Which Microscope do you use?

[moses wellfleet]

microscopes for checking life forms in ACT: model, magnification, price, where did you get it?

 

[Microbeman]

microscopes for checking life forms in ACT: model, magnification, price, where did you get it?

This could help in choosing a microscope.

http://microbeorganics.com/microscopeadvisory.pdf

Used, I like Leitz (the best ever made) and American Optical - good quality brightfield compound scopes.

If buying new, it is difficult to find good quality unless you can afford Meiji which is a medium priced scope.

 

[Neo 420]

What about the American Optical one fifty scope? Will that do for scoping tea's?

 

[Microbeman]

What about the American Optical one fifty scope? Will that do for scoping tea's?

It could. It depends on the components. If you read through the microscope advisory, you will discover your question is similar to me asking 'Will a Ford be okay for getting building materials?'

Lighting is number one, 2/ condenser 3/ binocular or monocular
4/ optics (10, 20, 40; 20X is very nice to have) 5/ eyepieces
6/ sample stage 7/ infinity corrected optics? or standard?

 

[Neo 420]

It could. It depends on the components. If you read through the microscope advisory, you will discover your question is similar to me asking 'Will a Ford be okay for getting building materials?'"

Dag nabit... I knew this was gonna happen!!

Not hijacking your thread Moses but this in relations to your post..

I'm looking at a couple on eBay so I can't get up close and personal but I can send off some emails about specifics.
A good scope is going to cost a little coinage so I'm balling on a budget and looking at used models..
I am currently looking at this one:

Guess I'll have to send the seller a email ASAP.

Thanks MM

 

[Microbeman]

Dag nabit... I knew this was gonna happen!!

Not hijacking your thread Moses but this in relations to your post..

I'm looking at a couple on eBay so I can't get up close and personal but I can send off some emails about specifics.
A good scope is going to cost a little coinage so I'm balling on a budget and looking at used models..
I am currently looking at this one:
[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=40140&pictureid=1039300&thumb=1]View Image[/URL]
Guess I'll have to send the seller a email ASAP.

Thanks MM

That scope has a mechanical stage so that's good. It probably has infinity corrected optics which is good but replacement objectives must be also. If it has a .90 NA aspheric(al) condenser, this is very good. They have an awesome flip out lense for low magnification. If its a 1.25 NA Abbe, thats okay too. You can pm me the specs if you want.

 

[moses wellfleet]

is the brand Celestron reputable?

 

[OrganicOzarks]

If going for "quality" used you can get Olympus BH2 on Ebay for the $2500 range. If you want a cheapy that will work you can go with an amscope for less than $300.

 

[Microbeman]

is the brand Celestron reputable?

Not especially but if you can get a salesguy to demonstrate looking at live microbes, that is your best path to satisfaction.

 

[Microbeman]

http://www.meijitechno.com/mt5000.htm

 

[moses wellfleet]

Not especially but if you can get a salesguy to demonstrate looking at live microbes, that is your best path to satisfaction.

problem is i dont know what a live microbe looks like, he could show me his semen and i would be fooled!

 

[edelweiß]

 

[CT Guy]

http://microbeorganics.com

Or at the very least, get the DVD so you know what the heck you're looking at.

 

[Microbeman]

problem is i dont know what a live microbe looks like, he could show me his semen and i would be fooled!

It is simple. All you do is mix some of your [vermi]compost up with water (non-chlorinated) and a couple drops of molasses (eg. a pill bottle) and leave it for 72 hours. There should be plenty of live microbes in there.

The thing is to see moving microbes in a liquid. So many scope dealers show a prepared slide which prove diddley. Celestron is particularly guilty of this. (Showing his semen would be fine)

 

[BugJar]

are you guys using hemacytometers and staining and whatnot?

I really appreciate cell counting but I'm not sure I have the time personally.

I used to count yeast a few years ago and man was that tedious.

If you guys are dedicated to the microbiological side wouldn't it make sense to take and culture up pure strains to have a more accurate idea of count?

as a matter of fact are there even targets or are you guys just taking a look to see what is in there?

I have always been drawn to the microbiological side of organics and would love to see more articles

 

[HighdesertmelT]

How bout this one?
http://www.amazon.com/AmScope-Profe...867316&sr=8-18&keywords=Biological+microscope

Really wanna start examining my brews!!

 

[OrganicOzarks]

How bout this one?
http://www.amazon.com/AmScope-Profe...867316&sr=8-18&keywords=Biological+microscope

Really wanna start examining my brews!!

That one would work just fine.

 

[ziggestardust]

Now I know close to nothing about microscopes and I am not so sure about shelling out several hundred bucks for something I can do fine without.

However, I find microbiological life fascinating enough to buy a low end scope.

Can someone please post the bare minimum specs that I'd look to in a cheap-o-scope? Or it might not be that easy, I don't know?

 

[FunTimesIndeed]

I'm not on the market for one, but if I was I would read over the link in post #2 again and then buy the cheapest rig I could find.

 

[Microbeman]

How bout this one?
http://www.amazon.com/AmScope-Profe...867316&sr=8-18&keywords=Biological+microscope

Really wanna start examining my brews!!

I've never used an AMscope but have heard bad things about their optics. If you wish to purchase a cheap scope which is deemed okay by Elaine Ingham then there is;

http://www.microscopenet.com/40x2000x-trinocular-compound-microscope-reversed-nosepiece-p-9047.html

Bear in mind that it uses low end LED which is not as versatile for bending light and for photography. Make sure you ask to swap the 100x objective for a 20x.

The most important aspects are lighting and quality optics. How powerful they claim is not of great importance. You require 40X to 400X.

I posted this last time this topic arose and the time before that and...

Once you have a microscope, you need to learn to use it and learn to ID what you see. Practice...practice

http://www.microbeorganics.com/#Microbe_Identification