Thinking about buying a microscope, suggestions?

tomreefer · 01/18/2019, 07:35 PM

Anyone get a microscope for identifying algae, etc? Decent one without spending a ton//

tomreefer · 01/18/2019, 08:05 PM

looking at these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-M150C...ref_=yo_ii_img

FSJGUY · 01/18/2019, 09:04 PM

i bought this one.

worked good for diagnosing my sick discus.

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-120X-...rds=microscope

tomreefer · 01/19/2019, 03:14 AM

I want one to identify algae mostly and not sure what to look for

Kevin Guthrie · 01/19/2019, 09:25 AM

Having the ability to see something and using it to identify algae are two different things, right?

I have an old binocular dissecting scope which is more for plopping stuff in a dish and looking at it at 50x or less. Definitely won't let you look at individual cells on slides but not sure what I would be able to identify if I had that ability.

I also have an electronic one that I'm happy with and I use it more often now that I have it: https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Micr.../dp/B00XNYXQHE You plug it into a laptop. Biggest plusses are others can watch and you can capture images. It's mag is about the same as the dissecting scope but its a lot more cumbersome to use. Results from my SLR macro would be better quality.

Squares are 5mm; closest you can get would probably give you a 5mm field of view. https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...FkJHi6t_EpkltU

tomreefer · 01/19/2019, 05:08 PM

I just bought that plug able one that you mentioned from Amazon. This will be good to identify Algae or?

01/18/2019, 07:35 PM	#1
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	Thinking about buying a microscope, suggestions? Anyone get a microscope for identifying algae, etc? Decent one without spending a ton//

01/19/2019, 09:25 AM	#5
Kevin Guthrie Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 506	Having the ability to see something and using it to identify algae are two different things, right? I have an old binocular dissecting scope which is more for plopping stuff in a dish and looking at it at 50x or less. Definitely won't let you look at individual cells on slides but not sure what I would be able to identify if I had that ability. I also have an electronic one that I'm happy with and I use it more often now that I have it: https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Micr.../dp/B00XNYXQHE You plug it into a laptop. Biggest plusses are others can watch and you can capture images. It's mag is about the same as the dissecting scope but its a lot more cumbersome to use. Results from my SLR macro would be better quality. Squares are 5mm; closest you can get would probably give you a 5mm field of view. https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...FkJHi6t_EpkltU Last edited by Kevin Guthrie; 01/19/2019 at 09:31 AM. Reason: picture isn't showing.

01/18/2019, 08:05 PM	#2
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	looking at these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-M150C...ref_=yo_ii_img

01/18/2019, 09:04 PM	#3
FSJGUY Registered Member. Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 45	i bought this one. worked good for diagnosing my sick discus. https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-120X-...rds=microscope

01/19/2019, 03:14 AM	#4
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	I want one to identify algae mostly and not sure what to look for

01/19/2019, 05:08 PM	#6
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	I just bought that plug able one that you mentioned from Amazon. This will be good to identify Algae or?