Looking for a microscope

[BrendanJ23]

Hi everyone,

I am looking to buy a microscope, should I ever need one for identifying things, And for curiosity sake.

However I know nothing about them. What specs should I be looking for, that won’t break the bank. I’m looking to spend no more than about $200 AUD if possible.

Thanks in advance!

[Willie]

Microscopes are not particularly easy to use. They essentially combine two lenses for magnification. The eye piece is 10X and the objectives have 10X, 40X and 100X to give 100X, 400X and 1,000X magnifications. I used to teach microbiology in college and it took students a good 2 hours to see anything at the higher magnifications, even with me standing right there.
Mic.jpg

Bacteria can only be seen at 1,000X and that's only when they're stained. My first lab class was to ask them to adjust the microscope and draw what they see of a pre-stained slide. Even in that setting, ~50% of the drawings would be air bubbles!

To see things like capillaria/nematodes/spores, which are eukaryotic and multicellular, I'd recommend a stereo binocular, which have lower magnification. They are easier to handle and cheaper. I also find binocular vision to be easier on the eyes than the monocular in a standard microscope.
Binoc.png

Having said that, I've never bothered to use either for discus keeping.

Good luck, Willie

[Shan_Evolved]

Do you guys have a local people's market? Like online facebook marketplace or offerup or a similar app?

I actually found my microscope for dirt cheap from a local facebook aquarium group member who had one laying around. You don't need more than 100x magnification or so I'm told.

@Willie, I KNEW you were a teacher of some sort! Nice job man. Good knowledge of micros

[BrendanJ23]

Microscopes are not particularly easy to use. They essentially combine two lenses for magnification. The eye piece is 10X and the objectives have 10X, 40X and 100X to give 100X, 400X and 1,000X magnifications. I used to teach microbiology in college and it took students a good 2 hours to see anything at the higher magnifications, even with me standing right there.
Mic.jpg.


Bacteria can only be seen at 1,000X and that's only when they're stained. My first lab class was to ask them to adjust the microscope and draw what they see of a pre-stained slide. Even in that setting, ~50% of the drawings would be air bubbles!

To see things like capillaria/nematodes/spores, which are eukaryotic and multicellular, I'd recommend a stereo binocular, which have lower magnification. They are easier to handle and cheaper. I also find binocular vision to be easier on the eyes than the monocular in a standard microscope.
Binoc.png

Having said that, I've never bothered to use either for discus keeping.

Good luck, Willie

Appreciate the insight Willie and an interesting background for yourself. It must have provided helpful over the years of keeping discus!