MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

The Bikani LED light ring works just fine. Doesn't appear bluish to my eyes.
It does hang down about 2 cm from the objectives.

Thanks for the input. I decided to give this one a try: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075MCNZFL?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1 Some are blueish but they're mostly fine, even the cheap ones are OK. It is fun to use cheap polarosing film to cut out a large ring and polarize the light thag comes ...

Hi, I'm looking for a LED ring illuminator for my Amscope SM-1TS stereo microscope. Amscope has bewildering number to choose from, up to 144 LEDs. Do I need 144? Is less OK? The are many identical looking rings available that cost less than the Amscope offerings. I assume they are all from the same ...

Thanks for the photos!
That's very helpful.

I'm thinking about purchasing a Strew Slide or two from the Diatom Shop. I have a few questions I hope members here can help me with: 1. How many specimens are likely to be on a slide? 2. How many species are likely to be represented? 3. They offer slides from several locations. I can't afford them ...

I like these scopes. I you have realistic expectations, they can be fun to play around with. I would definitely avoid any with a zoom eyepiece.

I picked up a Lafayette several years ago. Doesn't look as if it was ever used. Even had the sales receipt! Excellent build quality. I don't really collect these scopes, but one of the higher end models would probably be pretty nice to have.

Hi, I'm looking for a vintage microscope from the era when microscopes were black. The main considerations are for it to be monocular and have a condenser. I'm not looking for a high-end scope, just something modest that functions well with decent optics. Cosmetics are not particularly important and...

Some of these are outside your time period of interest, but may be insightful, and most have fairly extensive references for potential follow-up. Optical Properties of the Lenses of an Early 19th Century Cuff-Type Microscope https://www.rms.org.uk/study-read/infocus-magazine/infocus-listing/optical...

For rough design use Winlens, pretty ok demo version; should be doable to find out the specs and distances of a of two-three lenses system https://www.qioptiq-shop.com/en/Optics-Software/Winlens-Optical-Design-Software/Free-Winlens-Basic/ I buy ball and half-ball lenses from Bohr optics China, on a...

Several years ago I made some Leeuwenhoek style glass sphere microscopes. Mine had cardboard bodies. I had a lot of fun with these and still intend on making more accurate replicas in metal. . . . What glass spheres did you find best for the Leeuwenhoek microscope? I made mine. Here is a nice tutor...

Thanks for the links! The FSU website has a very interesting section on seventeenth century microscopes, the period I'm most interested in. From a description of an Italian wooden compound microscope: "The eye lens is bi-convex and the microscope is equipped with an internal tube lens and objective ...

Several years ago I made some Leeuwenhoek style glass sphere microscopes. Mine had cardboard bodies. I had a lot of fun with these and still intend on making more accurate replicas in metal. I would also like to make some examples of early compound microscope like those of Robert Hooke for example. ...

Technically I have strabismus: a crossed eye. I had surgery as a young child to try and balance the eye muscles. While the condition improved, it was not fully corrected. There is really no advantage for me to have a binocular microscope.

I definitely would like one with a condenser and x-y stage.
A Polarizing Petrographic microscope is a bit specialized for now. A general purpose biological microscope would work best for me.

I'm looking for a vintage monocular microscope. Nothing too fancy. Just something in nice condition with decent optics. Would be nice to have an Abbe condenser. Mirror illumination is OK. If you don't mind me asking, why are you looking for such a microscope? Is it as a Field Microscope for yoursel...

A couple of comments , since I am familiar with all of those scopes. All don't seem to be heavily used, so the likliehood of the rack and pinion gears being worn is low. Backlash in the rack and pinion gearsets is a common issue with older heavily used scopes. The Spencer is fitted with a Bausch & ...

I forgot about Goodwill. Thanks

Those are the type of scopes I'm looking for.

Hi, I'm looking for a vintage monocular microscope. Nothing too fancy. Just something in nice condition with decent optics. Would be nice to have an Abbe condenser. Mirror illumination is OK. I have been browsing ebay for a while and have seen some possibilities. Most offerings are dismissed due to ...

I've been thinking of doing some biospheres as well.
It would be interesting to see a photo of your set up.
One question though: if its a sealed air-tight system, how do you get your critters out?

Fantastic image!
Please check for a Private Message

Anyone here observing microfossils?
I would like to give it a try.
Where do you get your samples?
I would need samples could be observed with a stereo microscope 20x-40x

Thanks

In fact in this case, 15X eyepieces will likely be useless for 30X as well, and certainly useless for 60X. In order for them to be usefull the N.A. of the 2 and 4X objectives would have to be .03 and 06 respectively. While this isn't impossible, I would need to know in advance and would Amscope eve...

Don't bother with 30x eyepieces. Higher mag eyepieces can only stretch the light that's already there, and trying to stretch it out that much is just a losing battle on brightness and resolution. I wasn't very clear on that. What I meant was 5x and 15x eyepieces to get 10x and 30 magnification. 15x...

30.5 is Meiji's standard for their EM line. They were an early player and likely adopted it before 30mm was completely standard--I don't know of there were other scopes using that standard at the time. Many companies have copied their design, first other Japanese companies and later Chinese factori...

Why make two mount sizes 30mm vs 30.5mm so close in size?
Why didn't they standardize to one or the other?
Can 30mm be used in a 30.5mm mount or will it be too loose?

Thanks

Scarodactyl wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 08, 2021 4:52 am

I have a ton of those darkfield condensers new in box (the simple one sithout an iris), I can sell you one for 20 bucks shipped if you're in the US. They're mostly gppd for gems, and eat a lot of light, but they're nifty.

That sounds interesting. Send me a PM,

I ordered the Amscope SE306R-P-LED 20X-40X this morning.
Came in under budget at $135 shipped. Now I have a bit left over for accessories!

Thanks for the comments, observations and suggestions. They were all very helpful in making my decision.

Thanks for the input.

At this point I am leaning toward the Amscope SE306 series of which there appears to be 50+ iterations on their website, phew!

One of the options has a darkfield module. Is darkfield used to look at things other than gemstones?

Looking for something inexpensive, preferably under $200. Amscope, Swift etc. have quite a few models in this category. Are any of them decent or simply a waste of money? Any older used models to keep an eye out for? I have reasonable expectations for that kind of money, but would like to get the be...