All of the big four: Leitz/Leica, Nikon, Olympus and Zeiss 160/170 finite system microscopes can be upgraded quite easily to phase with the purchase of a phase condenser and the specific phase objectives.I wonder if it would be a good idea to buy a phase contrast microscope instead if a normal compound microscope. Or is a phase contrast too specific? Is it better to upgrade later to phase contrast?
This upgrade is not overly expensive but if already installed on a microscope at the time of purchase it is quite a bit cheaper.
Having Phase installed does not preclude brightfield, darkfield nor any of the oblique methods of illumination. This is not an either or situation.
See link: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... denser.pdf
If I have understood MicroBob's and apochronaut's advice correctly we have two valid yet differing views on how a beginner should approach his/her first purchase.
MicroBob suggests getting a good yet simple microscope that will give you uncomplicated access to the micropscopic world.
A first microscope with which to learn the trade so to speak. One that you will outgrow and therefore replace with one that has many more possibilities.
apochronau's suggestion is that you purchase a quality stand (that usually means a research microscope) to start out with and use it in its basic configuration to learn the ropes.
When you are ready to upgrade you just need to add components to the microscope you already have.
It should be pointed out however that research microscopes even in their basic configuration do have more fiddly bits than simple/student microscopes do.
The choice is of course yours. What I will say is that sometimes those of us who have a bit of experience tend to forget how daunting those first steps into microscopy were.
On the other hand, a well appointed research microscope at a good price is difficult to pass up on.