Microscope strength?

[FranOnTheEdge]

How good a microscope do you actually need to aid in fungi identification?

I have one that came with the ability to take photos using a very basic camera, that took a film cartridge - not digital, quite old by now and meant I think for teenagers with an interest in nature - you could also project the image onto a screen direct from the microscope.

Not sure where it is now, but if I ever find it, it would be nice if I could use it on fungi. So I wondered...

Fran

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by FranOnTheEdge

How good a microscope do you actually need to aid in fungi identification?

I have one that came with the ability to take photos using a very basic camera, that took a film cartridge - not digital, quite old by now and meant I think for teenagers with an interest in nature - you could also project the image onto a screen direct from the microscope.

Not sure where it is now, but if I ever find it, it would be nice if I could use it on fungi. So I wondered...

Fran

Fran
There is all sorts of interesting things to see in the field of fungi with a microscope. Even a basic one will allow you to see the shape of spores and probably the reletive size but to be of any real help in identification you do need a more powerful one

Mal

[fairplay]

Hi Fran,

If you want to be certain of identification, first you will need good reference books which give measurements and shapes of microscopic parts to the fungi.

Then you will need a microscope with 10x eye pieces and a 'revolving turret' with 10x, 40x, and 100x (oil immersion) objectives.

Then you need a stage micrometer (a glass slide with a microscopic scale engraved on it) and an eye-piece graticule which you fit in the eye-piece lens (can be very tricky).

Next it is time for arithmetic's whereby you have to align the 2 scales together and calculate the divisions in microns.

After 5 years you should start feeling confident enough to try Clitocybes
10 years - Boletes
15 years - Russulas
20 years - Inocybes
50+ years Cortinarius

Fran, ...Fran, are you still there ?


Neil.

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Hi Fran,

If you want to be certain of identification, first you will need good reference books which give measurements and shapes of microscopic parts to the fungi.

Then you will need a microscope with 10x eye pieces and a 'revolving turret' with 10x, 40x, and 100x (oil immersion) objectives.

Then you need a stage micrometer (a glass slide with a microscopic scale engraved on it) and an eye-piece graticule which you fit in the eye-piece lens (can be very tricky).

Next it is time for arithmetic's whereby you have to align the 2 scales together and calculate the divisions in microns.

After 5 years you should start feeling confident enough to try Clitocybes
10 years - Boletes
15 years - Russulas
20 years - Inocybes
50+ years Cortinarius

Fran, ...Fran, are you still there ?


Neil.

It's now Fran over the edge

[FranOnTheEdge]

Originally Posted by Neil

Fran, ...Fran, are you still there ?


Neil.

Er..... nope.

Originally Posted by flaxton

It's now Fran over the edge

Absolutely correct...


Lol!

[Meta menardi]

If your expections aren't too high, I would still find that microscope. It won't do much for fungi, but they are worth a fiddle with. Mine is in a box and has been for about a year, but I will get it out again soon. Perhaps when it is cold and dark.

[FranOnTheEdge]

Oooh, I don't think my expectations are ever very high, besides I like finding things out, so if I can find it in the next few days I'll certainly get it out of the box.