Microscope for cartridge inspection

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.

Turns out you can buy a microscope adapter for any iPhone that mounts the phone in place of one of the eyepieces and seems to work fine for under $50.  Maybe I will try that.