Microscope

[KGscv]

https://a.co/d/2Vk1NFD Will this microscope be enough to id dinos?

 

[KGscv]

Bump help

 

[Fish Fan]

If by "enough" do you mean the magnification? If so, yes. You can view most dinoflagellates at somewhere around 80x-400x. Is it a quality 'scope? I have no idea. This is the kind of thing where you get what you pay for, especially where the optics are concerned. But, it seems to get great reviews, and will likely be fine for the home hobbyist examining some dinos.

I can say that the AmScopes are really popular here at R2R. This one is similar to what you linked above. It does not have a phone mount like the one you linked, but honestly that's not that serious, in my opinion. I went to school for bio, and you can simply hold your smartphone camera up to the ocular lens (eye piece) and snap a pic:

Monocular AmScope from the big orange online bookstore

If you can justify a little more money (well, a lot more money lol!) on this purchase, a binocular 'scope (one with two eyepieces) may be easier for you to use. If you do go with a monocular 'scope remember to still keep both eyes open, don't squint through one eye; that can't take some getting used to.

Here's an Amscope that's binocular and has an included camera, which is lower resolution that a typical smart phone these days, but I think you may get better results, if you want to have digital pics of your slides that you can share here on R2R, for example:

Binocular AmScope from the big orange online bookstore

Personally, a 'scope is very much on my shopping list, it's just not the priority right this second, but I really want one someday soon. I have been leaning towards the Swift brand. They seem to be just a little cheaper than the AmScopes, and they get really great reviews. I believe they are (or possibly were) made in Japan:

Swift 'scope from the big orange online bookstore

And I just notice this Swift 'scope that looks to be pretty similar to what you originally linked, and even just a little less expensive:

Inexpensive Swift 'scope from the big orange online bookstore

A couple things that may help:

• Protozoans such as dinoflagellates are way bigger (<that's a scientific term) than bacteria, for example. A typical 40x-1000x is more than enough for most aquarium hobbyists examining protozoans, and I think only professional or extremely dedicated aquarists are trying to view bacteria.
• If you or anyone else wanted to view macro critters close up, like maybe some worms or something that you can see by the naked eye, consider a stereo microscope in the range of like 20x-40x is a solid choice. A stereo microscope (or dissection microscope) is the tool of choice when you want to view larger critters that have some three-dimensionality, unlike *seemingly* flat microbes on a slide.
• If you have a medical school in your area, look there first!!! Many early medical school students are required to get very nice 'scopes, they use them for a semester or two, and then practically give them away like an old textbook.

If you purchase and use that microscope or any other, could you let us know how it works for you?

I hope this helps and good luck!

 

[IceNein]

I agree with Fish Fan. No hate towards China, but they have factories that pump out low quality goods and companies just slap their branding on it and then Amazon becomes saturated with the same low quality junk from 20 vendors.

Some Chinese companies are good, they have names that have been around for a while, and you can expect that they'll be here two years from now. Names like Jebao/Jecod, Hygger, etc.

I would go with that $100 AmScope monocular dealie. It will do everythign you need it to do.

 

[Fish Fan]

I agree with Fish Fan. No hate towards China, but they have factories that pump out low quality goods and companies just slap their branding on it and then Amazon becomes saturated with the same low quality junk from 20 vendors.

Some Chinese companies are good, they have names that have been around for a while, and you can expect that they'll be here two years from now. Names like Jebao/Jecod, Hygger, etc.

I would go with that $100 AmScope monocular dealie. It will do everythign you need it to do.

I believe the AmScope's are made in China, but I agree totally with your sentiment. When it comes to optics, you get what you pay for. Do most of us humble hobbyists need the highest quality optics? That's something you can all decide for yourself. But I often see the AmScope recommended here at R2R, so I agree it would make a soid choice.

@IceNein do you have a 'scope. and if so, what do you have? Thanks in advance!

 

[KGscv]

If by "enough" do you mean the magnification? If so, yes. You can view most dinoflagellates at somewhere around 80x-400x. Is it a quality 'scope? I have no idea. This is the kind of thing where you get what you pay for, especially where the optics are concerned. But, it seems to get great reviews, and will likely be fine for the home hobbyist examining some dinos.

I can say that the AmScopes are really popular here at R2R. This one is similar to what you linked above. It does not have a phone mount like the one you linked, but honestly that's not that serious, in my opinion. I went to school for bio, and you can simply hold your smartphone camera up to the ocular lens (eye piece) and snap a pic:

Monocular AmScope from the big orange online bookstore

If you can justify a little more money (well, a lot more money lol!) on this purchase, a binocular 'scope (one with two eyepieces) may be easier for you to use. If you do go with a monocular 'scope remember to still keep both eyes open, don't squint through one eye; that can't take some getting used to.

Here's an Amscope that's binocular and has an included camera, which is lower resolution that a typical smart phone these days, but I think you may get better results, if you want to have digital pics of your slides that you can share here on R2R, for example:

Binocular AmScope from the big orange online bookstore

Personally, a 'scope is very much on my shopping list, it's just not the priority right this second, but I really want one someday soon. I have been leaning towards the Swift brand. They seem to be just a little cheaper than the AmScopes, and they get really great reviews. I believe they are (or possibly were) made in Japan:

Swift 'scope from the big orange online bookstore

And I just notice this Swift 'scope that looks to be pretty similar to what you originally linked, and even just a little less expensive:

Inexpensive Swift 'scope from the big orange online bookstore

A couple things that may help:

• Protozoans such as dinoflagellates are way bigger (<that's a scientific term) than bacteria, for example. A typical 40x-1000x is more than enough for most aquarium hobbyists examining protozoans, and I think only professional or extremely dedicated aquarists are trying to view bacteria.
• If you or anyone else wanted to view macro critters close up, like maybe some worms or something that you can see by the naked eye, consider a stereo microscope in the range of like 20x-40x is a solid choice. A stereo microscope (or dissection microscope) is the tool of choice when you want to view larger critters that have some three-dimensionality, unlike *seemingly* flat microbes on a slide.
• If you have a medical school in your area, look there first!!! Many early medical school students are required to get very nice 'scopes, they use them for a semester or two, and then practically give them away like an old textbook.

If you purchase and use that microscope or any other, could you let us know how it works for you?

I hope this helps and good luck!

Thanks a lot for the info. Was asking cause i can buy a used one for $30. Cause if the cheap one can id small algae im fine with it. Id rather allocate money into the tank rather than expensive microscope.

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks a lot for the info. Was asking cause i can buy a used one for $30. Cause if the cheap one can id small algae im fine with it. Id rather allocate money into the tank rather than expensive microscope.

As long as it's all there and there's no damage to the lenses, I go $30 for that 'scope and be very happy with it :-) You can always upgrade if you feel yuo need to.

Definitely let us know how it works for you! Good luck!