Illuminated magnifier - advice please

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by fairplay

With bracket or polypore type fungi you can see the shape of the pores better, with other brackets you can sometimes see setae (special thorn/spine shaped cells).
On gilled fungi you can see any gill edge coloration better and also the way the gills are attached to the stem, amongst many other uses.

Also if you come across the 'Tooth Pick' fungus I lend mine so the audience can see the tiny teeth underneath.

Jenny,

Does the model you have, have two lenses ie. the two convex sides facing each other or is it single lens ? if the latter surely there must be a lot of falloff/distortion away from the central viewing area.

Neil.

Hi Neil.

Mine is the Oxford precision x10 model which looks identical to the Opticron model Jenny has. It has two lenses and no distortion.

It’s a real joy to use!

John

[fairplay]

Hmmm, It might be time to give these a second look then, cheers John.

Neil.

[JennyS]

Does the model you have, have two lenses ie. the two convex sides facing each other or is it single lens ? if the latter surely there must be a lot of falloff/distortion away from the central viewing area.

Yes, unfortunately there is a fair bit of distortion away from the centre - I'm going to check out the Oxford precision x10 model. Where is it available from?

[FungiJohn]

Here's a quick image of the Oxford model



There’s a striking resemblance to the opticron but it does have two lenses!

John

PS the on / off switch is on the side you can't see

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by JennyS

I'm going to check out the Oxford precision x10 model. Where is it available from?

Hi Jenny

It may only be available through educational sources. Although I work in higher education someone else got this for me. I’ll make some enquiries and report back.

John

[JennyS]

Thanks John

[jaybie]

Interesting reading, thanks all.

John - see what you have done though the microscope is not on the wish list (yet)!

Jenny - thanks for the info on the Opticron it looks like the distortion will rule this out, this is possibly why it is only £15. I did find this supplier for the Oxford precision model which I think is the one John is talking about.

Cromwell Industrial Tools UK: PM 3010 LED POCKET MAGNIFIER : OXD-316-2010K

On offer at the moment for £30 (inc p&p) so reasonably priced.

Regards, JohnB

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by jaybie

Interesting reading, thanks all.

John - see what you have done though the microscope is not on the wish list (yet)!

Jenny - thanks for the info on the Opticron it looks like the distortion will rule this out, this is possibly why it is only £15. I did find this supplier for the Oxford precision model which I think is the one John is talking about.

Cromwell Industrial Tools UK: PM 3010 LED POCKET MAGNIFIER : OXD-316-2010K

On offer at the moment for £30 (inc p&p) so reasonably priced.

Regards, JohnB

tee eee

You will need two microscopes John, get them while you can

Off for a foray now!

John

[Ditiola]

Hi John
I have put the Oxford lens on my list to Santa

Thanks to everyone for the info on this lens, I am sure it will be better than my small non illuminated x10 lens

Peter

[thebeard]

cheers john and neil, i'll look into acquiring one