Re: Is This Microscope a good deal?

I would make SURE that any 100X lens advertised is oil immersion. I'm not sure if that's always the case. All the scopes I've ever worked with were 100X oil but I know microscope makers can put any number of different lenses on a scope so I don't know what is available in the marketplace. I've also never been involved in a from-scratch microscope purchase. Our Ph.D's always handled all of that.

In order to see bacteria you have to be able to either stain them or buy slides pre-made. Staining at home is an extremely messy proposition unless you have a sink and area around the sink dedicated to being ruined by stains. Our sink at work is not a particularly pretty sink. You also need immersion oil. The oil immersion lens is not flat; it is curved outward. You must focus under low power first - THEN go to oil. You cannot focus first on oil or you will ruin the lens. Rambunctious kids (and adults) in a hurry must realize that the expensive lens can be smashed into the slide and ruined by focusing or moving the coarse adjustment down on an oil lens (or hi-dry for that matter). You can only use fine adjustment with an oil lens - period.

I personally would drive the 40 miles. Take some slides along and work with what you would buy before plunking down the money. Good luck.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Zeiss Lens nomenclature/relative merit
    ... while others apparently do not require oil. ... Would a lens which does not require oil be more desirable, ... One point to watch out for: the more complex lenses of the 160mm era are generally excellent value on the second hand market, but do watch out for delamination. ... Note that, whatever tube length and class of objectives you use, pairing them with the correct eyepieces is important. ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)
  • Re: Kimwipes (5*8 wipes) v.s. Lens Paper?
    ... Wiping a lens surface dry just scratches the heck out of it, ... The main difference between cameras and microscopes is the size of the ... from fingers and oil bottles causes most of the problems. ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)
  • Re: Kimwipes (5*8 wipes) v.s. Lens Paper?
    ... Wiping a lens surface dry just scratches the heck out of it, ... The main difference between cameras and microscopes is the size of the ... from fingers and oil bottles causes most of the problems. ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)
  • Re: Question re Olympus Universal Condenser
    ... indeed any immersion lens, when used without oil. ... You showed us before an Ap image of yours made WITH immersed condenser ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)
  • Re: Cleaning Stainless Steel
    ... What are you guys using the oil ... mineral oil on her kitchen sink after thoroughly cleaning. ... My preferred method is to wash the sinks then dry much the same way I do my ss pots. ... I can spot a dirty sink a mile away. ...
    (rec.food.cooking)