Hi Jorge!

I have never used such a tool for picking, however I worked a lot with forams under a microscope, but looking on them on a screen (and not through the microscope).

I find such a work simply a disaster: not comfortable at all. Never the less, looking on a screen is also not better for your eyes, than using a microscope.

Hi Lóránd and André! Thanks a lot for your answers. It definitively is a 'con' not to be comfortable and good for your eyes. I was more interested because of the lower prices (compared to the stereosmicroscopes where I currently am) and the fact that it represents having an imaging device and a stereomicroscope, if the magnification is that powerful as it seems.

Hi Jorge,

I would like to add a quick comment on this too;

I've been using one of these usb microscopes, but a cheaper version (from ebay), on my shale cores. Since my cores are dark in colour, I've been having hard time to get good results (led lights do not work very well on my cores). However, when I look at a smooth surface, such as a mouse pad, it works very well. Moreover, when you are looking for forams, if you would like to hold it, instead of attaching it to its stand, it is definitely not going to work; you won't be able to focus properly.

So, my suggestion is that try a cheaper version first, you can find one from ebay (~35 $). If it works go for it, because it is portable and easy to use, plus you can take pictures (I assume up to 2 MP; don't expect a regular camera quality). If not, you will save some money, and you might use it for other purposes, such as showing hand specimens on a projector to students...

I hope it helps

Cheers