Re: need advice on purchasing used microscopes

"Kevin Cunningham" <smskjc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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On Jul 11, 4:42 am, "Y" <a...@xxx> wrote:
"Kevin Cunningham" <sms...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message


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On Jul 8, 8:08 pm, Meri <merit...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I am the volunteer coordinator for phytoplankton monitors. We
recently got a small sum of money (not much 1K) to purchase scopes
for
volunteers.

We use them to identify diatoms and dinoflagellates in coastal
waters.
I would like them to have a compound scope, with 10, 20, 40, and 10x
ocular; ideally, a mechanical stage.

Does anyone have any advice?

I'd urge you to take a look at Spectra Services
(www.spectraservices.com) and Martin Microscopes
(www.martinmicroscopes.com). They might have the price and the used
product you need. Of course take a good look around. Be a bit
suspicious of E-Bay vendors. Probably you'll find an Olympus CH or a
Nikon Alphaphot for sale, these are good instruments, well built with
great optics.

There are only 4 major quality makers, Olympus, Nikon, Zeiss and
Leica. The last two are German and better known for their high end
microscopes.

Thanks,

Kevin Cunningham
SMS

I'm sorry but I strongly dissagree on that last statement... There
are/were
lots of good quality microscope manufacturers. The difference between
those
and the big four isn't a quality issue, but a much smaller range in
add-ons.
And a much smaller marketing budget.

The Big 4 that I reference build real microscopes built to last. The
other makers mostly make crap. I've been working in this field since
'79 and I've seen far to many messed up and screwed up 2nd tier
systems. I've seen darn few messed up or screwed up Big 4
instruments.

I'd also point out that most 2nd and 3rd rate makers are made by about
3 plants in China, then a name is applied, like Swift. If you really
want a cheap microscope, get an Indian make.

Thanks for your views.

Kevin Cunningham
SMS

That's what is called a biased view. All too human, not very scientific.


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