

https://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=577.0

I searched eBay for the Olympus adapter for my SZH10 scope that permits camera attachment. They are available but cost is in the $3-400 range, and they were made back in the day for film cameras. I’m not sure it will work w a digital camera, and if it does, you might need an Olympus mount which might mean buying also an Olympus digital camera. I own two Leica microscope cameras of the old school without metering built in. Not useful here unless I could find an adapter and was willing to use film. Which is too much hassle although I do use film cameras otherwise.