Microscope for spore examination
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jimmymac2 wrote:
Just saw that the Apex Researcher is now out of stock until the new year. I am thinking of giving up now… that one was perfect. Thanks for everyone’s help though.
We are also not big fans of eBay, and will prefer to buy them from a specialist website.
You give up too easily.
Apex Microscopes themselves, also sell “directly” via Amazon UK, who have 9 of the Apex Researcher binocular scopes still in stock: –
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apex-Microscopes-The-Researcher-Microscope/dp/B001EN6G8M ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apex-Microscopes-The-Researcher-Microscope/dp/B001EN6G8M And, according to the blurb, it has “
Free starters pack included“. – Which, if it is the same starter pack as is described on the Apex Microscopes website, (containing slides, coverslips, pipettes, microscopy book, etc. etc.), will save you £36.00 if you were still thinking of buying that too. Regards,
Mike.
jimmymac2 wrote:Now we’re are thinking about this one:
http://www.digital-microscopes.co.uk/sp35digital.htmlhttp://www.digital-microscopes.co.uk/sp35digital.html” class=”bbcode_url”> Brunel Microscopes, the supplier of that model, are noted amongst the microscopy community for providing good quality instruments, and equally good quality advice about microscope choices.
My own opinion here though, would be to stay away from that particular model!
Undoubtedly, the microscope itself, will be a perfectly serviceable instrument for its price range – but, a 3 Megapixel resolution “minicam” type camera, as is incorporated into that model, will simply not be up to the job when it comes to capturing the fine detail of microscopic structures such as spore ornamentation etc. etc.
I use a 5 Megapixel Minicam with my trinocular, which is ok for record type shots, and is streets ahead of what a 3 Megapixel model will resolve, but I find it frustrating that even with 5 Megapixels, the camera just cannot resolve sufficient fine detail for my liking. (I do accept though, that money comes into the equation, which is one of the prime reasons I haven’t yet upgraded to a much recommended 10MP model!).
When VAT is added to the price of the model you are thinking of, you are talking about £520.00, which is a lot of money if you then find you are not satisfied with the camera’s capabilities. (Don’t forget that the 3MP camera is a built in part of that scope, and cannot be readily replaced by a higher resolution third party “universal fitting” microscope camera which would sit into a standard trinocular port.
I’d strongly recommend getting a standard trinocular scope, and then you have complete choice as to what camera (type, resolution, and price.
For an overall VAT inclusive cost of just £70.00 more than the model in your link, (and also from Brunel), I might be tempted to look at: –
Winchester SP60 Trinocular at £366.00 +VAT
http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/win_compound.htmlhttp://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/win_compound.html” class=”bbcode_url”> &
Brunel Digicam 5MP UCMOS5M at £125.00+VAT
http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/digitalmicroscopyl.html ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/digitalmicroscopyl.html Although, in all probability, I think I’d go for the SP100 trinocular, which is a better scope: –
http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/advanced-microscopes.html ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/advanced-microscopes.html But keep looking at Brunel’s used scopes section (and elsewhere too), as there are good bargains to be had every now and again!
Regards,
Mike.
PS I hope that you are not put off by some of our response comments in this thread. We are just trying to ensure that you make the best decision, and get the best quality and value for money from the instrument you eventually buy.
Chris Yeates wrote:. . . .No-brainer (as they say)
anyone looking for an extremely well-specced entry-level scope should snap one of these up; that’s my honest opinion anyway . . . .
Chris
I can only agree. Apart from the small chance of a better specced second hand trinoc. turning up, I doubt very much whether there’s anything out there that will beat the SP-45 for the price.jimmymac2 wrote:. . . But does it include oil immersion?
Yes.With any scope advertised as having a x100 lens, that lens will be an oil immersion lens.
(Scopes with oil immersion lenses are generally supplied with a small bottle of immersion oil, but in the unlikely event that none is supplied, immersion oil can be bought for a few pounds).
The vendors for these scopes are doing themselves no favours by showing only the bare minimum of specifications.
When it says magnification x4, x10, x40, and x100, those are the magnifications of the objective lenses.
Although not specifically mentioned in the advertisement, the scope will also be supplied with a pair of x10 eyepieces.
So, the “viewing” magnifications will be (eyepiece magnification x objective magnification) = x40, x100, x400, and x1000.
I’d strongly recommend that you read at least some of the microscopy tutorial info that I linked to here: –
http://www.fungi.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=108 You need to have a grasp of the basics before you start playing with a scope, especially with oil immersion. – There is potential for damaging the instrument or lens(es) if you don’t.
Regards,
Mike.
jimmymac2 wrote:. . . Brunel has offered us a trinocular SP40 at a good price and we think it has all of the specifications needed . . .
Are you sure what’s being offered is a trinocular? – My understanding is that the (standard) SP-40 is abinocularmicroscope: – http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/catalogue_pdfs/SP30_SP40.pdf ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/catalogue_pdfs/SP30_SP40.pdf jimmymac2 wrote:. . . Also, which would you say is better, a DigiCam or an SLR connector? The DigiCam costs more so we are wondering whether it is worth buying that instead of an SLR connector.
It depends on what DSLR you already have. – If your camera doesn’t have live-view and full mirror lock-up facility, along with necessary software to “tether” it to a computer, so that you can easily see what’s being viewed down the scope via the computer screen, then you will struggle.However, if you already have a DSLR with all those functions, then buying an adaptor might be the most economical route.
Digicams are less hassle than DSLR’s in that they are very easy to set up and use, you can see what you’re looking at on a large (computer) screen, and they are supplied with everything needed – scope adaptors, software, etc, etc.
But! – as has been mentioned before, with Digicams, you need to be considering exactly what the purpose of your shots will be.
If you want good resolution of spore ornamentation then you need to be considering a 10MP model – minimum.
A 5MP model, such as the one I have, will give adequate “general” shots, but won’t be able to resolve the fine detail.
Don’t even consider getting anything of 3MP or less.
Regards,
Mike.
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