Inexpensive microscope recommendations?

living_tribunal · Nov 15, 2019

Looking to pick up an inexpensive yet decent microscope to identify algaes. Something in the range of $25-75.

Any recommendations?

BamboozleBean · Nov 15, 2019

How small do you want to go?
They make this one for your phone, my friend has it, and it is able to zoom in a surprising amount.

living_tribunal · Nov 15, 2019

BamboozleBean said:
How small do you want to go?
They make this one for your phone, my friend has it, and it is able to zoom in a surprising amount.

Maybe something a little bit more legitimate. Just to identify dino types, diatom types, algae types, as they appear.

Gareth elliott · Nov 15, 2019

I went with this.
Example of a video using its camera.

taricha · Nov 15, 2019

Go with Gareth's recommendation. $60-70 gets you sturdy metal frame, good optics, fine focus knob, some lighting control. It'll show you everything you could want to see.

living_tribunal · Nov 15, 2019

Gareth elliott said:
I went with this.
Example of a video using its camera.

This looks like the winner.

I appreciate the suggestion.

Gareth elliott · Nov 15, 2019

living_tribunal said:
This looks like the winner.

I appreciate the suggestion.

Np its a clone of mid priced am scopes at like half the price. I would also pick up something a plastic index card holder to hold the optics, slides and covers, will keep them dust free. Also use a book sock for the scope itself lol.

living_tribunal · Nov 15, 2019

Gareth elliott said:
Np its a clone of mid priced am scopes at like half the price. I would also pick up something a plastic index card holder to hold the optics, slides and covers, will keep them dust free. Also use a book sock for the scope itself lol.

I find it funny how new comers to the hobby and every article regarding the leap focus on lighting and what not to approximate the cost of entering.

Lights ain’t the expensive part, digital refractometers, skimmers, microscopes, digital colorometers, light mounts, raging coral addictions, and the small yet incremental compilation of the small stuff is the expensive part.