Opinions on 2 books

[Dale]

Does anyone know if these are worth $22 each?
1. Exploring With A Microscope Werner Nachtigall
2. Better Microscopy Vol's 1 & 2 D J Jackson
Dale

[Oliver]

i have the first one and it is highly recommended. I do not know the second one. whether it is worth the money depends on ones own needs. for beginners who want to get started with microscopy, the first book is very valuable as it contains all relevant info.
Oliver

[Dale]

Thanks Oliver, I couldn't find any opinions online about those two. I'm about
to order a good dozen that have favorable ratings.
Dale

[charlie g]

Hi Dale...what areas of microscopy are you (for now!) intending to pursue? I have no knowledge of either of those books.

There is so much out there for free..or 'dirt cheap from online vendors'...that it prompts me to ask what sort of microscopy you (for now!) intend to pursue? all the best, charlie guevara

[Dale]

Those two are recommended by Mr. Neely from the Xmission site. I counted 21 books on my list, then
tried to sort them to answer your question. I have many, many online references, but to print them would
take too much ink, and I like to have books on the different aspects of the hobby. So, my current interests
are learning to use as many different types of lighting as my AO10 can handle, collecting lab equipment,
studying the history of microscopy, learning microbiology, and learning the language and specifications
of the hardware. I just finished Microbiology Demystified, am reading Deadly Feasts, and next is The
Freshwater Microscopist. If I keep buying books I'll never be able to buy that NIkon!
Dale

[lorez]

as many different types of lighting as my AO10 can handle,

You have all the basic lighting techniques available on your 10. There is brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast on your scope now. You can also do the oblique and Rheinberg and maybe some of the other DIY things that are discussed.

There is a lot of good on-line stuff, if you don't mind reading a screen.

When your Nikon arrives it will have the same capabilities, just a wee bit better. It will also have the potential for DIC, after you save, save, save. for a while.

lorez

[Dale]

Only a wee bit

[lorez]

OK, a WEEEEEEEEEEE bit.

lorez

[Dale]

Oh oh oh, your'e going the wrong way,

[lorez]

Oh oh oh, your'e going the wrong way,

Sorry, let's try this... wee

Does that help ?

lorez

[merrimoles]

I have Nachtigall, and would recommend it if you're fairly new to microscopy. Although a 'beginner's' book, it is very far from being Mickey Mouse. The book is densely packed with solid information. Chapter headings are:

The Microscope
Optics
Illumination
Photomicrography
Drawing and Measuring
The World of Plants
The Animal Kingdom
Inorganic Structures
Aquatic Microorganisms

The book was published in 1994 which means the Photomicrography chapter references film. However, most of the info is relevant to digital.

[Dale]

"lorez"
Does that help ?

Nooo, insert weeping and wailing here, I thought it would be a significant bit better.
Maybe, insert $$$$$$$$$$$$ here, I should consider better objectives?
Or, insert here, I should settle for just my loupe and a lot of Ol Glen L.
Dale

[Dale]

I have Nachtigall, and would recommend it if you're fairly new to microscopy. Although a 'beginner's' book, it is very far from being Mickey Mouse. The book is densely packed with solid information. Chapter headings are:

The Microscope
Optics
Illumination
Photomicrography
Drawing and Measuring
The World of Plants
The Animal Kingdom
Inorganic Structures
Aquatic Microorganisms

The book was published in 1994 which means the Photomicrography chapter references film. However, most of the info is relevant to digital.

For $14 I might gamble on it. I just got Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates, what a book. If I could just get the equivalent in microtechnique.
Thanks,
Dale

[lorez]

Sorry, I didn't mean to cause any angst. You will see significant improvement from the AO 10 to the E600.

When you look for a book on microtechnique what would the chapters look like ?

lorez

[Dale]

Oh what a relief! Good question on what the chapters would look like, I will work on that right now.
Dale

[Dale]

CH 1 Mounting and dissection of insects.
CH 2 Detailed explanation of microscope specifications: WD, NA, etc.
CH 3 Calibration and testing of microscope functions.
Cleaning, and care of all microscope exterior surfaces, glass enamel, plastic.
CH 4 Use, care, and cleaning of slides and slips.
CH 5 Theory and setup of all methods of illumination.
CH 6 Optimizing and upgrading for better images.
CH 7 Practical staining.
CH 8 Modern digital imaging.
CH 9 Microtomes, basic and advanced specimen preparation and slicing.
CH10 Lab equipment. When to toss it, or how to clean it.
CH11 Lab chemicals, good and bad. Safety procedures.

It's expecting a lot to find all that in one volume! It was a good exercise. I have good books on collecting and
identifying specimens, but nothing recent on the above. I've printed it, and will now search for what might exist.
I have 3 or 4 dozen online links, really good ones, but I still want printed references.
BTW, Lorenz, I bought a big polypropylene cutting board and will generate my stage disc's from that, but thanks for the offer.
Dale
After close examination of the 50+ online links I see I have what I need. Just have to organize it.