Choosing the right microscope...

[Scott.K]

I've read alot of online articles about buying a microscope, but I guess I'm just looking for some advice.

I plan on buying a compound microscope sometime in the near future for hobbyist use. It would be sheerly for my own entertainment.

I've been looking at used microscopes on ebay, and at new amscopes on their website. I would like to have something that would allow me to be truly amazed. I intend on getting some sort of phase contrast or darkfield condenser.

I see that right now there's an olympus BH microscope with phase contrast on ebay for around $200. I won't be buying it because I don't have the money right this second, but would something like that be better or worse than a new amscope?

With the Amscope, I wouldn't be able to afford the phase contrast, but the darkfield condenser, I could afford.

What would you say is my better bet? With which scope would I have more interesting experiences?

Also, if I get something like the olympus, would it be difficult to find accesories (like a darkfield condenser) to fit it?

The Olympus I was looking at just sold for $275, so the ad's gone, but here's the amscope I've been looking at: http://store.amscope.com/t490a-dk.html

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Scott

[tkjtkj]

I've read alot of online articles about buying a microscope, but I guess I'm just looking for some advice.

I plan on buying a compound microscope sometime in the near future for hobbyist use. It would be sheerly for my own entertainment.

I've been looking at used microscopes on ebay, and at new amscopes on their website. I would like to have something that would allow me to be truly amazed. I intend on getting some sort of phase contrast or darkfield condenser.

I see that right now there's an olympus BH microscope with phase contrast on ebay for around $200. I won't be buying it because I don't have the money right this second, but would something like that be better or worse than a new amscope?

With the Amscope, I wouldn't be able to afford the phase contrast, but the darkfield condenser, I could afford.

What would you say is my better bet? With which scope would I have more interesting experiences?

Also, if I get something like the olympus, would it be difficult to find accesories (like a darkfield condenser) to fit it?

The Olympus I was looking at just sold for $275, so the ad's gone, but here's the amscope I've been looking at: http://store.amscope.com/t490a-dk.html

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Scott

May we ask just what sort of things will you be looking at?

[Scott.K]

Whatever the hobby leads me to. I'll probably begin with pond water, and move on from there.

Anything and everything. It'll be my first microscope, so I'll probably be like the inventors of the microscope, and look at anything I can get my hands on.

[Andy Resnick]

]

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Scott

I would avoid Amscope unless there is some amazing quality I am unfamiliar with. Here's where amscope falls short, based on the images from your link:

1) The condenser does not appear to adjust in any way other than focus.
2) The z-stage mechanism is too coarse for high magnification
3) the objectives are crude
4) Camera costs extra
5) Magnification is very limited (they provide multiple eyepieces to give the illusion of a large range)

In all honesty, for your first microscope, you simply cannot do better than the Digital Blue QX5. After you outgrow it, get a used microscope that does what you want.

PM me for additional info if you would like.

[tkjtkj]

I'd suggest you get any reasonably well-made 'scope, a binocular, with substage lighting that has an adjustable iris ... Controlling the amount of light is important. Also, a mechanical 'stage' is important, for its MUCH better to use such a thing <with its knobs and 'slide grasper'> than to manually try to move a slide around using your fingers.
Its not til you've interest in microbiology <germs, etc> that you'd need 'oil immersion' lens, but most binoculars come with such a lens anyway ... but then, you're in the game of 'gram staining' etc, a different thing than your described interest. Pond life is a very exciting thing to witness... but dont fail to examine the water in that glass on your kitchen counter holding a chunk of cellery that's 'gone bad'!!!

you're entering a remarkable world .. have fun!!

My 'med school Nikon binoc ' has serverd me well ... Also, its nice, especially for what your initial interests seem to be, to have some sort of 'wide-angle' oculars (the lenses that meet your eyes) , they make things so much easier to find objects of interest

[Scott.K]

Hey ya'll...

Sorry for my absence. I don't know why but for some reason I didn't get email telling me I had new responses. I usually get them.

Anyway. I appreciate the advice.

My only question now is: If I go with an older microscope (I see several Olympus and Nikon right now on ebay for good prices, that are good quality), will it be difficult for me to find accesories?

The ones I'm looking at are for the 70s-80s. If I just buy a typical Nikon compound brightfield, will it be difficult to find a darkfield condenser, or phase contrast kit to fit it?

[Andy Resnick]

There's enough hobbyists out there to provide a decent market for all that stuff. My question to you is, as a novice, would you rather spend your time adjusting the equipment, or would you rather spend your time *looking* at stuff?

[Scott.K]

umm... hmm...

I'm pretty set on getting a compound microscope if that's what you mean.

[Lewis11]

Hi, does anyone know anything about Scanning electron microscopes?

Would anyone recommend this product?

Cambridge Stereoscan Scanning Electron Microscope SEM (https://www.akribis.co.uk/cambridge_stereoscan_scanning_electron_microscope_ sem.html)