I wish to cover some commercial topics on this advertising Sunday.
1/ It looks as if I am going to discontinue the sale of microscope cameras,=
at least for now. The first cameras I had, I was satisfied with, as far as=
the resolution conveyed and the relative ease of use. I compared them to a=
similarly priced product from Celestron which I found incapable of trackin=
g motion and therefore rejected. The manufacturer has changed the CMOS chip=
/driver combination in the latest shipment and they are not satisfactory to=
me so I will not sell them. They still convey a good image to a computer b=
ut the video capture function is terrible. I may find another affordable sa=
tisfactory camera in future but for now my camera selling days are over.
2/ I have noted that there is a cheap model trinocular microscope being rec=
ommended for some microscopy classes. These can be found at
http://www.micr=
oscopenet.com/40x2000x-trinocular-compound-microscope-reversed-nosepiece-p-=
9047.html model M8311. These are priced at roughly $280.00. For those consi=
dering these microscopes I'd like to bring a couple of features to your att=
ention. Note that the increments of focus are not listed. It is good to hav=
e increments of at least 0.002 mm. Many cheap scopes have increments of 0.0=
2 mm and higher, making fine focusing more difficult. Consider also the wei=
ght of the microscope. The particular one being recommended weighs under 11=
pounds. Note also the width of the base of the microscope you choose. This=
combined with weight provides important stability. As I have recommended p=
reviously, if you are just looking for a cheap Chinese made scope, look at =
those carried by Amscope. As far as I can tell, they are tightly affiliated=
with the manufacturer and not just another dealer and may not need to mark=
up the end price as much from the cost of construction. This scope; http:/=
/store.amscope.com/t490a.html , a trinocular microscope is the same price a=
s the aforementioned but it weighs 20 pounds, seems to have a slightly wide=
r base and states the focusing increments at 0.002 mm. In addition to this =
it uses a 20 watt halogen, while the other uses 3 watt LED. Now there is so=
mething to be said for LED because it does not heat up like a halogen, but =
when it comes to potentially bending or manipulating light for enhanced ima=
ges, using filters or phase contrast, a much higher quality and intensity L=
ED is required. There is a new Leica LED phase contrast, Hoffman modulation=
scope, I've been lusting after but it uses 8 watts (as I recall) and the c=
heapest I could find is $6,000.00. With a 20 watt halogen, it already has t=
he quality of light necessary for fiddling with refraction/diffraction (& p=
hase contrast). Of course, if you prefer the LED, I'm sure Amscope will be =
accommodating in the same price range. As many of you know, I've always rec=
ommended swapping out the 100X objective for a 20X objective, which IS the =
most useful objective for examining soil microbes. I am gratified that thos=
e in higher stance than mine have now adopted this recommendation. So when =
you are making your deal wherever you get your scope, insist on this trade =
or at least purchase the extra objective, if you wish to keep the 100X oil =
immersion (which is not much fun). While you are at it challenge Amscope to=
match the free shipping.
If you are a professional, teaching microbial horticultural, you owe it to =
your students ( & yourself) to acquire a microscope capable of phase contra=
st, Hoffman modulation and/or differential interference contrast. Meiji sel=
ls very nice phase contrast scopes with 30 mm eyepieces for around $4,000.0=
0. Tad Hussey got one several years ago and is still happy. If you know wha=
t you are doing you cannot do better than a used Leitz; bar none. I have 3 =
of them. Do not buy a Chinese made phase contrast!
Now, to bring you around to the trinocular microscopes I sell, I chose them=
because they have a particularly wide base, 0.002 mm increments of focus, =
brass gears and Kohler capability. The advantage to brass gears is usually =
a longer life and Kohler capability allows the focusing of the field light =
for superior resolution as well as another trick for contrasting microorgan=
isms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNTNZ8nWPd4
The microscope weighs 23 pounds. My microscope comes with a complete 30 Cha=
pter+ course on its use and on preparing samples and slides for soil and co=
mpost examination on a DVD. I've been told by some clients that this DVD co=
mbined with my microbe identification DVD is all they needed to start analy=
zing the microbial make up of their soil, compost and ACT. Some claim to ha=
ve gained clarity after being confused by other courses and educational mat=
erial. It should take a beginner about 4 days to a week to work through the=
instructional DVD. [I have noted some effort to copy my DVD format on the =
web but it is not nearly as detailed] My microscope also includes a set of =
filters, which I designed to enhance images of microorganisms [as shown on =
my webpage]
http://www.microbeorganics.com/#Microscopes_for_sale under enh=
anced images. I worked many days on these designs using the projected measu=
rement of the numerical aperture for each objective.
So that is the difference between my microscope and the others which can be=
obtained cheaper than mine. If you just want a cheap microscope, give Amsc=
ope a call.
Salutations,
Tim
Received on Sun Jun 19 2011 - 18:26:12 EDT