Unlock the Microscopic World with the iMicro Q3p

Powerful Magnification

Fitting a microscope in your pocket is no easy feat, but the iMicro Q3p changes that. As part of a six-year line of fingertip microscopes funded on Kickstarter, the Q3p is a tiny lens that attaches to your smartphone's camera, bringing pro-grade magnification right to your fingertips. Just like the iMicro Q3 announced last year, the Q3p can view objects at a sub-micron level, which is less than one micron. To put this into perspective, the average human hair measures 70 microns, while a red blood cell measures eight. This makes the Q3p an incredibly powerful optical tool.

By combining optical magnification with the digital magnification of your smartphone's display, the Q3p can render objects at up to 1200x their actual size. This is significantly more than what you can achieve with the best macro lenses or the 40x microscopic sensor on the Realme GT 2 Pro. It allows you to explore the microscopic world in incredible detail.

The Versatile Polarizer

The Q3p gains a crucial feature this time - a polarizer. Similar to the Q2p, this polarizer enhances the contrast and color of images viewed through the microscope. It is particularly effective when observing the structures of crystals and minerals. Since these materials are birefringent, their visual properties depend on the direction of light travel. The polarizer enables you to adjust for this, providing more accurate and vivid images.

By adding this low-profile polarizer to the most powerful iMicro to date, the Q3p becomes an even more versatile imaging kit. Despite measuring just half an inch and weighing less than 0.5g, it offers remarkable performance. And the best part? It costs just CA$55 (around $39 / £31) to back on Kickstarter, making it more portable and affordable than professional desktop microscopes.

Wide Applications

The applications of a fingertip microscope are diverse and extensive. From science classes to industrial settings, the ability to view and measure high-resolution polarized images at 1200x magnification has significant educational, research, and commercial potential. With minimal expenditure and using the smartphone already in your pocket, this technology democratizes access to the microscopic world.

Just like the original iMicro launched in 2018, the Q3p sticks to your smartphone using thousands of nano-sized suction cups, similar to a gecko's foot. This means it can attach to any of the best camera phones without the need for additional mounts or casings. It can also be removed and reused without leaving any residue, allowing multiple users to share the same lens.

Focusing Stand and Stage Micrometer

With the Q3p, you also get a focusing stand. Created based on the feedback of previous backers, this stand offers more granular control when focusing on objects at high levels of magnification. It is cleverly stored together with the Q3p in a tidy, card-sized package, making it truly portable and useful.

Included in the kit is a stage micrometer, which allows users to take accurate scale measurements of magnified objects when calibrated with the i-Seeing app. While it may not replace professional laboratory microscopes with their high-end optics and precision controls, the Q3p unlocks similar performance at a much lower price point and with a more convenient form factor.