MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

I didn't want to share specific costs because prices may change before you go and talk to them. However, maybe that's silly. If prices go up, they go up. Actually it's a little better than I remember it. $4k was a quote after some of these upgrades. Scope with achromatic objectives and no 60X: $2,20...

Before considering additional tariffs or other actions, we could start by ceasing government subsidies of Chinese imports. For example, at the moment it costs far less to mail something from China to my house than from 20 miles away to my house because the USPS picks up most of their tab as part of ...

I'm glad for curiosity's sake that you got the 20x apo and the quality is good, but why not just use the 100 dollar Nikon 20x apos available on eBay? I didn't buy an ebay apo because I actually didn't know about them at the time. I ordered this a few months ago and it took more than 2 months to shi...

Finally did a video review of the scope and DIC system. You can check it out if you want.

I finally made a video in which I review my BS2081. This is a top-of-the line Chinese microscope. Normally we think of top microscopes only coming from Japan, Europe and a few other spots, with cheap stuff coming from China. However, at a higher price point they have some nice stuff. It's not perfec...

I wouldn't call the prices low when one can find a quality used scope from a major brand for the same money - sometimes even for less. A used scope is a different animal. A different type of person wants it. If you have some knowledge and are willing to do a little DIY, there are amazing deals on t...

So if I understand correctly, the $3,000 DIC kit was an upgrade option at the time you bought the BestScope 2081, and not a custom kit that they make to order for different microscopes? Yes. The kit consists of a condenser with lower DIC prisms in it, a rotating polarizer, and two sliders that go i...

I upload my pictures to imgur.com. When you do, it gives you BBS code. Paste that here. No limitations and you can customize the size you want and so forth.

I've never used it in a private message, but private messages seem to work pretty much like forum posts, so I think it will work.

Thanks a lot for your help. I went ahead and picked up an e600 body. Between the two not-so-complete scopes I have all the parts I need and they are sure to be compatible. Well, actually I still need a light source. For now I'm going to see how well a dimmable flashlight (maglight style) will work. ...

How does the e400 behave without the lens? Unfortunately the transformer is not working, so I have not yet evaluated the image--I'm intending to rig LED illumination for this scope (or an e600, if I buy one). I could shine a flashlight back there, but I'm not sure that will tell us what we want to ...

That makes OK sense to me. Here is a photo of the innards https://i.imgur.com/3A2ZABDl.jpg There is a glass lens right by the light source, then two thin plastic disks, then at the beginning of the field assembly is the aperture (before the mirror, as you say). I'm under the impression that the dist...

I'm most concerned about the size and shape of the optic that he removes. That's what I'm missing. I don't know that dimensions will help since I don't have his, but if it looks the same to you, that's good for me. My mirror, iris, and assembly are in good condition and the ring that engages with th...

There is a youtube video in which the video maker disassembles this part and pulls out the lens. If you get a chance and are willing, I wonder if you could do what he does between 6:05 and 7:38 and tell me if it all looks the same where it counts. That would give me confidence to pick up the Labopho...

I recently picked up a Nikon e400 that's missing the lens over the illuminator. Whoops. This is sometimes called the "field lens." It's the last piece of glass the light goes through before it goes to the condenser and on this microscope is a thick disk. https://i.imgur.com/soUO0dpm.jpg?1 I'm lookin...

I don't have any DIC images from this scope yet...I haven't 100% figured out my camera solution.

Today or tomorrow I'll do a video review of my scope and start a thread on it in the "my microscope" forum. We can discuss the ins and outs there and I'll see if I can get some sample images as well.

I think other people have said it pretty well. Having a spray bottle with distilled water in it has been pretty handy for microscopy. It was cheap and is very easy to use and everything comes out clean--you don't have to deal with random fibers from wiping and you don't get water spots or streaks. I...

I don't ever save slides and cover slips for later washing. It easy gets out of hand and they stick together and get broken. I have to clean after each microscopes session. I also don't like to dry with anything with any kind of cloth because then you get bits of fiber. 1. Wash each item one at a ti...

I'm really interested in the BS2081 but alas cannot find it in Australia. I am a bit worried about international shipping with the COVID and the risks of loss and customs duties. It would be wonderful if someone in Australia could order one in. It seems like a great budget DIC setup. I've always be...

My wife bought one for use with the cat and I emphasized with great seriousness to my kids that they should never point it at anyone, nor at the cat's eyes. They seemed to get it, but I later found my 9 year old pointing it at his eye through a mirror--he felt like that was a nice loophole in my ins...

I think you are making a wise choice in getting a plan achromat 20X. I have heard several people say that the Chinese plan 160 objectives are noticeably better than the Chinese basic achromats, and I find that 20X is a very useful magnfication, indeed. You might even think about replacing all your o...

You don't need fluorite or apochromatic objectives for DIC. That is interesting; not what I had heard. The folks who sold me my system said you need fluor or better and the only test I've been able to perform indicates that my 60X achromat doesn't work with my 40X/100X DIC components. There could b...

The experts on flocking are usually telescope enthusiasts.

You might be asking related to your new 60 mm parfocal Chinese objectives. I have some of those, so I will gladly sacrifice one and test IPA out for you. No need to put any equipment at risk for me. I'm only interested as a matter of general best practice on any microscope (objectives, eyepieces, o...

The components in a DIC system, from the bottom (light source) to the top are: 1. A linear polarizer (easy to get) 2. A lower Nomarski prism (has to be the right one for your objective) 3. A fluorite or apochromatic objective (Swift does not sell any of these but you may be able to find them on old ...

Easiest way is to use isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs. I guess this is a good time to ask this: I had read somewhere that IPA was too harsh for routine cleaning of microscope optics and that instead we should use n-hexane. Do you have any experience or opinions on this? Or for that matter, dilut...

No condenser can be over an N.A. of 1.0 without an immersion medium. Nikon are good optical designers not wizards. Haha. What I meant was that they may have attempted to design it so that chromatic and spherical aberrations are reasonably low at both 0.9 NA dry or 1.4 NA oiled. I do not know how fe...

Here is my V1 condenser adapter. This one is not centerable...I just holds the dovetail with friction, but it's pretty well centered. The condenser mount, of course, can be centered, but I don't want to change it from the position that works with my other condensers. I don't currently have tools to ...

Dang. I guess it makes sense that condensers would need to be used with the medium for which they were optimized. They are, after all, basically objectives below the stage. We wouldn't expect an oil immersion objective to work properly with a water or air medium. I'm not 100% against oil on the cond...

That's interesting. I thought I had read somewhere that the effective difference between using water and oil on a condenser wasn't really that significant. But I bet that was tested using a 1.25 abbe. Well, I'm open to using oil down there too. Will have to do some testing once I get this put togeth...

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