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Unpopular opinion: a cheap 10x hand lens beat my $200 USB scope for spotting leaf mites
I know everyone in here loves their fancy digital microscopes, but I'm going to say it: for checking live plants for mites or thrips, a $12 jeweler's loupe from a craft store in Boise did more for me than the $200 USB scope I bought two years ago. The scope needs a laptop, a steady hand, and good light, and by the time I get it focused the bug has crawled off. The loupe fits in my pocket and I can scan 20 leaves in the time it takes to boot the software. I tested both on the same spider mite colony on my ficus last month, and the loupe showed me the webbing and eggs in about 10 seconds flat. The scope gave a nicer picture, sure, but I missed the live action because the mite moved while I was adjusting the focus ring. I'm not saying the scope is junk for documenting damage, but for quick field checks it's overkill. Has anyone else gone back to a simple lens after trying digital, or am I the only one who thinks the cheap tool wins here?
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