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Natural Science Forum / Physics / Optics / July 2008need advice on purchasing used microscopes
I am the volunteer coordinator for phytoplankton monitors. We recently got a small sum of money (not much 1K) to purchase scopes for volunteers. We use them to identify diatoms and dinoflagellates in coastal waters. I would like them to have a compound scope, with 10, 20, 40, and 10x ocular; ideally, a mechanical stage. Does anyone have any advice? > I am the volunteer coordinator for phytoplankton monitors. We > recently got a small sum of money (not much 1K) to purchase scopes for [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Does anyone have any advice? I'd urge you to take a look at Spectra Services (www.spectraservices.com) and Martin Microscopes (www.martinmicroscopes.com). They might have the price and the used product you need. Of course take a good look around. Be a bit suspicious of E-Bay vendors. Probably you'll find an Olympus CH or a Nikon Alphaphot for sale, these are good instruments, well built with great optics. There are only 4 major quality makers, Olympus, Nikon, Zeiss and Leica. The last two are German and better known for their high end microscopes. Thanks, Kevin Cunningham SMS > > I am the volunteer coordinator for phytoplankton monitors. We > > recently got a small sum of money (not much 1K) to purchase scopes for [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Kevin Cunningham > SMS I'm sorry but I strongly dissagree on that last statement... There are/were lots of good quality microscope manufacturers. The difference between those and the big four isn't a quality issue, but a much smaller range in add-ons. And a much smaller marketing budget. > > > I am the volunteer coordinator for phytoplankton monitors. We > > > recently got a small sum of money (not much 1K) to purchase scopes for [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > and the big four isn't a quality issue, but a much smaller range in add-ons. > And a much smaller marketing budget. The Big 4 that I reference build real microscopes built to last. The other makers mostly make crap. I've been working in this field since '79 and I've seen far to many messed up and screwed up 2nd tier systems. I've seen darn few messed up or screwed up Big 4 instruments. I'd also point out that most 2nd and 3rd rate makers are made by about 3 plants in China, then a name is applied, like Swift. If you really want a cheap microscope, get an Indian make. Thanks for your views. Kevin Cunningham SMS > > "Kevin Cunningham" <sms...@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:641eee88-dcc1-4498-be8c-5d8e5b24b6f4@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com... > > > > I am the volunteer coordinator for phytoplankton monitors. We > > > > recently got a small sum of money (not much 1K) to purchase scopes for [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > Kevin Cunningham > SMS That's what is called a biased view. All too human, not very scientific. > > > "Kevin Cunningham" <sms...@mindspring.com> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > > That's what is called a biased view. All too human, not very scientific. Thank you for your views. Actually I make my living fixing microscopes, I've been doing this for a loooonnnngggg time. I know for a fact that the big four make repairable 'scopes with a few bad apples. The rest? Not so good. Optics are not good, mechanicals not so good. Oh, its all science, how else am I going to fix 'scopes? Thanks, Kevin Cunningham SMS > I am the volunteer coordinator for phytoplankton monitors. We > recently got a small sum of money (not much 1K) to purchase scopes for [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Does anyone have any advice? May I suggest you get one high end secondhand trinocular instrument and spend the rest on good quality secondhand binocular ones. There is much advice to be had re purchase from previous postings in this group. I suggest a trinocular to allow photography - if you are doing taxonomy photographs are invaluable. See the micscape website for abundant advice. I share your interest, and wish you luck! You should be able to get plenty of kit s/h for 1k ($ or £?) . If you are in the UK please advise, and I can point you in the right direction. If you are in the US, Kevin Cunningham's suggestions are are a good start. HJ > I am the volunteer coordinator for phytoplankton monitors. We > recently got a small sum of money (not much 1K) to purchase scopes for [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Does anyone have any advice? Are these assumptions correct: - Budget of 1K ($,£,Euro?) to buy SEVERAL microscopes to be used by volunteers? - No high level diatom identifications (up to subspecies and further), thus no need to use immersion objectives, high grade optics (apl-achr. condensers, pl-apo's...) or "special" techniques such as phase contrast? - Photomicrography not required? - Microscopes to be used by volunteers so sturdy and build-like-a-tank-instruments required? Are the scopes to be used in a (small home) lab environment or are they to be taken out in the field? Y. Inverted microscope!!! Might get tricky for 1K. René. Inverted microscope!!! Might get tricky for 1K. René. Why not. Some scanning electron microscopes will do the job too and we all know that these are very cheap these days... If I was to make the decision, I would buy some sturdy horse shoe shaped stands with a mirror, equipped with achromats 4,10,40, an uncorrected condenser (sounds not as nice as an Abbé condenser , I know...) in a centerable and focussable mount, a 8x Huyghian eypiece and a 10x or 15x compensation type for the 40x achromat. Cost second hand: anything between 40 and 100 Euro a piece max for a scope in good condition. Nice examples of such a scope is the Oly "GB", but especially in the US they should be proud of (amongst many others...) their Spencer microscopes! If one should think of a more high tech looking stand, I would consider something like the Will Wetzlar V series. Very nice microscopes, as good as the Zeiss Standard stands, perhaps even better and these are sold on a regular basis on Ebay for near to nothing... There's another possibillity to have much microscope for small bucks. |
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