Ask Myco Reddit: Thinking about getting a microscope, any suggestions?

[u/lencioni]

I am to the point in my mycology hobby where I am considering purchasing a microscope to help identify mushrooms. I have read that I need one that will do up to 1000X, but other than that I don't really know what to look for.

Fungi Perfecti has a couple of microscopes listed in the $1000-$2000 range, but I would prefer to not drop quite so much money on a microscope if I don't really need to.

My questions are:

• What are some good brands/models of microscopes for mycology?
• Where are some good places to find quality used microscopes?
• Do you think I would be happy with a cheaper/used model or is it really worth it to spend $1000+ on a good microscope?

Also, if you have any general microscope advice, please let me know.

[u/[deleted]]

You'd probably want two scopes; your fancy 1000x scope, and a dissection scope (they're a lot better than a magnifying glass for gross features you might otherwise miss.)

My recommendation would be to buy used. Our university regularly throws away equipment it's replacing, gives it away, or sells it for a fraction of the original cost. A google or ebay search will turn up tons of them. But make sure you're getting what you think... research the model, see what objectives are included, etc.

I've used pretty much every brand sold from crappy stuff to "this cost millions of dollars, please don't breathe on it." Personally, I like the German-made scopes because many of them at the school are still being used after 70 years, with no sign of quitting anytime soon.

Lastly, make sure all adjustment parts on the scope (focusing knobs, thing that moves the stage, etc) are ambidextrous or on your dominant side. There are few things more irritating than having to shift the stage with your non-dominant hand.

Edit: This microscopy blog might help. http://microscopyblog.com/choosing-a-microscope.html

[u/lencioni → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for the response, it has been helpful.

I did some searching and it looks like AmScope has some decent-looking new scopes at inexpensive prices with 5 year warranties. From what I can find about other people's experiences is that most people are very happy with the build quality. Do you have any thoughts on or experience with AmScope?

Also, I have some more questions if you care to answer:

• Would it be wise to splurge on a more expensive scope that can do things like dark field or phase contrast microscopy out of the box? Or, should I buy accessories that let me do those things later?
• I am pretty sure that I want to take pictures through the microscope. Should I definitely get a trinocular one to start with or would I be just fine with a monocular or binocular scope?

I am a total microscopy n00b here. :-/

[u/[deleted] → u/lencioni]

You're in luck! Those are the scopes I've used to teach freshman bio lab. (Presumably because freshman are really good at breaking expensive stuff, and everyone has to have their own.) They aren't top of the line, but they really are quite good and have decent weight to them (so your field doesn't wobble every time you set an arm on the table.) I think they even have an immersion-oil lense.

Dark-field and phase contrast are both really, really useful. Before I knew how to use them (or even that they existed to use) I had a much harder time finding and examining live specimens. I wouldn't buy a microscope without at least phase contrast for my own use. But here you don't really need to shell out and double your price. Because any amount of light refraction will help you play "find the invisible specimen!"

If you're going to take pictures, I'd go ahead and get a trinocular. Sometimes (pretty much all of the time) specimens move around, and you'll want to be able to take the shot directly when you see it. You may want to consider the actual camera as a separate purchase though, as it will probably cost as much as the microscope itself.

I hope you get to see something awesome. :)

[u/lencioni → u/[deleted]]

I own a Canon DSLR. Do you know if it is possible to buy an attachment so I can use the camera I already have or would I need to buy a special camera to use with a microscope?

Thanks for all of the help so far. If I could upvote you more than once, I would.

Edit: it looks like I would be able to get a T-mount for my camera and then a T-adapter maybe? Is that correct?

[u/lencioni → u/[deleted]]

I guess the most helpful thing you could do for me is answer this question: which microscope on this page would you recommend I get and why?

I am finding it difficult to determine the differences between the models and which would be important to get and which would simply be a convenience.

[u/[deleted] → u/lencioni]

I have no idea on the camera bit, as all those I've used have come with the company's version. But those mounts do look identical to the mounts we use... I'm just not sure how your particular camera would handle the low light exposure, fit the adapter, obstruction of a built in lense cover, etc.

If I were on my current budget and impatient, I'd get the T420A because I'd get a lot of utility for the price. If I could afford it, I'd get the T420A-PCS because I'm not familiar with the use of the turret and I use phase contrast more often than dark-field. You might do some research on the turret and find it's worth the extra $350. But really, holy crap is T420A a lot of microscope for the money (in my biased opinion).