Must be a Chinaman.

Was that racist?

I joke.

[foomar]

Makers like Vickers did thousands of boxed sets for students 50,s to 80,s , well made but usually with damaged or missmatched optics by now , worth getting one cheap and replaceing glass if needed as nothing current will come close for 1000 quid.

The rack and pinnion mechanism is quality and adjustable for wear , maintaining precise and repeatable movement.

The cheap modern ones have a loose unpredictable backlash travel from poor design and materials , this quickly becomes maddening in use.


Noticed on fleabay that the famous names fetch a high price , but lesser known but still very good makers go for little in comparison.

Its worth consideration that quality second hand retains its resale value but chinese crap goes to landfill fast.

[Microbeman]

Vickers is rare in North America.

[Microbeman]

For example only. These links will soon be no good.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leitz-Wetzla...b#ht_87wt_1152

damn good scope but a little awkward stage controls; I have a similar one which I use at seminars.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leitz-Dialux...#ht_1366wt_914

probably a good scope



https://www.ebay.com/itm/LEITZ-WETZLA...3#ht_511wt_914

They do not give good details but if it has good optics, working and the correct condenser to correspond to the objectives it is worth more than twice the posted price. It looks as if it includes an adjustable magnification enhancer which I have seen sell for $3500 by itself. If in good shape, the 100x interference objective by itself is worth $2500.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cased-Leitz-...ht_3661wt_1152

Nice little scope

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-Leitz-...#ht_392wt_1152

example of overpriced

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LEITZ-LABORL...f#ht_531wt_914

could be worth inquiry

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ernst-Leitz-...1#ht_889wt_914

sounds good

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LEITZ-WETZLA...ht_27021wt_914

worthy of inquiry


You get the idea

[Microbeman]

Note that since this was made a sticky, I have edited/updated the first post.

No offense MM just wondering why this is a sticky.

what percentage of people here do you think use microscopes?

[Microbeman]

Originally Posted by BugJar

No offense MM just wondering why this is a sticky.

what percentage of people here do you think use microscopes?

Search me.

Originally Posted by BugJar

No offense MM just wondering why this is a sticky.

what percentage of people here do you think use microscopes?

I made it a stickie in hopes of more people getting to use them. MM has a great understanding of their uses and which types are best. I thought it would make a good informative stickie. That´s all.

V

I find it interesting to read also.

[anonymousgrow]

Organic gardening is one thing but I feel like a microscope is necessary for compost and compost tea. More than likely if someone just follow the recipes found on this and other sites he or she won't kill the plants. if one is just seeking to copy other, that limits one's potential. How does one truly attempt the make good compost or tea without one? I am genuinely curious if people have means of testing the content of compost tea without a microscope.

[Microbeman]

Originally Posted by vonforne

I made it a stickie in hopes of more people getting to use them. MM has a great understanding of their uses and which types are best. I thought it would make a good informative stickie. That´s all.

V

I find it interesting to read also.

There are also at least 10 threads regarding microscopy in this forum (IIRC).

It is a little amusing 'to me' that some growers are willing to spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on bottled nutrients which cost the manufacturer 5 cents per gallon to mix up and the latest in light assemblies, CO2 injectors, on and on; yet they cringe at the stupidity of investing several hundred dollars in a microscope which may allow them to see when ACT is ready or evaluate their own [vermi]compost or growing media. [This of course assumes they are using natural or microbial based growing techniques]

Just as some use a TDS/EC meter to mix nutrients to the correct PPM, I can look with a microscope to see if I have a population of flagellates and bacteria/archaea in a microbial extrapolation (ACT) and determine that it will cycle nutrients if applied to the soil at that time.

With a microscope I can see if there are bacteria/archaea, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, etc. active in my soil or compost.