Total Newbie

[ian1357]

I did have a microscope many moons ago when I was about 11 years old. Now approaching the big six oh I have decided to take the plunge a get another. Initially I am going with a budget of sub $200. So any advice would be appreciated. Would like to buy new. But you never know.
Cheers
Ian
PS since posting this I have been looking at this http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/mi ... bs-cm1000c
Any thoughts?

[75RR]

Hi ian1357, welcome

It is like riding a bicycle ... you will be up to speed in no time.
Have a look at other threads in which this topic has been discussed

Adding a link to an article that you might find useful:
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... oscope.pdf

[jimur]

Welcome to the forum. How do you wish to use the microscope and what are your expectations? Will you be viewing pond life, vegetation, coins, stamps,etc. Will you do photographs of the subjects? Providing a little more detail in these areas will allow others here to point you in the right direction.

[75RR]

If you are just wanting to dip a toe in the water to see if microscopy is for you then craigslist might be a viable choice.
It has the great advantage of allowing you (as it is a local service) to test the microscope first - hard to overemphasize the importance of that if one can in fact do it.
Here are 3 links to microscopes in the Orlando area which if google maps has got it right is not too far from Cocoa.

First link is to an American Optical AO One - Fifty, which should get you up and running nicely.

AO one-fifty manual: http://goo.gl/hsJicC

The others are generic budget Chinese microscopes at near to their true cost.

https://ocala.craigslist.org/for/6147245147.html

https://orlando.craigslist.org/for/6154930497.html

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/tag/6107527939.html

[zzffnn]

Ian,

Welcome to the forum.

Craigslist link #1 and #2 in 75RR's posts are good choices.

#1 is an infinity tube length scope that can only use infinity objective lenses made by American Optical (AO) Spencer. However, it is of better quality and seller is very knowledgeable.

#2 is a 160 mm tube length scope that can use any 160mm tube objectives. But do check how good its fine focus is, if you go check it in person. If fine focus is not good enough (or not present - some cheaper AmScope models do not have fine focus), you may not be able to focus well on 100x oil or 40x objectives.

[75RR]

Second link looks like a B100

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-B100B-MS ... ds=amscope

Third link looks like a 3088F Monocular

http://accu-scope.com/products/3088f-mo ... icroscope/

[JimT]

Welcome. In addition to what has already been suggested let me recommend the site below from the Microbhunter home page.

http://www.microbehunter.com/the-beginn ... icroscopy/

Lots of good advice.

[ian1357]

Thanks for all the great advice. The ones on Craigslist, especially the first one looks the part, however I have a Holiday coming up next month so I have decided to hold off. After my Holiday in August I will search Craigslist once again. Then I will probably be back to pick your brains once again.

[JimT]

One more tip (And enjoy your holiday). Celestron makes very good Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes but that's a totally different process from microscopes.

Keep us posted.