Microscope

[Paul31733]

Hey everybody!

Just wondering if looking for a microscope to identify algae or bacteria, which magnification X's should I be looking for?
Thanks.
Paul.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Excellent question. And maybe a brand, model and price point suggestions would be appreciated.

I'm looking as well. But I just keep putting it off.

 

[jccaclimber]

Hopefully someone who does this for a living will chime in, but until then here’s my take. It’s been a few years, but a friend bought one of these (link below) in the 40x to 1000x range. We then compared it to a lower end Zeiss I have that retails closer to $1000 and frankly the difference was minimal, and they have an updated version on sale for under $80. If you want stereo which is nice, the model there is a bit more than $200 and a more fair comparison to the Zeiss. The image isn’t as crisp as the $50k Leica I use at work, but it is surprisingly good. I hate cheap tools with a passion, but was surprised at how good cheap scopes have gotten for hobbyist uses.

https://www.amscope.com/40x-1000x-b...wJeCmhBCsEZoBaUNIocBnv5OgciSfyAMaAhH0EALw_wcB

 

[Paul31733]

Has anyone used these or are they junk?

 

[MrsBugmaster]

There are many threads on microscopes, just do a search.
Here is a good place to start
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/selecting-a-microscope.308826/page-2

 

[Biglew11]

I'm quite happy with my Amscope. I too hate cheap garbage, and the Amscopes don't feel like cheap garbage when using them. I got a 40x - 2000x stereo scope with the monocle for a ccd camera.

 

[MTBake]

I use an Amscope. Works well for my hobbies.

 

[Cory]

I bought an amscope. Pretty nice looking images. After i found out they were ostreopsis i haven't used the scope again. But i did buy a uc sterilizer to kill them 2 times. First i bought a cheap one and it worked for 95% of them. I liked it so much that i bought a big 90watt ho lifegard. So id suggest just getting a cheap uv sterilizer if its for dinos. If not this has been great amscope m150c

https://www.amscope.com/40x-1000x-student-compound-microscope-home-school-science.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAudD_BRBXEiwAudakX9wDU-yrQ8iRod69uSx9UEEt_uw7-w9YZYMVf4hGoB-ErSo56aP0kxoCpnoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Ron Reefman]

OK, I'm going to jump in and order one.

I already have a PAR meter and a refractometer, I might as well have another tool I rarely use! BTW, I use a simple 'calibrated' hydrometer and the refractometer sits in it's case on the shelf. The last time I used it was to calibrate the hydrometer for the 5 annual test. It tested perfect, the same 0.005 too low that it has been since I got it new. That last test was a few years ago. I wonder if the refractometer still works... but it probably needs to be re-calibrated... again!

 

[takitaj]

I just ordered this one. I wanted a decent trinocular but had to settle for binocular and I needed slides. I can order a nice camera later on. Their camera prices are pretty good too. Hopefully it has decent optics. Thanks to whoever posted the link to them!

40X-2500X LED Lab Binocular Compound Microscope with 3D-Stage with 50pc Blank Slides (amscope.com)