Guys need your advise for my first microscope

What equipment do you use? Post pictures and descriptions of your microscope(s) here!
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Air
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Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:04 pm

Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#1 Post by Air » Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:30 pm

Hey &Thanks for reading. :mrgreen:
A store in our neighborhood is selling this korean Microscope: (200$)
http://www.bestmadeinkorea.com/product- ... scope.html
Would you mind to have a look at it?
I need it for studing (marine)water organisms and algae.(if possible bacteria as well)
Does it have all the minimum requiment?
Is there a feature missing?
Or should I buy somthing else?
Becuase of a limited budge can't buy somthing more expensive at this time.


I'm a newbie and need your help and advise.
Thanks again for your time.
Please help me :cry:

billbillt
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#2 Post by billbillt » Wed Feb 01, 2017 5:08 pm

In my opinion, this will do just fine for HOBBY use.. It has everything you will need... Buying a fancy stand with special features is a waste of money for hobby use.....

BillT

Brad_
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#3 Post by Brad_ » Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:02 pm

I was going to keep my mouth shut because $200 microscopes are usually toys and not worth commenting on. This one isn't. At first, I thought it was new and I couldn't believe the price. Now I assume it's used because no-name microscopes have very little resale value.

If the neighborhood store will allow you to return it in case of gross defects then you have a pretty good deal.

The web site you listed is a bit strange. It has none of the fraudulent claims that are so common although the ""Eight magnifications" must be talking about 16X eyepieces that are not included. That's OK because you do not want them. The $20 Catalog is most unusual in the twenty-first century.

I'm a bit curious about their asking price. It's probably well over $1000. At that price you could do _way_ better but for $200 you'll have all you need to get started.

Have fun and let us know how it works out.

Brad

apochronaut
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#4 Post by apochronaut » Thu Feb 02, 2017 3:42 am

come-on, come-on, come-on, come-on, baby
come-on, come-on, come-on, come-on, baby
come-on, come-on, come on, come-on, baby
come-on, come-on, come-on, come-on, baby

we've got korean scopes for $200 right here
they've got all the parts that the big ones have
you don't have to have no fear

if a Kia cost 2,000 bucks, you'd think it would have one gear
so how come these full featured scopes from Korea
can be not very dear?

it's because
it's a come-on, come-on, come-on, come-on, baby...

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75RR
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#5 Post by 75RR » Thu Feb 02, 2017 11:31 am

Some details of where you are located, whether this is for a school project or part of your coursework would be useful.
Does your school/college have microscopes and will you be using them as part of your studies?
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

charlie g
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#6 Post by charlie g » Thu Feb 02, 2017 6:15 pm

I await this posters reply to question of his/her location on our globe. That link really bothers me...I hope Oliver has good fire-walls! I could not 'get out of that link'...I had to close tabs (and here I was logged into forum when I closed tabs) to exit that site....hmmm.

For what it's worth...the direct scope depicted when the OP link is followed..it shows a binoc scope...it lists 'two eyepieces'.


The big image of a binocular scope is boldly labelled: "trinocular microscope"...hmmm.

Congrats on trying for a first microscope, air! charlie guevara

Air
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#7 Post by Air » Fri Feb 03, 2017 8:53 am

Hi again,
BillT and Brad thank you for your very quick replay and also all others who replayed to the my request.
Sorry if I somehow wasted your time over this cheap scope.

well as you can see this scope has no name on it and I consider myself lucky to even find this scope online. The only hint I had was "Korean Microscope" which the shopkeeper told me, so I went googling on it.

My main goal is to study at a hobby level "the Bacterias that causes disease and harm to marine fishes and organisms. Well to reach that level I want or better need to learn the things at lower magnification, like algae and microorganisms.

I just started my life after college and have very limited budget and can't effort something fancy.

After reading all the opinions I actually was going to buy it and let you know how this cheap scope works.

Thank you all, I really Love this Forum! ;)
a political scientist finding his way under Microscopes :mrgreen:

apochronaut
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#8 Post by apochronaut » Fri Feb 03, 2017 12:11 pm

I'm sorry , Air for misreading you. From the way it was presented, the page looked like a generic promotional page for Korean products; with no prices, no models. Also, asking for information before they provide any to you. Looked like a sales pitch to me. Anyway, if you can acquire that very microscope , pictured for 200.00; then it looks like a very fair price for that.

charlie g
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#9 Post by charlie g » Fri Feb 03, 2017 5:28 pm

Welcome to microscopy...great you start with a target area of study,Air. Please online...visit simple material: aquatic food webs...marine food webs. This simple orientation to role of bacteria and other protists in aquatic food webs ...well it gives you a sense of simple systems..which you may then delve into deeper (pun!) for the complexities.

And do shout a hearty: 'Bravo for Sir Alister Hardy, 1920's food web pioneer! Sir Hardy was studying herring fish in North Atlantic..this brought him to closely study: micro plankton, phytoplankton, zooplankton..and the interchanges of whom eats whom..what size eats what...easy now to appreciate this..Sir Hardy laid ground work and diagramed food-webs which look like those we now use to grasp 'whats going on between trophic levels?!

Today we still use :'continuous plankton recorders which are very much the device Sir Alister Hardy invented for his studies, I think online you can go to institutes which are running these continuous plakton recorders all over our globe.

As I bob about in North Sea..treading fingers through larvae of shrimp,herring fry...I salute Air for entering into marine aquatic food webs..and search for microscopy of fish protist pathogens.


charlie guevara

CaptainKirk
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#10 Post by CaptainKirk » Sat Feb 04, 2017 6:55 pm

Air wrote:Hey &Thanks for reading. :mrgreen:
A store in our neighborhood is selling this korean Microscope: (200$)
http://www.bestmadeinkorea.com/product- ... scope.html
Would you mind to have a look at it?
I need it for studing (marine)water organisms and algae.(if possible bacteria as well)
Does it have all the minimum requiment?
Is there a feature missing?
Or should I buy somthing else?
Becuase of a limited budge can't buy somthing more expensive at this time.


I'm a newbie and need your help and advise.
Thanks again for your time.
Please help me :cry:
It's the same as Amscope's B360. If it's $200 you're saving yourself $50~

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75RR
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#11 Post by 75RR » Sat Feb 04, 2017 7:05 pm

It's the same as Amscope's B360. If it's $200 you're saving yourself $50~
+ save on shipping
Good catch CaptainKirk

Actually Amazon has the LED version for $235.18

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-B360B-LE ... scope+b360

and the Halogen Version for $ 258.72

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-B360A-Ma ... scope+b360
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

Air
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#12 Post by Air » Mon Feb 06, 2017 6:59 pm

Hi, Air is on Air again :D

@apochronaut: I appreciate your help, Cheers.

@charlie guevara: Wow! Thaaaaanks! That was really helpful, that made my day! Big LIKE.

@CaptainKirk: Yes! That most be an exact (cheap) Copy of the Amscope B360. Even the body color is the same. It's now giving me second thought whether to buy it or go for the B360 which is at least a well known Brand.

@75RR: Thanks man. But could you tell me which is better? The Led version or Halogen?

ps: I check/read this page everyday, but only answer/write with delay. Sorry about this.
a political scientist finding his way under Microscopes :mrgreen:

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75RR
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#13 Post by 75RR » Mon Feb 06, 2017 7:06 pm

@CaptainKirk: yes! that most be an exact (cheap) Copy of the Amscope B360. Even the body color is the same. It's now giving me second thought whether to buy it or go for the B360 which is at least a well known Brand.
Not a copy! It is the exact same microscope. If you buy enough of them they put your name on it.
@75RR: Thanks man. But could you tell me which is better? The Led version or Halogen?
The one that costs $200 is best ;)
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

Air
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#14 Post by Air » Wed Feb 08, 2017 10:47 am

Hmm.... that most be the way, how Business works this days :)
Ok, advise taken :mrgreen:
a political scientist finding his way under Microscopes :mrgreen:

oakleywerks
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#15 Post by oakleywerks » Wed Feb 08, 2017 4:09 pm

This is curious... korean microscope that's the same as the amscope (which is chinese). All the inexpensive (non Big 4) stuff is largely from China. Of course, Big 4 stuff made there too but to high spec, with QA. If it is true that the scope on the bestkorean website is same as the amscope model mentioned above... you are probably best ordering through Amazon if you happen to have a Prime account.
Lytkarino MBS-9 [ST-100]
http://lzos.ru/en/index.php?page=shop.p ... t&Itemid=2

AO 20 trinoc, 100W, infinity plan achro 4-100x

billbillt
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#16 Post by billbillt » Wed Feb 08, 2017 4:44 pm

oakleywerks wrote:This is curious... korean microscope that's the same as the amscope (which is chinese). All the inexpensive (non Big 4) stuff is largely from China. Of course, Big 4 stuff made there too but to high spec, with QA. If it is true that the scope on the bestkorean website is same as the amscope model mentioned above... you are probably best ordering through Amazon if you happen to have a Prime account.
A lot of the Big 4 stuff is from China also.. Higher specs?.. That's debatable... The "higher specs" myth is fielded by the Big 4 to try to help sales...

BillT

Brad_
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#17 Post by Brad_ » Thu Feb 09, 2017 11:02 pm

The Korean scope does have a centerable condenser which is
essential and a filter tray which is truly useful. It does lack
the flashlight that Amscope sticks on the base.

Brad

Air
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#18 Post by Air » Sun Apr 16, 2017 7:35 pm

hey!
thanks for all the replies.
so after few months delay, I finally bought the cheap scope.
The Microscope had no paper/document and no wooden box.
I was a bit surprised by some changes in scope properties:
1. Made in China instead of Korea
2. no 16x WF eyepiece, only 10 WF
3. no slides or what so ever.

By the way I found the Manufacture website> (Model: XS-901) > http://ec91120812.buy.globalinse.com/pz ... s-910.html
I have currently problem uploading my pictures here, sorry (

A fatal Problem I am facing: Well after watching my slide of pond water, I wanted to identify the Organism with the Guide books, but they ARE WAAAAY TOO SMALL !!! I had a different Image in mind form all the pictures in the books and the Videos uploaded on youtube. I nearly can see any details in even 400x. Just some general shapes of them. The people in youtube had no problem too see the details in 200X, and 400X was almost not needed. So what am I doing wrong? Is this because the lens are cheap? need really an advise ((

Thanks for reading.

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75RR
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#19 Post by 75RR » Sun Apr 16, 2017 10:06 pm

There is usually not much to see in 'clean' water.
If you try with greenish pond water, you will probably have more luck.
Water from plant pot trays are often full of interesting life. Generally speaking the muckier the better.

As for bacteria, unless you are looking at cyanobacteria, they are mostly too small to see clearly even at 1000x

Here are a couple of links that should help with IDs of the larger and more interesting pond life.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=25

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=806
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

Air
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#20 Post by Air » Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:37 am

No no, that's not what I meant. Sorry I must have misspoken myself.

I am familiar with water organisms and I used an absolute green water. I was able to see a lot of diatoms, green / red Algae and Ciliates, but they appeared too small, just like dots, even in 400x magnification. My point is why other users can see the same organisms with even 200x, much bigger than what I am seeing?

Thanks again.
a political scientist finding his way under Microscopes :mrgreen:

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75RR
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#21 Post by 75RR » Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:42 am

What is the objective magnification and the eyepiece magnification you are using?
Are you viewing through the binoculars or on a computer screen?

If you can post a photo of what you see through the eyepieces. Hold a camera/phone over the eyepiece.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

Air
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#22 Post by Air » Mon Apr 17, 2017 11:06 am

10 x WF eyep.
10 and 40 x lenses, wich I think are 16 mm.
Will try uploading the pictures soon. I sent a link of the scope earlier.
No monitor screen just binoculares.
Thanks

Air
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#23 Post by Air » Mon Apr 17, 2017 1:19 pm

Sorry for the bad format
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75RR
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#24 Post by 75RR » Mon Apr 17, 2017 6:12 pm

Apart from the hallucination causing images (shades of Alice in Wonderland), what you have looks fine.
Should give you 400x as you say.

Perhaps you are referring to the fact that photos and videos magnify the subject yet again - particularly when viewed on a monitor.

In this image of mine both the Ostracod and the Diatom are 120µm long. That is just over 1/10 of a millimeter.
Viewed through the microscope at 400x (40x objective and 10x eyepiece), that would make them 48mm long.
Viewed here on your screen (depending on its resolution) it is about 180 mm long, for a total magnification of 1500x if I got my sums right.

Image
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

Air
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#25 Post by Air » Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:19 pm

Yes! You are absolute Correct. That was a very helpful description, many thanks to you.
I think I saw too much pictures and videos on pc monitor before buying myself a microscope.
But I can't understand how people have worked/studied on a very small picture which the scope with out digital screen gave them :|
Can I do somthing to enjoy an extra magnification without using a higher lens?
In your opinion, should I go digital? Or is there another way to improve my situation?

Best Regards

Air
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#26 Post by Air » Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:37 pm

Some examples in 1000 x magnificatin. They where the biggest things to Catch, but still useless(
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75RR
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Re: Guys need your advise for my first microscope

#27 Post by 75RR » Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:49 pm

You need to keep looking. Try getting samples from another source.
You should be able to find plenty of interesting and attractive things that at 400x should fill a good part of the field of view.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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