MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Yeah, makes sense. Perhaps I should just be happy that I have a free scope!

Appreciate all the info!

I decided I should actually put some flies under them both to compare (I work with drosophila) and I realised that if we had both in the lab, and I had to choose between one or the other for my every day work, I would pick the zeiss for sure. So I think that says it all really. Thanks for everyone's...

Ok, I think I'm just about convinced. What do you think about the idea that the older one might be hard to find replacement parts for etc. Or if I look after it should it last a lifetime?

I actually think a lower magnification would be better, say a 5x, because that would give me a 20x zoom, intermediate between the current lowest (8x) and highest (40x).

But if the eyepieces have to be specific, then I'd say there isn't much chance of me picking any up.

The eyepieces in the Zeiss are 10x /21

Are eyepieces generally interchangeable or can I only use /21 pieces?

Yeah, I feel like the Zeiss has better clarity.

Where would you guys go about looking for parts for an old Zeiss? Looking on ebay I'm only seeing whole units (and they are quite expensive).

The Motic has notches on the zoom knob, but it's continuous zoom. Your view isn't obstructed between each level as it switches lenses, if that was what you meant?

I should have clarified. I've been offered one of them for free. I'm too poor to actually buy a microscope. These are left overs from a teaching lab at my university. So with that in mind, which should I take?

Hi Everyone, I just got offered to have one of two dissecting microscopes. A motic SMZ-168, and a Zeiss Stemi DRC, not sure of the precise model number. They are both pretty old. The Motic has a variable zoom from 0.75-5.0, while the Zeiss has two objectives that you can slide back and force in a ra...