Speedy

Hello
I'm not sure if I put this thread in the right place if it isn't I'm sorry. Wasn't really sure where to put it.
I'm wanting to buy a microscope. I was hoping someone on here will help me out on the best microscope to buy for about 75.00 dollars.
I have never owned one and I know very little. I was thinking of around 100x to 400x magnification. But not sure on that. Would that be enough magnification to identify things like flukes and little critters and thread like worms found in a aquarium. I have been looking on ebay but there is so many to choose from and I don't know which one to choose.
So what I'm asking is what is a good microscope and a good place to buy one from. If you know about microscopes please tell me the important basics I need to know and what is a good microscope from your experience. Remember when telling me about the important things I need to know make sure it is for dummies..... LOL

lew2000

First you want it to be sturdy. Second for viewing critters, you want at least a 10x eyepiece, and three objectives - usually 4x, 10x 40x, so you can have a large focus are to center the object and then the 100 to 400 for detail. You want the lenses to be made out of real optical glass. You also want dual focusing knobs and lens. You also want to have a lighting source underneath the stage. And finally try to get an all metal.

Try this link - it is one i used when i bought my son a microscope.


http://www.opticsplanet.com/info/htb_micorscope.shtml

Speedy

Thanks for the help and the link. I'm going to read up on them and learn all I can before I buy one. Can I ask which one you bought for your son? And did you buy one for yourself?
Would you buy them or it again? I mean I don't need a professional one but I want to be happy with it and I don't want a piece of junk either. You know what I mean.

lew2000

I bought my son a binocular compound type. Which i also use. Even though mytelescope is monocular, i found that using a microscope with twin eyepeices - it was easier to use and focus. It also had alot of nice features. I also wanted the warrenty, and they offered a 30 day return which is why i didn't go to ebay in the end. I would get this type again. It was about 425.00This is the site i bought mine from:

http://www.microscope-depot.com/special.asp

Butterfly

Not in price range but... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=18343

Speedy

I would love to have one like that but 400.00 dollars is way out of my price range. You read my mind I was thinking what the difference was between the one eyepiece and the two but I don't think I can find one with two in my price range. I also thought the same thing about ebay and the warranty. I will look around on the site and see what I can find. Thanks again.

Speedy

Yea! I saw that one it looks like a good scope. I wish I could afford it. Do you have the same one? Or do you have a microscope? If you do where did you get yours from? The top price I can pay for one would be around 100.00 dollars and that is a shame because I would love to have a better one but times are rough right now. Thanks so much for your help.

lew2000

Try your local schools/colleges, sometimes but not often, they have scopes that they no longer use or need some work. The only problem unfortunately with price - is that the optics are essentialy what drive the cost. If you can wait, personally, i would wait until you can at least afford the one that Butterfly mentioned - fuzzy/bad optics will drive you nuts.

Speedy

After looking and searching for a microscope I have decided to wait because everything in that low price range just isn't what I want. I have been doing a lot of reading and learning a lot and I know what I want now and a good microscope will be around 500.00 dollars. I sure don't want to get something I'm not happy with so it is better to wait like you said you where right. I sure don't want fuzzy or bad optics. Thanks for the help.

Butterfly

No I don't have one but I drool over that one regularly
carol

Speedy

I'm sorry you don't have a good microscope and I understand about the drooling part I saw so many I would love to have but man are they expensive.
My drooling got so bad I felt like I was sitting in a baby pool.