I definitely want to take photos and videos with it, and connect it to a monitor for a "live view" - but for the initial purchase I'll just buy a trino head first, and then buy the camera later - I just need to be mindful that whichever I choose can accept some form of camera and it'd be easy to find the necessary adapter.
I know that the general advice is to buy something cheap first, then upgrade later. However, the way I see it, if I buy a cheap e.g. a SW380T or Stellar 1T, (around A$800 here), that is A$800 that could've gone towards a better microscope. I want to play with normal brightfield of course, but also with phase contrast and darkfield.
After looking around for weeks, I am narrowing it down to four options (but with variations):
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Amscope T670 Quintuple infinity plan 4x, 10x, 20x, 40x, 100x + 60x + DSLR Mount $2,000.00
Above + Phase Contrast turret kit (PH objectives 10x, 20x, 40x, 100x) $3,500.00
Nikon Eclipse Si trino quintuple nosepiece, w/ 4x, 10x, 40x objectives $3,995.00
Above + 20x, 60x objectives $4,935.00
Above + Phase objectives (10x, 40x) + 1 slider insert + centering scope $6,775.00
Motic BA310E Trino (4x, 10x, 40x, 100x) $4,200.00 (guesstimated)
Above + Phase Kit (Turret + 10, 40x, 100x) $6,500.00 (guesstimated)
Zeiss Primostar 3 quintuple phase turret (4x BF, 10BF, 40x PH) + LIM (like nikon) $5,800.00
Sold by the official Australian Zeiss company
The prices are in AU$ which are my estimate including shipping, import duty, and 10% GST. In other words, these are the final amount that I might end up paying.
What I'm wondering about is:
1. Would the image on amscope so much worse than Nikon or Motic, or is it good enough (the 80/20 rule)?
2. Is it worth stretching for Nikon or Motic for a better optic and/or mechanical quality?
3. Out of the two, Nikon vs Motic, which one would be better? The only thing I know is Motic offers a turret condenser which seems so much easier/quicker to use than fumbling around with phase sliders on Nikon.
I see this as a long term investment so the difference in cost now is fine if it meant a better experience for the life of the scope.
Another factor is that Amscope seems to be the easiest to buy / get information on accessories / pricing - everything is on their site. The others, I'd have to go through a slow and tedious process of emailing back and forth.
Amscope will be imported from USA
Nikon has a local retailer (microscopes.com.au)
Motic has a local retailer but I'm also trying to see if I can import from Europe to save $600-$1000. Does anyone know where I can order from Hong Kong directly?
The mark up of goods in Australia is, as usual, extremely high, so importing is something I would definitely consider/prefer.