I'm a biology student and after using my ok childhood microscope for years, I'd like to buy a better quality one for personal use.

Do you have recommendations? Whats the best one for this price in your opinion?

I am searching for a compound microscope, ideally trinocular, with 100x oil immersion, achromatic, etc. Ideally with köhler illumination, but I guess it's rather rare in this price level.

Also it would be great if it would be at least updatable to darkfield and polarization microscopy. I guess it's almost impossible to find a microscope that is already equipped with these features in such a low price level.

I mean, I found this one which sees to be equipped for darkfield microscopy https://amscope.com/products/c-t490-dk?srsltid=AfmBOop-lX8E7CfblMeHHcHSiYzBtqzQi7Ou4xLQXXmEqeYs_97lUPo- Is this worth ir? Or should I rather buy an updatable high quality brightfield microscope?

Sorry for mistakes, english isn't my native tongue.

Hi everyone,

I’m conducting research to better understand user experiences and challenges in the world of digital microscopy. With advanced systems like the Keyence VHX-X1, Zeiss SmartZoom 5, and Olympus DSX1000, the market offers powerful tools designed to streamline imaging and measurement workflows.

However, I’m curious if there are specific pain points or unmet needs in these systems that users are experiencing.

Here are a few aspects I’d like to explore:

• Optical Quality: Are the resolution, clarity, and imaging capabilities sufficient for your needs? Do you encounter limitations with magnification or depth-of-field in practical applications?
• Software Features: How intuitive and powerful is the software? Are there frustrations with features like measurement tools, 3D visualization, or reporting? Is there a lack of integration with other software or systems?
• Ease of Use: Are these systems user-friendly enough for both beginners and experienced users? Are there any workflow bottlenecks?
• Cost vs. Value: Do these high-end systems justify their price, or are there areas where they under-deliver for the investment?
• Reliability and Maintenance: Are there recurring issues with hardware durability, software bugs, or challenges in getting timely support?
• Specialized Applications: Do you find these systems versatile enough, or do they fall short in specific niche applications (e.g., in electronics, automotive, or materials science)?
• Performance vs. Marketing Claims: Have you experienced gaps between the advertised capabilities and real-world performance?

I’m particularly interested in how these challenges manifest in industrial and manufacturing applications, where digital microscopy plays a crucial role.

Your input—whether from hands-on experience, industry trends you’ve observed, or general impressions—would be invaluable. If you’ve encountered problems or have ideas for improvement, I’d love to hear them.

Feel free to share your thoughts or recommend resources that could help shed light on this topic. Let’s start a conversation about what’s next for digital microscopy!

Thanks in advance for your insights!

Hello everyone, I would like to ask if there is any object that can be used to maintain the distance between the slide and the cover slip under a microscope. This is because when I observe protozoa, they often get distorted if I place these two pieces of glass directly on top of each other. Thank you all.

Used a phone adapter to take pics and an old (2015), lightweight Samsung A3 phone. Scope was a 50 year old Swift (no model number) from 1973 with a LED light rigged up to replace the mirror. Objectives used: Swift 4/0.15, Swift 40/0.65 Eyepiece: Edmund Optics 35689 10x/18mm

https://preview.redd.it/uhtrbzsbh84e1.jpg?width=1836&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf002ebecdd710d310d49f043373154d6a1eeec0

Love the 'strands' surrounding the Stomata's guard cells. Looks like something H.R.Giger would produce for the Alien films.

https://preview.redd.it/a0z0dzsbh84e1.jpg?width=2448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=533d0c266dcfa58d4ddef57211551be895463672

https://preview.redd.it/7j9wzysbh84e1.jpg?width=2448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2ce9a1fecd567c29354d8a56e1e1b1f5da640cd4

https://preview.redd.it/eiamzzsbh84e1.jpg?width=1836&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=efaec9a50d7f7a29469d90f1d933b23f4fc24cbb

https://preview.redd.it/x3gyc1tbh84e1.jpg?width=2448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f296d4c89ff0ade4a3337875e55067679aba8a7f

https://preview.redd.it/ngy64zsbh84e1.jpg?width=2448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db216fd7d6563ae1cd7ec5962ab2bf38c6326cd4

I was gifted this vintage microscope. I’ve been looking for a microscope to look at cells, small protozoa, and all kinds of fun stuff (that unused Biology degree may finally be used!). I can’t find much info about this model. I’m wondering if it is a good platform that can be improved upon with new lenses etc. and can’t find much information about it. It has 4x, 40x, 60x magnification so, with the eyepieces, 40/400/600 mag.

If anyone is familiar with this model and can give me some advice, it would be greatly appreciated. I’d rather spend the money on improving this scope than on buying a new one, if possible. Thanks in advance.

After staining a blood or cerumen sample with Diff-Quik, rinsing, and drying, is it advisable to apply a coverslip when using the 100x oil immersion objective?

Would the coverslip help prevent any residual staining solution from mixing with the oil and potentially contaminating the objective lens, or is this not a concern given that the sample was rinsed and dried?

Additionally, would using a coverslip help stabilize the sample and prevent any displacement of microscopic findings when adjusting the stage during observation at 100x oil magnification?

I have a Bresser Researcher Trino. I bought an adapter since I already have a camera with C-mount size? But that is useless. I don't even know what it is. The scope came with some weird tubes. But nothing fits? Camera looks like this. How do I fit it?

https://preview.redd.it/iawndohzt34e1.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b13dfb5c852ef7bd5e4587237af9ad67d8743423

I am sort of experienced with microscopes and I’ve used them a lot before, but this is my first time actually buying one, I was looking at the one on micro safari for 799$ currently, but I was wandering if anyone has some good suggestions for microscopes, I want to use it for looking at cells, blood, possibly dna, and bacteria or creatures!

First time, but I want something that is quite powerful and will last a while.

I have been reading up on microscopes, but have limited knowledge on what might be a best option.

What I do know:

• Trinocular
• Camera compatible

About him and use:

• He asked for- Swift SW380T 40X-2500X Magnification
• He is 18
• Looking to get into a biology field for profession
• Currently doing for hobby/research/learning

Upon research, the one he asked for looks decent to me, but I feel he is being modest with what he is asking for. I would like to purchase him a good quality microscope that will last him a while and provide him nicely detailed views of what he will look at. If the Swift can do that- fantastic- but a little hesitant because I know a quality instrument runs thousands. I would appreciate any help with pinpointing a good one, any experiences with different brands, etc. I would love to learn so I can help support and have conversations with him on this journey.

Budget: $1,500

TIA!

Sorry new to microscopy and took pic on phone

I just started playing around with my first microscope and came across this guy in some old water I had plant cuttings sitting in. Any idea what it could be?

Swift SW380T or Amscope B120c? I have the budget for both. I'm just wondering which one is better. They have the same magnification.

I have the National Geographic 40x-1024x microscope if that means anything. Just general knowledge you think a beginner could have use of would be greatly appreciated!

Hello, i am a physics student helping at a radiation lab where there is a microscope used for studying behaviour of cells under radiation. Im a total noob at microscopy and i took this picture last week while changing things at random in the microscope and didnt think much of it. Now reaserching more i think it might be able to take those cool images with a dark background, even though the one i took doesnt look like the ones im talking about. I won't be able to see it again untill next week, but i was curious, can anyone tell if this is dark field or not, and what im doing different?

The slide is of a plant stem, 10 x 40 if i remember correctly, i dont know the model of the microscope or the camera model, this was just a test and i dont have the info right now.

Is there an online manual for them? It would be cool to see if it would work again and how to properly use it. It comes out of the case upside down so I'm not sure how to set it up. And if anyone has any cool facts or advice let me know. And replacement parts.

Is there an online manual for them? It would be cool to see if it would work again and how to properly use it. It comes out of the case upside down so I'm not sure how to set it up. And if anyone has any cool facts or advice let me know. And replacement parts.

I have some .lif image files that I got from my Leica confocal fluorescent microscope and I'm trying to import them into Zeiss Zen Blue so I can export them as .czi files. The reason being I want to use an automated toolkit to analyze my images for me since the manual process is quite time consuming but the toolkit only recognizes .czi files. Anyone have any experience with converting files between the two brands?