Microscope advice!

[KD Arvidsson]

Hey all! I guess this question has been up before? I have been looking around on Ebay etc to understand which microscopes I should be watching. I have looked at the following, I want trinocular and phase contrast. Nikon Labophot 2, Nikon Eclipse 100-400, Leica DME and others. I want to buy used. Want to invest sometime this summer when I feel I can afford it. I think there are a lot of threads about this but maybe not specifically about these microscopes. All tips and advice are gratefully received//KD

[Hobbyst46]

The pandemic situation may bring fresh blood into health systems. I believe, that many new research projects and clinics will be funded, and many new up-to-date microscopes will be purchased by laboratories. That means that older microscopes will have to be thrown to the "surplus" sections and sold at auctions. This might take some time though. I would try to visit the university or diagnostic lab near me and inquire...

In the meantime, a recent preliminary view of a variety of Nikons and their prices on eBay is in response #11 in this post

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=9187&p=79099#p79099
hope it helps.

[75RR]

Your list contains both finite and infinity microscopes. You may want to look into which system you might want and why.

Personally, I do not think that the price of high end infinity objectives has come down far enough to justify buying an infinity system.

[apochronaut]

You keep overlooking Reichert infinity systems 75RR. Some of them are often very attractively priced and the optics are as good or batter than any.

[KD Arvidsson]

Thank you very much for all advice and tip! apochronaut Hobbyst46 and 75RR I want to film and take photo of Microorganisms, pollen, and all living creatures in microcosmos! Ok i should search after Reichert infinity system. Thanks again! //KD

[PeteM]

Happy to send you a guide to various microscope brands and models if you'll message me. It's in PDF format and is used locally to help parents and mentors find a good microscope at a good price. Since shipping is an issue in terms of both cost and possible damage -- are there any brands especially likely to be found in Sweden?

[KD Arvidsson]

Hello Pete and thank you! I message you!, 75RR do you thought of Microstar maybe? //KD

[apochronaut]

A Microstar or Diastar might be hard to find in Sweden. I think Reichert was very active there though, so you might consider one of the Reichert instruments that they probably sold there, which were of Austrian production. The one I would target would be a Diavar 2. It is very similar to Diastar, using the same infinity optics. If you could find a former Reichert dealer, who has any staff from before 2000, they might be able to help out with some details. Probably the Diavar 2, if it persisted into the 90's would have been branded Leica.

[KD Arvidsson]

Thank you apochronaut! Maybe a very stupid question but is it a problem for me to buy on Ebay example USA? Could there be a problem with the voltage we have 230 V here in Sweden? //KD

[75RR]

A quick search on both Ebay UK and Germany did not return any hits for Diavar 2, not saying there aren't any but it would be simpler and more sensible to look for something that is more readily available.

Maybe a very stupid question but is it a problem for me to buy on Ebay example USA?

I have bought from Ebay USA, main problems are that not everyone will ship to europe, postage is expensive, you have to pay taxes and if you have a problem it is a long way to return the parcel.

Don't over complicate things!

[KD Arvidsson]

Okay thanks 75RR i understand, maybe i must search here in Sweden //KD

[75RR]

The rest of Europe is fine, postage is relatively cheap + you have no import charges.

However, if there is a local microscope seller then do visit them, nothing like trying out an instrument first.

[deBult]

KD there is an active microscope group in Germany and their forum often has 2nd hand scopes.

https://www.mikroskopie-forum.de/index.php

[deBult]

Brunel in the UK also has a 2nd hand selection of scopes:

http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/

[KD Arvidsson]

Big thanks to all the fantastic forum members for all of help //KD