Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Microscope

Optical microscope tips: I want to see with both eyes!

Tapioca — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:24:55 -0800

How do I get better at using an binocular compound optical microscope? I'd like to hear hints and tips I'm also interested in theories as to why I find this such a challenge, as it seems to come naturally to most people. I have difficulties using a binocular optical microscope - no problems on focusing on the specimen etc, more with the vision-related stuff. I adjust the distance between the eyepieces, but still find it hard to achieve a single image. Am I supposed to smoosh my eyes close into the eye-pieces, or keep them a few cm away?

I'm fairly happy using monocular models, though I never did learn the oft-recommended trick of keeping both eyes open - I can't see the specimen at all this way, it disappears and my vision just shows me the non-magnified view. Perhaps this is related?

I have myopia (short-sightedness) in both eyes (-10 dioptres in both eyes), and a small degree of astigmatism and I wear contacts most days, and spectacles occasionally. The contacts don't correct my vision completely, they are just the closest prescription that comes in daily disposable versions.

What is the minimum microscope strengh to view mushroom spores?

tweaqslug — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:25:22 -0800

How powerful of a microscope do I need to identify spores when mushroom hunting? Is 100x enough? I am looking into mushroom hunting as a hobby and it seems the most reliable way to identify mushrooms is through microscopic examination of their spores. I would like to purchase a compact portable microscope to do this with. I have seen 100x pocket microscopes for under $50 but it seems like I might need something stronger. Any advice?

How to see what the camera sees?

dhruva — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:51:38 -0800

Is it possible to connect a Leica D-lux 3 camera to a computer such that I can see the (current) image on the computer? What software should I use for this? (Mac/windows) I want to connect the camera to the computer such that I can 'click' by looking at an image on the monitor rather than through the camera. The camera can be fitted onto a microscope but it is very hard to click while mounted. Bonus points for a way to do so with ImageJ.

Good microscope for kids?

Doofus Magoo — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:29:30 -0800

What's a decent microscope for a seven-year old boy? Our son will soon be turning seven, and much to my delight, has started to express a pretty strong interest in science. We thought we'd get him a microscope for his birthday, but as my wife and I have little experience with them, we don't have the first clue about the features, brands, etc., we should be focusing on.

I think what we're looking for is something where he can stick a bug or a leaf under there and get a really good look at it; we probably don't want to spend a bunch of time mucking around with preparing slides and things like that (although we wouldn't be averse to buying pre-prepared slides). I imagine the ideal gift is a microscope where he can grab a leaf or a bug or something and stick it under the microscope with a minimum of fuss. Our budget for this is probably around $100.

Even if you don't have a specific model recommendation, are there particular features that we should be looking for? I read somewhere that when buying a microscope for a kid, you'll usually want to go with a stereo scope -- is that true? What about magnification -- how high will it need to go?

I've seen this question, but that seemed to be geared towards a budding scientist quite a bit older than seven. There's also this question, and although the QX5 recommendation looks pretty solid, we're wondering if there are additional models/feature sets we should be looking at, given that we're not really interested in it being portable.

Can I use a haemocytometer for camera calibration

kisch mokusch — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:10:28 -0800

Microscopy question. Can I use a haemocytometer to calibrate our new camera? I know that normally you would use a micrometer, bur I have to track one down (which will take time). Haemocytometers, on the other hand, are aplenty.

But is this kosher? As far as I understand, the laser etching on a haemocytometer is *very* precise (hence their expense), but I've never heard of anybody using it like this. Thoughts?

Please help me help my dad buy me a microscope.

palmcorder_yajna — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:45:52 -0800

My absolutely non-techie dad has just, in a fit of extreme awesomeness, offered to buy me a compound microscope. What now? I'm in the process of re-tooling my educational background for wet science, after a bachelor's in art history and a pack of years in law, and I'm just now starting to take upper division biology classes. I know I don't really -need- a microscope at this point in my life, but it sure would be nifty.

My ideal microscope would be at least somewhat portable, something I could bring to these sorts of events. It would also be trinocular, though that's not a requirement.

I'd like this microscope to be something that would serve me well in grad school, should I choose to pursue microbiology, or plant physiology, or something in a similar vein. I'd also like for it to be something I could use to show friends and family the wonders of tardigrades, hydras, volvox (volvoxen?) and the like.

How much microscope do I need? How much microscope is too much? What should I be looking for? What should I avoid? Are there any particular shops or vendors you'd recommend?

We can afford to spend around $750.00 on this. I can go a bit higher if need be, but I really don't want to go over a grand.

Thanks all!

Portable microscopes?

convex — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:52:08 -0800

I have always been intrigued by the micro world. I am looking for a tool to help me enjoy it further. What better tool than a microscope, however I want it to be portable and allow me to examine things with out too much preparations. I saw some of the small microscopes like 'pocket scope' 30x, and 'illuminated microscope' between 25x and 50x. Are these any good? Do they offer good enough clarity or not worth the money.
I am not looking to examine things at a cellular level, how much magification is enough? (Just things around us, bugs, pollen, plants, dirt, water from swamps, etc...)
Do you have experience with similar instruments that you would recommend?

Why not send a microscope to Mars?

ZenMasterThis — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 09:00:56 -0800

Life on Mars: Why not send up a remote control optical microscope package? Seems to me that other stuff we've sent there is at least as complicated. Why not send something that allows us to look for microscopic life by direct observation? Put a little dirt in a nutrient solution, wait a bit, put a drop on a slide, put it on a microscope stage, see what we've got via video link.

Microscope viewing

chef_boyardee — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 18:03:48 -0800

Any biologists in the house? What would be a recommended book for identifying bacteria, pollen, and other nitnoy under a regular microscope? I recently got a good microscope and figure there must be decent (and cheap) atlases for this purpose.

I'm also intent on doing practical stuff with it. Next time the doctor says it's a "bacterial infection" and sends me out with some pills, I can do my own cultures (guess I'll need some agar).

Any other neat stuff I can do? Guess I should have grown up in the 1950s when this stuff was cool.

How to view sperm via microscope?

alms — Sun, 10 Jul 2005 19:15:20 -0800

How powerful a microscope does one need to get a good view of human sperm? Are there any particular requirements other than magnification level? And is it necessary to prepare the sample (semen) in any way to support optimal viewing? I've googled and googled, and haven't been able to find what would seem to me to be info about a very basic high school science experiment!

(Bonus points for anyone who can recommend an actual microscope to buy online.)