Microscopes

[goldiegeek 523]

Hi Guys,

I want to buy a microscope. As a microscope newb, it seems like there's lots to consider. Can anyone recommend any specific type. Are the digital ones you hook up to your computer a good idea? How much magnification should I aim for?

[Narny105 1,992]

digital microscopes are a lot of fun, and also very convenient considering you can record what you see on the computer, and post it here for help. It's very difficult to record down through the eyepiece, so it definitely helps. It also means you don't need to use the eye pieces either.

You will want a compound microscope (monocular or binocular- your preference) that magnifies 40-400x magnification to see all you really need to see, however a lot magnify 1000x and over which is great if you ever want to start doing things such as bacterial stains in future.

Microscopes with built-in digital components are more expensive, however you can buy a microscope that comes with a viewing camera which attaches through the eye piece. Just as functional, but from seeing Helen's videos (we have the same microscopes but helens has a built-in camera) the ones with the built-in digital components are better quality. They are both good quality cameras, though.

All of these binocular microscopes have suitable magnification so you can have a look through them. 1.3MP is the camera component mine came with which produces a good quality image, however you can get higher MP ones.

http://www.microscopenet.com/compound-microscopes-binocular-microscope-c-25_36.html

If you're looking for $100 and under, ones like these are suitable and have good magnification but are not digital. With that being said, you can buy digital components for them.

http://www.microscopenet.com/monocular-compound-microscope-40x400x-with-tungsten-light-p-99.html

http://www.microscopenet.com/monocular-compound-microscope-40x1000x-with-tungsten-light-p-573.html

And here are digital components that will fit these microscopes. I personally wouldn't get less than 1.3mp because it gets a lot harder to see moving microorganisms and identify them on video. I upgraded from a 1.3mp to a 3.2mp which is fantastic quality.

http://www.microscopenet.com/digital-microscopes-digital-cameras-c-77_82.html

This is just one website out of many you can look at, including amazon, however I hope it gives you some options and helps narrow down your search for one. If anything, take your time and even youtube the microscopes with digital components so you can get an idea of the video quality.

This post has been promoted to an article Edited May 4, 2014 by Narny105

[goldiegeek 523]

Thank you!!! Extremely informative:) Holy cow.

[shakaho 6,312]

Narny, which microscope do you have?

[Narny105 1,992]

Narny, which microscope do you have?

This omax (mine came with a 1.3mp camera. I can't find it listed anymore)

http://www.microscopenet.com/biological-binocular-compound-microscope-40x2000x-halogen-light-p-544.html

And This camera

http://www.microscopenet.com/32mp-digital-camera-microscope-compatible-windowsmaclinux-p-10007.html

Edited May 5, 2014 by Narny105

[shakaho 6,312]

It seems that you are happy with this scope, right? I kind of like this one: http://www.microscopenet.com/biological-microscope-kohler-illumination-plan-objectives-p-286.html for the optics, but a built -in camera would be nice.

[Narny105 1,992]

Overall I'm quite happy with it I wish the cameras was a lot clearer on them though

[goldiegeek 523]

Boy do different stores have different prices. I saw the same scope with price differences of almost $80. Definitely shop around.

[Narny105 1,992]

yep, but also look at what they offer in terms of replacement parts, warranty, etc.