Microscopes

[Ziggy]

Just wondering if anyone on here uses a microscope?

Have no knowledge of them, but would like to purchase one of decent quality, without spending a fortune. Just to use on a rainy day...or night!

Any info on good brands or models, and any useful accessories would be much appreciated.

Thanks for any help and responses.

Cheers!

[xelasnave]

Good question..I have 2 kids ones..very basic..akin to a department store scope I expect when stood alongside a good unit.
A mate has a excellent scope bino with a third turret which houses a web cam..he would not tell me how much or where...cause I think he wants to swap me for my red guitar:D
alex:):):):)

[[1ponders]]

What sort of things are you wanting to look at? There are two basic consumer types, ones that bounce light of them and are like looking through a magnifying glass (https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Catalog.aspx?Category=microscopes) (generally set magnification of 10X or 20X) and the typical compound one that requires you to make transparent slides and the light shines from underneath and through (rotating turret of 10X, 40X 100X etc).

If you contact Lily from Bintel, she deals with the microscope side of things down there.

[sheeny]

Hey Ziggy,

I'm not sure what you want to use the microscope for... that will determine what type of microscope to get as I understand it. Microscopes for biology are generally pretty different from microscopes used for metallurgy say.

I was a bit like you I think, I wanted a microscope to play with rather than anything serious, and I ended up finding a USB microscope - the Dinolite. It suits some of the failure investigation work I do at wok as well.;) Have a look here:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=228075

Al.

[RB]

Dang Mr Ponders, stop posting before me !

I was going to say the same thing.
I've seen some nice models on display in the Sydney store when I visit.

Give them a tinker bell.


:)

[Ziggy]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the links! Have bought heaps of astronomical stuff from Bintel and didn't even give a thought to check their website for microscopes. Will send them off an email with some questions.

Tried googling the other day, but didn't know where to start with all the results. Still not sure, but the stereo microscope seems like the easier one to use, and more versatile, though like the extra magnification of the compound scopes.

I guess they're the same as telescopes...you can't stop at just one!

Will give it more thought, but thanks again for the info.

Cheers

[Suzy_A]

Have a look at - http://www.aunet.com.au/dinolite.htm

It's a digital microscope - hook it up to a computer via the USB and have a look at things. I saw one in a museum and was very impressed with it.