Field microscope

[JennyS]

Time and time again lichen IDs need microscopy for accurate identification so I'm looking for advice on getting a microscope. As there are quite a few people posting miscroscopic spore images here it seemed the best place for advice.

Ideally something small enough that I could take out in the field.
It would need a camera attached and also a means of linking to the PC at home so I could see images directly on the computer screen.

Possibly monocular rather than bi-ocular as only my right eye sees fine detail.

Thanks in advance,
Jenny

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by JennyS

Time and time again lichen IDs need microscopy for accurate identification so I'm looking for advice on getting a microscope. As there are quite a few people posting miscroscopic spore images here it seemed the best place for advice.

Ideally something small enough that I could take out in the field.
It would need a camera attached and also a means of linking to the PC at home so I could see images directly on the computer screen.

Possibly monocular rather than bi-ocular as only my right eye sees fine detail.

Thanks in advance,
Jenny

Hi Jenny

Unfortunately the 'field microscope' and the 'indoor' lab type are quite different.

A good place to start looking is :

http://www.hikingwithafieldmicroscop...icroscope.html

which should give you an idea of the type and technique.

The biggest problem in the field is having sufficient light, but the introduction of LED lighting has helped significantly!

I'm currently looking at the Nikon Fabre Photo EX stereoscopic microscope:

Digital SLR Camera Fits Into Nikon's Microscope -- Tech-On!

but it's very expensive!

Hope this helps

John

[stigofthedump]

Hi Fungi John, and sorry Jenny for interrupting your thread.
I have the Mk 1 version of this (18 months old) and it has been back to Nikon once for repair and I am still not happy with it. So be cautious. The problem stems from the cradle, which holds the battery and the LEDs, a very badly designed mechanism indeed. If you are going to shell out for one I would strongly suggest you try to handle it, rather than over the internet, turn the battery cradle to access the battery a few times, if you find it feels a little ‘loose’ walk away and look for something else.
I cannot fault the optics of the microscope, indeed I am very impressed.
Again sorry for interrupting you Jenny.


Vince

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by stigofthedump

Hi Fungi John, and sorry Jenny for interrupting your thread.
I have the Mk 1 version of this (18 months old) and it has been back to Nikon once for repair and I am still not happy with it. So be cautious. The problem stems from the cradle, which holds the battery and the LEDs, a very badly designed mechanism indeed. If you are going to shell out for one I would strongly suggest you try to handle it, rather than over the internet, turn the battery cradle to access the battery a few times, if you find it feels a little ‘loose’ walk away and look for something else.
I cannot fault the optics of the microscope, indeed I am very impressed.
Again sorry for interrupting you Jenny.


Vince

Many thanks for this Vince.

I'm sure Jenny and others will appreciate the comments / cautions too!

Best Wishes - John