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OMAX 40X-2000X LED Binocular Compound Lab Microscope w/ Double Layer Mechanical Stage + Blank Slides, Cover Slips, & Lens Cleaning Paper, M82ES-SC100-LP100?
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I know about as much as any bs biology graduate. My microscope was from amazon and is very decent for the price. Personally, I've always been fascinated with observing life under the microscope and have spent several hours using the one I have now. If you have a passion for it, then I'd say it's more than worth the money.
I believe this was the microscope given to me: https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Set-40X-2000X-Microscope-Mechanical/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1476405809&sr=8-2&keywords=omax+microscope
I like just a simple binocular compound microscope. Amazon has one right now by Omax has a 4-X 2000X on their best seller list that is a really deal and includes a box of slides and covers. Try this link and check out the specks. It's a good price for a compound and has everything you need.
I’m so happy for you! I love microbiology too! Here’s the microscope I have, it works great! I think it’s around $200 but... I love it! It’s inexpensive but will last, you know? My suggestion would be to Grab a basic gram stain kit if you want to see bacteria very well.
OMAX 40X-2500X LED Binocular Compound Lab Microscope w/ Double Layer Mechanical Stage + Blank Slides, Cover Slips, & Lens Cleaning Paper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_p4cqTpUGlCv8N
Edit: If this is too far out of your budget, try using the description on here to find a cheaper one with similar amenities. Good luck!
If you're planning on getting a camera just stick with a monocular. I have a binocular and it's really nice for viewing especially doing the long count method but if you can just get a camera. It's so much better.
There are plenty of decent ones on Amazon. Omax is a good brand.
Promotion Set: OMAX 40X-2000X Lab LED Binocular Compound Microscope with Double Layer Mechanical Stage + 100 Glass Blank Slides & Covers + 100 Lens Cleaning Paper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SDnwxbS0A9GYK
For a hemocytometer... Don't buy the shitty $30 one on Amazon. It fucking sucks giant donkey balls. I had that one and I seriously wanted to crush it repeatedly with our forklift. Buy nice or buy twice. Get the $130 one from sigma Aldrich. Bright line. Make sure you have the proper coverslips. Not your regular ones that come with the microscope. The sigma one comes with 2 I believe. Don't lose them or break them!!! You can order more though if it happens.
I have one barley used. You can come check it out. My wife bough it on impulse when she was in college and its been in the box ever since. Its honestly a pretty good one.
Seems good but I bet you can find good quality sparkling new microscopes for that money. Maybe everyone hates it but I have an Omax microscope that works like a charm and only costed $200. Really depends on the brand and the quality of the optics though.
Like i said in another comment, binocular is super worth it. I have this microscope and love. I added a dslr camera to it easily and also added phase contrast kit to it. So you could add those things in the future. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094JTZOU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That's not a good price for that microscope.
For example, look at this one. For an extra $5 you get four objectives instead of 3 and a binocular head. Those are two very large upgrades. It also comes with a bunch of extras that are worth far more than $5.
This or any other beginner amscope or omax microscope will be acceptable. It's important to note that any magnification advertised for light microscopes above 1000x is empty magnification (similar to digital zoom, the image is enlarged but no additional detail is provided).
Okay, fair enough - probably one of the first things a lot of early microscopists did. I don't know if that's going to get you £200 worth of fun, though.
Generally speaking this is the kind of scope I'd recommend for anyone starting out at your price point. You can get a cell phone adapter to hold your phone up to the eyepiece which will get you way better photos most likely. Sperm are pretty tiny and not very contrasty, so having the 100x objective and a condenser to tune contrast are probably going to be helpful.
Good I'll get to the entries in a minute.
This is a good deal for a binocular compound. Comes with a starter pack of slides, covers for basic slide prep. https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-2018-Best-Compound-Microscope/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=sr_1_3?crid=WKUHPP52XZ50&keywords=compound+microscope+binocular&qid=1637081165&sprefix=compound+microscope+binocular%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-3
The German and Japanese scopes are the best, but also the most expensive. The Korean scopes are the best you can get if you are on a budget. They are stikl real professional grade scopes. Here is what I bouguht for sphagnum research:
OMAX 40X-2000X LED Binocular Compound Lab Microscope w/ Double Layer Mechanical Stage + Blank Slides, Cover Slips, & Lens Cleaning Paper, M82ES-SC100-LP100 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_32W49ECQZMSPYWFMZZ58
I purchased a great microscope off amazon for home use and I have been extremely impressed with it for the past 2 years! It has objectives 4X - 100X, 2 different ocular lens options, immersion oil, and it came with glass slides and cover slips. I highly recommend it!
https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-2018-Best-Compound-Microscope/dp/B0094JTZOU
I bought this a few years ago on sale. It is a great microscope. It’s the same I used in my lab at a medical school research lab.
OMAX 40X-2000X LED Binocular Compound Lab Microscope w/ Double Layer Mechanical Stage + Blank Slides, Cover Slips, & Lens Cleaning Paper, M82ES-SC100-LP100 https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_1RSEABWTV27J07M1F4A6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I have one of these at my house. it's a very basic 40X-2500X LED Binocular Compound Lab Microscope w/ Double Layer Mechanical Stage Sells on Amazon for about $200.
I get the desire to have one. You'll definitely experience better quality scopes at university or during an internship, but sometimes it really is fun having a personal use one to get familiar with its use. I had one in high school, I have so many good memories with it, and I know I wouldn't be here without those tinkering couple of years. I still think I was better at gram staining at 15 than I am now.
I don't personally have this so I can't really speak to the total quality, but it seems like it would be a good jumping off point within your budget.
It's an Omax. I'm brand new to all of this. Literally just went for the most popular on Amazon because even the negative reviews seemed trivial. I'm happy with it, but have nothing for reference. Very easy to use because I didn't know how anything worked, but didn't have to read anything to figure out what to do. I don't know a model number, but here's a link to it.
OMAX 40x-2000x compound microscope (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094JTZOU/) I really like and it's a solid microscope that's comparatively cheap. I took the photo just by holding my phone up to one of the binocular eyepieces and holding it steady.
Personally, we've used this one for the last few years and it's great. If it's too expensive, let me know and I'll look around for a cheaper option.
I'm also a dev, and I bought this one from amazon. I can't really tell you which one to buy, but I can mention that I have been a little disappointed. I can't seem to find any water with cool organisms in it, and bacteria are so small you can really only make out their shape but nothing else, even at 1000x.
I haven't really ventured into staining yet, but that will probably make me feel better once I do. Anyway, it's probably best to have a plan for what you want to use it for before buying. It's a neat hobby, but can be pretty challenging to get really great results.
Great ideas!
I just bought one of these
I want to get one of those camera adapters for my 24MP nikon. Any advice there? I saw a writeup from someone saying they weren't all that they are cracked up to be.
Good start, but too expensive. Look at this! https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-2018-Best-Compound-Microscope/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=microscope&qid=1597375644&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVlJEMUFaQVZVQ0lPJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDEyNTk2Mk8xVDU0Mk5QQ1RXOSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDQ1NTA1TEZPV1RXTE9FRzA2JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== . I've been using this all through quarantine as my first microscoper. This OMAX is the real deal! It comes with slides, and cover slips as well!
I can personally recommend
https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-2018-Best-Compound-Microscope/dp/B0094JTZOU
as it's what I use, with
to record videos on your phone.
I snagged mine off ebay for $100 from a bio student, so deals are out there.
$240 for the scope
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094JTZOU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$120 for the camera
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NSNQSGK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$35 for the Reduction lens
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZ2TQ98/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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I pipe it into a Capture card into my PC for easy video capture and stuff, but the camera itself can take pictures and video on board. I like the flexibility of a capture card though.
I had gotten this one for $50 myself, but its' $73 right now and works a treat.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09D8VYLY7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I use it for taking my microscope to the pond with one of those batteries you can plug AC plugs into. I also take a monitor with me. Plug one HDMI into the laptop, one into a monitor I take with me.
So about $400 pre-tax for my setup sans capture card and relying on the in-built camera.
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You can save $130 though and get a little mount for you phone mount though and record from there. It's how I stared out, but the camera is nice for filling the screen and easy hookup to a monitor/capture card.
Links:
I purchased this before seeing these responses because I was so excited
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094JTZOU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thoughts?
This is the microscope I recommend. If you go cheaper than that, you will be buying garbage. There are better microscopes, but they will cost 10x as much as that scope.
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That can get ya started. It's what I got and I can see some good stuff.
Can't speak on quality, but I'm still using it 1-2 years later.
Really hard to go wrong with this puppy for $230 (went up $30 since I bought it).
Oh sweet. I'm 30 years old and an idiot too.
You get this sucker right here for $209 + tip
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Then you get this thang here for $23 so you can slap your phone on it and look at it through your phones camera, and you can capture photos and videos along with it.
You get you a box of these to clean your slides and lenses for $12
Then you get one or two of these for $10 each because you'll burn through the starter ones they give you
https://www.amazon.com/SWIFT-Microscope-Slides-Pre-Cleaned-Coverslips/dp/B081YFMPQJ/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=slides+and+coverslips&qid=1619712511&sr=8-6
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Then for collecting your goop:
Get 200 of these pipettes for $8 to suck things up
I went a little overboard and spent $20 on this plastic test tube set and rack, but I always keep a few tubes and pipettes with me so in case I find some interesting looking puddle of water, I can take a quick sample with me.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CSWFMOC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It makes a very fun hobby, though.
https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-2018-Best-Compound-Microscope/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=omax+400-2500x&qid=1617814337&sr=8-4
Not terribly expensive!
All: https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-2018-Best-Compound-Microscope/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=omax+400-2500x&qid=1617814337&sr=8-4 This microscope will allow you to see the same stuff. $200!
The one you linked is what I have, just not with that camera
https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-2018-Best-Compound-Microscope/dp/B0094JTZOU?ref_=ast_sto_dp
The scope itself runs about 210 there. I've got a $150 microscope camera I attach to it and use HDMI-Out however it connects via USB but for only 30FPS max.
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Also it's simple enough that it should last quite a while. I've had fantastic fun with it. Can see bacteria which is about as good as you can ask from an entry-level one.
My career is IT and the last biology class I had was in high school.
However, I've dropped damn near $4-500 on this hobby.
I have this microscope. I picked up a used one off ebay for $100, but I did get rather lucky as it was a bio-student selling her stuff from class
I also have a $150 camera connected to it, but check my post history here for a sample of what I can capture.
A similar scope, comes with less goodies but you'll order more goodies anyways.
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If I had to do it, full retail knowing what I know now, I'd get this one. It seems better built.
However each of these scopes will do the exact same thing and get the exact same image. They have the same magnification level.
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I recommend these because cheaper microscopes take more physical effort and you start making compromises that may annoy you into not using it. With these, there's few compromises and putting more money into it gets you better ways to use the light. Journey to the Microcosmos, a high recommended youtube channel, produces fantastic quality images but they have quite a pricey microscope. But then compare it to mine, or something like /u/aMazingMikey 's submissions here on or his youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=virc9KWPQrI It still looks pretty good and there's so much adventure to be had
To capture this you don't need a $150 microphone, a $25 phone mount got me into it pretty well!
Sure thing! I bought this one from Amazon last year. https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-Best-Compound-Microscope-2016/dp/B0094JTZOU I love it. It's perfect for every day use. Here's a video I took last year of pond water with cell phone camera. https://youtu.be/WALjNaX9WYg
Here's the one I use, however I got it much cheaper from ebay. $100 in fact. I then spent the money I didn't spend on the microscope anyways and then some.
Bare minimum, a compound light microscope. Those can be found sub $100 but will lack good features like a mechanical stage which allows you to move the slide around easily.
The one I'm using is $210 on Amazon right now
I got my scope for $100 off of a bio student on ebay. Basically new.
Now, to get the pictures is a pricier story! At first, I was using a camera which took good footage but I got tired of taking my phone out of the case and I wanted something a little more dedicated as I do quite like the hobby. But Omax cameras were running $270+!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NSNQSGK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
So I rolled the dice and got this camera
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZ2TQ98/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And this C-mount lens adapter. The reduction lens is fantastic because it does away with the small circle I'd get with a phone. The video above wasn't zoomed in at all to fill the screen, that's just what it looks like.
However, USB is rated at 30FPS. I wanted 60FPS, so I utilize the HDMI-Out and feed it into an elgato capture card I bought from a friend for $140. So we're in about $120 on a scope and scope accessories, but then $300 of footage-capture! I feed the HDMI into OBS and just record the HDMI-Out. I do no recording on the camera itself.
However I'm finding that my video isn't actually recording at 1080p 60FPS... It's recording at 1080i 60FPS and then that reduces down to 1080p 30FPS according to my capture card. Unhappy about that, however I don't know if I'm going to get better for the price. It still looks great! But I'll try to finagle a partial refund or something. The camera specifically states 1080P 60FPS.
Oh definitely. Your setup is still quite good for observing things. It's just a mechanical stage will allow you to look around the slide without actually having to push it with your fingers, providing a nice smooth motion.
Here's what I'm using. I actually got this off ebay for $100 from a bio student. Lots of deals to be had there because students use them for 3 months in class and then sell them. However I spent $50 slides, cover silps, and other little accessories and then spend an additional $50 or so on a 20x objective and a 60x objective.
Hello, I like that one you linked as well. Would you take the Swift 350B or save $20 and get the https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094JTZOU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A35BV4NHHC5J5C&psc=1
I actually think I'll get this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094JTZOU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A35BV4NHHC5J5C&psc=1
Sorry just saw this. Here it is
you can even cut the name like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094JTZOU/
Good to know. I've always wondered about the ref part of the urls.
I went ahead and changed the link for anyone who wants to minimize tracking: https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-2018-Best-Compound-Microscope/dp/B0094JTZOU/
it's this microscope https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094JTZOU we don't know about microscopes but just curious how things look like under a microscope. Do you know any other quality microscopes can capture a better video, I think it's the camera https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G7J0688
I don't think you want to buy a microscope without eyepieces. The 1.2MP camera just isn't going to give you a great image.
Check out this model. If you want to also have a camera connection as a second way of viewing things, have a look at this one or better yet this one. These are more expensive than the one you linked, but you'll really appreciate the binocular optics and the 5MP camera if you spend much time with this.
The maker that you linked, AmScope, also sells a similar range of scopes with these features, but OMAX scopes better in my experience.
I don't have any pictures though. I havent gotten a camera adapter yet. I'm still a noob myself but I think I can describe how the quality of this microscope met with my expectations. If you can pardon a labored and inappropriate analogy, it was a bit like sex. You've seen the very good and the very bad on the internet, but what you end up with is somewhere in the middle, a somewhat homely lady with good heart and some work ethic.
You can see cells and stuff with this microscope, and probably take some cool pictures, but you'll never get this sort of picture from it.
I just bought one of these
Decent reviews, decent price, should be sufficient as a starter.
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