Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa

What is your microscopy history? What are your interests? What equipment do you use?
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KerryG
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Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2022 6:04 pm

Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa

#1 Post by KerryG » Sat Nov 19, 2022 10:27 am

Hi

I’m a molecular biologist by training, and used light microscopes regularly when working with cells. I don’t get into the lab much anymore and miss looking at tiny things. I inherited an antique children’s microscope a few years ago and picked it up recently to spark an interest in microbes in my daughter. Since then I’ve been trying to upgrade my collection and am trying out a Carson Microbrite Plus for the field and took a chance on a flea market stereo microscope, which I have yet to properly ID.
I’m excited to learn from you all and share what my daughter and I find on our microscopic adventures.

Dennis
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Re: Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa

#2 Post by Dennis » Sat Nov 19, 2022 12:32 pm

KerryG,
Welcome to the forum !

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zzffnn
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Re: Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa

#3 Post by zzffnn » Sat Nov 19, 2022 1:44 pm

KerryG, welcome to the forum.

I was a microbiologist in previous life. You may be disappointed with cheaper compound microscopes. Consumer grade Stereo dissecting scopes are usually fine, though name brands are still better.

I would suggest getting a name brand compound microscope from Zeiss, Olympus, Leitz or Nikon. Try DIY darkfield and oblique illumination techniques (search YouTube for instruction videos).

Do you collect (micro)seashells by any chance? Those are fun to collect and interesting to look at, with or without a dissecting microscope.

I have an extensive (micro)seashell collection and happy to buy from you or trade with you.
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The two single shells above are between 2-4 mm in size and photographed under microscope with some quick and dirty focus stacking using videos. You can find the last (3rd) shell on my middle finger in the first photo. The second photo is a foraminifera.

Hobbyst46
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Re: Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa

#4 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sat Nov 19, 2022 8:01 pm

GerryK wrote:...
Welcome! Personally, I believe that a child will benefit from a stereo microscope more than from a compound microscope, simply because sample preparation is much simpler and easier for the former.
zzffnn wrote:...(photos)...
zzffnn, what a great photo of the shell-decorated hand ! both illustrative and amusing ! :)

einman
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Re: Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa

#5 Post by einman » Sat Nov 19, 2022 9:49 pm

Welcome! I agree with the comments. Children tend to stay interested longer with a stereoscope.

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KurtM
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Re: Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa

#6 Post by KurtM » Mon Nov 21, 2022 1:17 am

Hobbyst46 wrote:
Sat Nov 19, 2022 8:01 pm
zzffnn, what a great photo of the shell-decorated hand ! both illustrative and amusing ! :)

+1

Nice work Fan! 8-)
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
email: ngc704(at)gmail(dot)com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/67904872@ ... 912223623/

charlie g
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Re: Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa

#7 Post by charlie g » Mon Nov 21, 2022 7:22 am

Welcome to a kind forum, Kerry g. .

It really depends on your daughters age what sort of: 'microscopic world views'; you share with her. I suggest ( as with all our current sciences) that you nest periodic...or at special holiday times , a shared bit of microscopy with the larger context of that days overall activity.

A seashore visit might at evening share a session with tidal pool life, washed ashore algae, sand dwelling life.


Moss in your home garden, standing waters near home, a 'pet fish' aquarium filter sample...a garden 'bird bath' water sample...a collected bird feather, mold on a slice of bread...nest the shared learning/ shared microscopy in the world we all share.

Welcome to forum, all the best, charlie g

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