Re: Would like advice on microscope purchase

From: Copepod (copepod_at_blueyonder.co.uk)
Date: 09/13/04 

Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 08:01:41 GMT

Greetings to a fellow lurker with similar interests. You and I are both in
the same age group an both have an interest in microscopic pondlife. (The
pedants would have us refer to each other as fellow "freshwater
microbiologists".)

It all depends on what you want to look at. If the organism is visible to
the naked eye, then I world suggest a stereo microscope which magnifies up
to about x70 or thereabouts. This will enable you to see insects, other
small arthropods and the like. A x10 hand lens on a neck cord wouldn't go
amiss either.

If what you are looking at is smaller, say 1mm or less, then I would suggest
a compound microscope, but you will not need a total magnification > x400 or
so. This will enable you to see ciliates and rotifers and similar organisms
to which our victorian forebears (perhaps you don't have any- but I do) gave
the name infusoria. If ciliate and rotifer mean nothing to you at the
moment, then what joys lie ahead for you as you discover them. If you get a
compound microscope then I would advise two things: get a binocular one with
panachromat lenses. The "plan" part of the name means that the fields of
focus is flat and not curved. Looking at small creatures and having to
refocus as they move is a nuisance.

That is enough rambling for now. I look forward to hearing more in due
course.

In case you haven't already guessed I'm writing from the UK - Bristol to be
exact.

Robert