Looking to get a microscope can anyone advise

[Ruary]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Nellie.
When you get to reading the description of the ebay item one item that stands out is 2000 magnifications. This is impossible with light microscopes the maximum is about 1000X because of physical limitations of waveform light. any larger magnification just gives a bigger picture with no more detail than the X100 limit.( like digital zoom on a camera)
Would you trust a dealer with that sort of statement.
Secondly it talks of adjustable interpupilary distance fine if the microscope is binocular but can not be done on a monocular microscope as you need two eyepieces to adjust the distance between them.
Third they reside in India how are you going to contact them if there is a fault and how long will it take for the replacement to arrive.
Ruary

[Ruary]

To second what Nellie said,
Decide what you want to do with the microscope first. Acarine detection needs a stereo dissecting microscope.
The other diseases require a compond microscope:
Nosema spores need no more than X400 for normal use. Pollen using Sawyers data table is reliant on X400 with the occasional foray into X600. Serious pollen analysis goes up to X1000 and uses very strong chemicals to expose the exine.
Bacterias (AFB; EFB etc) require X1000.
If you are going to use the microscopes a lot, then binocular compund is easier on the eyes. If you have astigmatism (as I do) you really need to get eyepieces which allow of their use. (They are called high eyepoint have a spectacle symbol on the side with the magnification markings).
Not all microscopes give the same clarity Randy Oliver tried several before he found the best one (for him) for nosema checking.
If you are going to do a lot of photography then a tri-ocular microscope comes in handy. I am just using a compact digital camera clamped to the ordinary eyepiece and though awkward it does a very satisfactory job. If you are doing photos then you do need plan objectives, certainly for the X40 and larger ones or else jst take the centre of the field.
Hope this helps
Ruary

[Neils]

Ruary, thanks for that, I learned a lot from it I've stickied the post for future reference as I think for general advice there's a lot of useful info here.

[Neils]

Well Santa came this year and bought me Brunel Microscope's primary set for bee disease/dissection:

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Untitled by tehNellie_, on Flickr

I think I'll figure out how to actually use the things before I start worrying about taking photos.

[The Drone Ranger]

£49-95 Lidl had a Biolux made in Germany with usb cam resolution 1280x1080 didn't open box but has all the magnification required for beekeeping
that was last week they might still have them Last time they sold them was April

The fish guys seem to like them
http://www.pond-life.me.uk/forum/vie...hp?f=30&t=6169

[Ruary]

£49-95 Lidl had a Biolux made in Germany with usb cam resolution 1280x1080 didn't open box but has all the magnification required for beekeeping
that was last week they might still have them Last time they sold them was April

The fish guys seem to like them
http://www.pond-life.me.uk/forum/vie...hp?f=30&t=6169

Magnification by itself doesn't mean much what you want is resolution and for nosema a good field of view.

[Blackcavebees]

Magnification by itself doesn't mean much what you want is resolution and for nosema a good field of view.

What do you think of this one from Lidls? Would it be ok for a beginner to microscopy like me? Would it be enough for exam purposes, or just a toy?

[The Drone Ranger]

[QUOTE=Neils;15083]Well Santa came this year and bought me Brunel Microscope's primary set for bee disease/dissection:

Hi Neils

how did you rate the Brunel Bee Disease scope package
Would you recommend the set to people new to microscopy
Were there good setup instructions etc

[Neils]

I have only used the DM5 stereo microscope at the current time, we're starting up a beginner's microscopy group run by an ex 'professional' microscopist, though not on bees, after easter, so I've yet to really try out the SP20 in anger so this really is a beginner's assessment:

The stereo microscope is certainly easy to use. Grab a bee (dead preferably or they tend to run/fly off) and put it under the scope and have a look at it.

Both come nicely packaged so there's little chance of damage in transit, both come with dust covers and seem to be well put together and solid bits of kit.

There is little in the way of operating instructions that come with the microscopes though there was a suggestion that I should have some oil for the compound 'scope which I don't seem to have and Brunel's site is pretty weak on that side of things in terms of figuring out what other bits and bobs a budding microscopist might want or need to get started and/or take it to the next level.

I did find some better images of the two 'scopes:





From my limited experience point of view, what I like about the stereo 'scope is that it takes batteries so you could chuck it in a bag and take it with you to the apiary and have a look at things while you were there.

My complaint with the compound is that the lead for the light is very short. Remembering way back when to science lessons in school, it'd be fine when you have a plug a foot or so away next to the gas tap, but for the rest of us where the sockets are a few feet a away from the table and on the floor it's not that practical.

Otherwise they both seem to be well put together and solid bits of kit, especially considering you can have them both for a shade over £100.

My gut feeling is that if I get into the microscopy side of things at all that I will quickly find myself outgrowing them, certainly, the compound one and wanting to get something better or more flexible relatively soon. I'd like to be able to put a camera down it without having to remove the eyepiece for example.

Once I get a chance to use them properly in anger I'll update my thoughts.

[The Drone Ranger]

Thanks Neils
They do look like a seriously good buy for the money