Molasses and loupe question

[cwesto]

Today i bought a jar of blackstrap molasses, and a 8X loupe.

Question 1 - This Molasses says it has 15 mg of sodium per tablespoon. Isnt sodium, in essance salt?? Did i get the wrong blackstarp?? Should i looks for a sulfur and sodium free blackstrap?

Question 2 - I got this 8X loupe from a camera store, it was only like 8 bucks. Anyways i brought it home and put it up too my plant. I can see the trichs, but its not magnified enough to see the color at the ends. What power loupe should i be looking for and where should i look for it at??

[Zcomp]

Goto radio shack. $11.99 tell them you need a "hand scope" or "pocket scope", Its on the shelf(at least it was at my very "tiny" Rshack).
I don't get blackstrap. I get "grandmas un-sulphured"

[atsar]

try holding the loupe over the lens of your camera and get in close till you see it focused,then use the zoom(optical or digital)on your camera and zoom in,find focus again and snap away using the cameras flash,boost magnification considerably

[cwesto]

Ok , well that helps, thanks.. but does anyone know the magnification i need to see the trichs clearly?? Should i be looking for like 15x, or a 30x??

[gainesvillegreen]

Generally a 30x.

[cwesto]

Gainesville, wherecan i find one of those 30x's?? I went to a camera photography supply store and the highest magnification they carried was a 12x loupe,a nd it was like 300$. Any pointers to a good deal on a 30x would be greatly appreciated..

PS It is 4am where I am, its good to see someone is online at this time of night:thumbsup:

[Mr. Clandestine]

I finally broke down and bought a little mini microscope from Radio Shack, like everyone seems to suggest nowadays. The one that I bought has 60x-100x magnification, and actually works a little too good. Instead of focusing on a layer of trichomes, this one will actually show you a close-up of a single trichome stalk! You may want to think about getting one with a little less power, because if I so much as breathe on the plant while trying to look through the microscope, everything gets blown out of focus.

[cwesto]

I finally broke down and bought a little mini microscope from Radio Shack, like everyone seems to suggest nowadays. The one that I bought has 60x-100x magnification, and actually works a little too good. Instead of focusing on a layer of trichomes, this one will actually show you a close-up of a single trichome stalk! You may want to think about getting one with a little less power, because if I so much as breathe on the plant while trying to look through the microscope, everything gets blown out of focus.

Great information. Thanks alot for that Cland, thats the type of stuff i was looking for:thumbsup:

[Rusty Trichome]

When I first got my Radio Shack magnifier, I had problems using it to look at trichomes while still on the plant. Between fans and the reverse image they give, was a real pain focusing and zooming in.
Now I tear or cut a piece of the leaf off, and place it on a table, then check the trichs using the magnifier. Much easier and works great.

[Zcomp]

rustys right,
60x-100x mag is what you need to see the heads well. I also cut off a leaf or popcorn bud depending on the timing so I can lay it flat then jam my scope on it.

[Mr. Clandestine]

Now I tear or cut a piece of the leaf off, and place it on a table, then check the trichs using the magnifier. Much easier and works great.

I finally resorted to doing that, I just hate having to remove any kind of living matter from my plants, especially if they're covered in frosty trichomes! Several times, though, I probably looked like a mad scientist with that thing held up to my glasses, tongue hanging out the side of my mouth, laughing hysterically when I finally got it in focus...then spouting random curses when my laughing blew it out of focus. I did this for days before I finally just started breaking bits and pieces off of the plant.

That aside, on its lowest level, it is pretty nice at inspecting the surface of your trim, giving you a good idea what's quality and what's not. But I still think I'm going to get a less powerful one for routine checks.

[atsar]

i still like just using the camera and loupe,you get plenty enough magnification and have the added bonus of not taking bits off your plant and being able to examine them on the pc monitor
these pics are through a 10x loupe with 3x optical zoom on the camera,taken in 4 megapixel mode,shows stalks and heads clearly,and although not crystal clear,as good or better than the view through a loupe or microscope at the eye

[Mr. Clandestine]

Atsar:

Great pics, and yummy looking example! I'd like to give your method a shot next time, but I'm kind of clueless about the inner workings of my digital camera. Any generic setting recommendations you could give me when trying to get a clear shot of the trichs while using a loupe?

[atsar]

you'd be amazed how simple it is,you don't even need a macro mode,i simply hold the loupe over lens,or you can use blu-tac to stick it,get close to whatever i'm picturing(within a cm or 2),if your out of focus move nearer or back a little,and when it's clear zoom in past the circle of the loupe,re-adjust focus usually by moving back slightly and take your pic,if you force the flash the shutter speed should be fast enough to compensate your shaking,take loads of pics,move slightly back,slightly forward and just pick the best ones,some newsprint is good to try it out on first,get an idea of how close you need to be,you can get some good close ups of anything,check out the ant,it's a little uk ant about 1-2mm long

[Mr. Clandestine]

Awesome, I'm going to give that a shot soon. I'll experiment with some ants to get a knack for it! Even that looks like fun! I appreciate the advice, too.

[PharmaCan]

you'd be amazed how simple it is,you don't even need a macro mode,i simply hold the loupe over lens,or you can use blu-tac to stick it,get close to whatever i'm picturing(within a cm or 2),if your out of focus move nearer or back a little,and when it's clear zoom in past the circle of the loupe,re-adjust focus usually by moving back slightly and take your pic,if you force the flash the shutter speed should be fast enough to compensate your shaking,take loads of pics,move slightly back,slightly forward and just pick the best ones,some newsprint is good to try it out on first,get an idea of how close you need to be,you can get some good close ups of anything,check out the ant,it's a little uk ant about 1-2mm long

This is all fine and good, but how do you get the friggin ant to hold still while you take its picture? :wtf:

PC :smokin: