MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Dear all,

First, some words about me. I live in Switzerland and I am interested by biology. Currently, I am reading a general book about biology. I would like to observe simple things like turgidity in vegetal cells for example.

For that, I need a microscope . I can obtain an "old" Zeiss KF2. There are 3 objectives (10x, 40x and 100x). From what I understood, the microscope is about 20 years old. Its cost is about 430 Euro.

I would like to know if this microscope can fit my needs and if its optical quality is still good (compared with a new Euromex MicroBlue for example). Or should I consider to buy directly a new one that cost about 400 Euro like an Euromex MicroBlue or equivalent.

Thanks a lots for your help!

Hi cedricc,
the Zeiss KF2 is a good quality microscope, however you need to bear in mind that it is a student/traveling microscope and as such is severely limited in its upgradeability.
One of the other Zeiss Standards (14, 16, or 18) would be better if you decide at some point that you want to upgrade the microscope.

http://www.science-info.net/docs/zeiss/ ... unior2.pdf
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3xelka3lfa76o ... 2.pdf?dl=0

Having said that, it will do the job and unlike the Euromex Microblue it will keep its value if you get it for a fair price.
€430 seems a little high to me.

I agree with 75RR. This is the very basic, low end model, but it should be able to do what you want. The condenser is fixed to the stage although it does have a iris diaphragm and a flip in filter holder. I also agree the price is too high. You should be able to get it for about half the asking price.

Hi,

Thank you very much for your feedbacks.
I am going to try to negociate the price of the KF2. Standard models seems to be out of my budget.

Best regards

A KF2 will be more like 30 years old. It is part of the Zeiss Standard system, but only just. As mentioned the condenser is fixed and the tubes have a different dovetail in many cases so you couldn't easily upgrade to binocular or trinocular head. The KF2 is made to do only 80 of 100 things but these very easy, agreeable and quick.

I don't know the price level in Switzerland but in Germany a binocular KF2 would cost 250€ on the private market (with technical risks) and accordingly more from a dealer. A real Standard is not much more expensive here.

You might have a look for a Wild microscope, the natural choice in Switzerland.

And what if we compare the Zeiss KF2 with a Leica BME. Is it possible to compare them or is one clearly better than the other?

The Leica has the advantage to be newer.
The KF2 is good old Zeiss quality made to last a century.
Both beeing in equal condition I would prefer the Zeiss.

Do you have the opportunity to check them out in person? This would be especially important if you don't have the ability to rectify the little problems used microscopes usually have.

There is a microscopy club in Switzerland where you could get hands on advice and may be an offer for a nice used microscope:
http://www.mikroskopie.ch/
In the german microscopy forum there are some members from Switzerland. Many advanced amateurs have good used simpler microscopes they would be willing to sell.

Hi,

Finally, I bought the Zeiss KF2. I was able to negociate the price easily. I think I have done a good deal because I also add the opportunity to see it in person before buying it.

Thanks again for your advices.

Congratulations. Checking the scope ahead of buying is a good idea.
You might want to prepare or otherwise get some slides, covered and sealed, to inspect the performance of the microscope (and camera if included) with your own eyes. A common test item is the famous onion epidermis, stained with iodine or methylene blue or other stain. I think that the test specimen should be a flat, uniform and only lightly colored, so you can inspect the uniformity of brightness in the field of view.

Congratulations.
Being able to test a microscope before buying is ideal.
Hope you got as much instruction from the owner as you could.
Also glad you were able to negotiate the price - that was necessary.

I believe it has a 4 objective nosepiece so with a 10, 40x and 100x you are in need of another.
I would go with a 25x, that will give you a nice intermediate step between the ten and the forty.

I already did several observations, including onion epidermis. I tried to take a picture with a tripod and a canon camera, just for fun .

The microscope itself seems to be ok. The 10x objective is easy to use, especially with onion cells. For the moment, I don't have immersion oil, so I didn't test the 100x objective.

Congratulations!

Sample looks good.

Well done. I also enjoy sharing what I see. Glad it is working well.

Some news about my first observations. Maybe it can help other beginners like me.
I received yesterday new things: methylene blue, lugol and immersion oïl.
I tried again to observe onion epidermis with methylene blue and the result is really awsome. It was easy to see the nucleus. Finally, I used the 100x objective with the immersion oïl, and again, the result was good. Into the nucleus, I saw 2, sometimes even 3 objects. I guess it is nucleolus.

Sound good Cedric!

Glad the KF2 is working out as you had hoped.
I used to have one of the original Junior KF microscopes, circa 1950, beautiful machine. Was smitten!

Just a question about stains (Methylene blue, lugol, eosine) and immersion oil... I would like to know what is the toxicity of these products. Should I use gloves when I manipulate them?
Thanks in advance for your answers.

Just a question about stains (Methylene blue, lugol, eosine) and immersion oil... I would like to know what is the toxicity of these products. Should I use gloves when I manipulate them?

You do not need gloves to handle immersion oil.

I believe that the stains, if sold as ready-for-use solutions in water or water+alcohol, can be safely handled without gloves. You may want gloves to avoid staining your finger, though.

In general, to know about the toxicity of any chemical, Google the MSDS of the chemical. It is always available for reading or download. The MSDS is divided into sections, where they specify the toxicity and methods of handling.

To check the toxicity of any stain for microscopy, look for the MSDS of the commercial solution that you buy, since it is much less harmful than the pure stain (which is sold in powder form).