myco Posted February 4, 2012 hey guys im looking for a microscope for mycology purposes was wondering if anyone has any recomendations on where or wat i should look for im not looking at spending any huge amounts of money i've been looking around a bit already but thought maybe some people on here might have some good advice any help would be very much apreciated thanks guys Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niggles Posted February 4, 2012 these cost $20 and are pretty awesome. I like taking them to festivals to look at miscellany http://www.dealextreme.com/p/pocket-led-illuminated-100x-microscope-2-x-aa-82938 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
myco Posted February 4, 2012 they look like a pretty handy little portable thing however im looking for something a bit better than that i've got a very good DSLR and i plan on getting an attachment so i can not just look but get high qaulity images from it aswell from my research it seems 400x is suitable for mycology purposes anyone know if this is true ?? im looking at using for proper microscopic identification to not just for looking at prints its something i'd really like to learn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ferret Posted February 4, 2012 yep you'd want to start off with 40-400x magnification (4x, 10x, 40x objective lenses, with a 10x eyepiece). later on down the track you may want to get a 100x oil immersion lens to get up close and personal. while you're at it you may as well get some 'congo red' stain, makes things a hell of a lot easier to see. actually let me know when you get your scope, i have a decent stash of it i could send you a thousand slides worth of stain.. from memory you can get something like that off ebay for around 150 bucks. if you plan on attaching a camera you can also get one with an extra 'port' where you attach the camera on the top, in addition to the eyepiece. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sallubrious Posted February 4, 2012 (edited) I've been looking into upgrading my scope for a while too From my experience 400x will be enough for mycological work. You can even get a look at some bacteria with a 400x fitted with a condenser (if you know how to use it). Magnification can be misleading though, 400x magnification with shitty cheap optics will give you a distorted image not suited to photography. It's the quality of the optics that are most important so look for a scope with standard size objective lenses and eyepieces, that way you can upgrade to more expensive oil immersion objectives later if you need to. http://www.sizes.com.../microscope.htm Edited February 4, 2012 by SallyD Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
myco Posted February 4, 2012 (edited) thanks ferret i cant seem to find much on ebay that has a second port wich was something i was hoping for i can only see a couple on there and they're like $400 im hoping to get something more like $100 - $150 like you said these are about the best cheapest ones i can find im only looking in aus though maybe i should look at some international ones i'd just prefer to get one from aus this one seems a little to cheap wich worries me about the qaulity of it http://www.ebay.com....=item56486d08c1 this one looks a bit better but still doesnt have a second port wich is something i really want edit: just realised this ones actually in america http://www.ebay.com....=item53e9f5b456 Edited February 4, 2012 by myco Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sallubrious Posted February 4, 2012 I dunno Myco they look a bit cheap and maybe nasty as well. One of them is from a toy shop. Neither of them have fine focus control, and I don't think they have a condenser (there is something under the stage but ???). You really need the condenser to give you the contrast needed for a good photo. I've seen one on amazon that has had good reviews, I think it has a condenser. http://www.amazon.co...8326419&sr=8-11 I don't know if they send them here. There is a company on ebay that has some good entry level scopes, they have good feedback so I'm considering one from them. I'm not sold on the semi plan optics, but the build quality looks good and the objectives could be upgraded if needed. http://stores.ebay.c...sid=p4340.l2563 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
myco Posted February 4, 2012 haha yeh cheap and nasty was my thoughts to i was more just looking at the prices but after reading the specs on em a bit more i definately wont be getting either of them im just not really prepared to spend more than like $200 tops at this point when im just starting out its a bit much to go spend 400 buks or something on one thanks for that last link there sally d looks like they've got some good stuff there i think that will definately be the place to get one Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niggles Posted February 4, 2012 this is my 200x digital usb toy i just bought ... http://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=30886 my first play with it revealed important information! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
domeboy Posted February 4, 2012 I got 2 microscopes from a wholesaler in china via alibaba for $400 inc postage. Both of them are professional quality and are often ones sold here for $600+. My compound microscope has everything you would expect (highest lense is 100x) and only set me back $250. It did take a while to get here though. If you are happy to wait and you don't mind spending hours chatting to sales assistants to try and find one and organise for a single unit to be shipped, this is by far the best option that I have come across. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
myco Posted February 4, 2012 this one here is making me want to up my budget a bit haha very tempting http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2000x-Trinocular-Medical-Clinical-Pathology-Microscope-w-Semi-Plan-Objectives-/110811183247?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ccdc788f Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sallubrious Posted February 4, 2012 Looks OK Myco It has some good features, maybe a few I'd never use but they'd be nice to have. I'd be tempted to spend a bit less on the scope and maybe pick a top quality objective lens from somewhere else, just for the photographic work. I'd think the lenses they supply would be fine for visual work but they could have some aberrations that could show up with a good SLR. The camera typically bypasses the eyepiece/s so with the camera the eyepiece magnification becomes irrelevant and you are back to the quality of the objective lens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
myco Posted February 4, 2012 jeez this is proving to be rather tough maybe i should just pay you sally d to find me wat im looking for hahhaha Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Psylo Posted February 4, 2012 Can anyone tell me what magnification would be required to evaluate populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a sample ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niggles Posted February 4, 2012 i had a look on alibaba, there are some really nice looking ones there available in single units for between $100 and $300.. I think I might be keen to double up with you myco if we find something awesome for reasonable price. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niggles Posted February 4, 2012 Also.. I thought Id share some fun from my 200x usb microscope ... fairy crystal my knee scab my earhole my nostril my tongue my pants interbeings eyeball. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sallubrious Posted February 4, 2012 Can anyone tell me what magnification would be required to evaluate populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a sample ? You would be looking at about 3 - 5 µm so about 100x with decent lenses should give you a look at those. 200x would be better. Here's a cool little toy that can give you a good idea of scale, numbers are really an abstract concept when you can't see something for comparison. Use the slider to zoom http://learn.genetic...in/cells/scale/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
