Need help choosing a microscope

Do you have any microscopy questions, which you are afraid to ask? This is your place.
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Ernest
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Need help choosing a microscope

#1 Post by Ernest » Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:57 am

I want to choose a microscope as a gift for a child, but I'm not sure which one to buy.
This one seems very interesting: https://cdon.se/hushallsapparater/bress ... -p40308263
And it can be connected to the computer. But it only seems to support transmitted light.
Another options is this: https://lekakademin.se/mikroskop-premiu ... escription
It seems to have a top LED light, which I think would be good for a beginner.
Is it possible to connect top LED light to the first microscope separately?
What would be your advice? Or should I search more for other possibilities?

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75RR
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Re: Need help choosing a microscope

#2 Post by 75RR » Thu Dec 31, 2020 8:13 am

The lekakademin looks like a toy, so I would say no to that one.

Image

The Bresser is better but still not ideal for a child.

Have you considered a Stereoscope?

See link to a previous discussion below:

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=8138&p#p71351
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

Ernest
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Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:49 am

Re: Need help choosing a microscope

#3 Post by Ernest » Thu Dec 31, 2020 9:32 am

Thank you, I've read the thread and I'm now considering maybe buying both a stereo and compound scope. I'm currently wondering whether this would be a good idea to purchase these two microscopes:
https://www.amazon.se/TELMU-Mikroskop-s ... 473&sr=8-2
(it also has a top LED light)

https://www.amazon.se/Bresser-mikroskop ... 773&sr=8-3
(20x)
or
https://www.amazon.se/Bresser-mikroskop ... r=8-3&th=1
(20-50x)

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75RR
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Re: Need help choosing a microscope

#4 Post by 75RR » Thu Dec 31, 2020 9:56 am

You don't mention the age of the child. Anything under around 8 years old would be a little young even for the stereoscope let alone the compound microscope.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

Ernest
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Re: Need help choosing a microscope

#5 Post by Ernest » Thu Dec 31, 2020 1:36 pm

I guess you are right. If I go with a stereomicroscope (at least at first), do you think this one should be good? https://www.amazon.se/Bresser-mikroskop ... 04-2173016

Leitzcycler
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Re: Need help choosing a microscope

#6 Post by Leitzcycler » Thu Dec 31, 2020 2:23 pm

What is not always understood is that a compound microscope itself is only a part of the job. The other part includes more or less complicated sample preparation which often needs special knowledge and especially patience. When I was a child and got a cheap microscope as a christmas present, there was no information available how to use it. There were no books about the subject or they were at university libraries with no access. No one of the adults around knew anything about microscope. So without any knowledge about sample preparation it was practically useless and very dull toy. At school the teaching regarding microscopy was extremely poor: I recall only a single lesson. Our teacher brought some offal from the butcher, we cut them into smaller pieces with a scalpel and mashed them onto a microscope slide. We could saw absolutely nothing sensible. The first time I really got involved in microscopy was at university microbiology course when we learned how to culture and stain microbes.

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75RR
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Re: Need help choosing a microscope

#7 Post by 75RR » Thu Dec 31, 2020 2:31 pm

Here is a customer review you might find interesting.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-re ... B001UJJGV4

Perhaps someone else can chip in with advice on suitable ages of children
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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