Fun With Microscopes & Stereoscopes

[dkeller_nc]

If you're looking for scopes, the top of the line are Nikon, Olympus and Zeiss. A typical stereo scope from Nikon Instruments or Olympus is going to run somewhere between $1500 and $3500 new, more if it has features like dark field illumination. A good, serviceable student-quality scope can be had from Celestron for somewhere between $200 to $600.

Zeiss is going to cost you an incredible amount of money when new, but you may only have to pay 1/5 - 1/3 of that if you buy it from a University or a local microscope servicing company that refurbishes scopes.

Here's a site to get an idea of the various prices/features:

http://www.opticsplanet.com/

 

[Reef Frog]

Thanks Everyone for the great input. I got my hands on an old-fashioned student/hobby microscope probably manufactured in the 1970s. I haven't had the chance to fool around with it yet but know its functionality will probably be limited, even for my modest needs. When I get bored looking at algae & brine shrimp, I will upgrade to something more capable. Nikon would be nice of course but the Celestron's price is more appealing right now.

 

[dkeller_nc]

By the way - from the standpoint of features vs. price, this is what I'd recommend:

1) phase contrast, dark field illumination, fluorescence, etc... are all cool, but expensive in a 'scope.

2) Binocular optics are worth paying for if you're going to be using the scope regularly - it greatly reduces eye strain.

3) A moveable stage is well worth paying for if you can find a scope that's reasonably priced that has it. Student scopes often don't have this feature, which means moving the slide around on the stage by hand. That's not easy under high magnification - geared moveable stages make this quite easy.

 

[dkeller_nc]

Your post intrigued me - both optics and CCDs have gotten much, much cheaper than in years past, and the quality is higher at all price levels because of computerized manufacturing techniques.

In looking, I ran across Amscope. I'm guessing, but based on the price levels, I suspect that they're a large retailer of Asian-made microscopes. You may not be getting quite the mechanical and optical quality of a Nikon or a Leica, but for the money, and with the 14-day inspection guarantee, I'm considering taking the gamble on upgrading my 1970s-era Zeiss:

http://www.amscope.com/index.html

 

[animalkingdom]

 

[animalkingdom]

taken with my smartphone held to the lense