Majed86 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Dear All, First, I would like to say am very happy to join you in "The Fossil Forum". Second, I have question or advice to buy a microscope for microfossils study, since I graduate student I decided to buy one as personal microscope at my home. Could you kindly advice me with information about this? which is better? the prices for it? Regards, Majed Majed N. Turkistani @MNMT86 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 For fossils a boom mounted zoom stereo microscope is best. You are looking for total magnigication of anywhere from 3 to 40 times. (You don't really need anything more than that as the depth of field becomes too shallow). You are looking for a scope with a good working distance. This can be extended by the use of a Barlow lense. Some of the best are made by Olympus, Bausch & Lomb, Nikon, Leica. Some people have had a entry level start in the field by buying a digital electronic microscopes that hooks up to a computer. These are quite inexpensive to start with. (Personally I do not like them for fossils) On ebay you can get a used scope in working condition for as little as $200. Expect to spend at least $400 for a good one. For $1000 you can get an excellent scope. Make sure that you get high eyepoint widefiled oculars as these are much more comfortable to work with. I use both 10x and 20 x oculars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squalicorax Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Anyone have any familiarity with the Amscope ones on ebay that go for 130$ My Flickr Page of My Collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/79424101@N00/sets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramo Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I've got one of those cheap Amscopes. I love it. Sure it's not the greatest, and the only way I have to take photos is to hold my camera up to an eyepiece, but it works great. My kids love using it too. It seems kid-proof so far. We use it for fossils, looking at spiders and bugs, plants, our fingers, coins, etc. It is worth the price when it's needed for removing a splinter from a finger. I compare it to a pocketknife. Once you start using it, you can't believe you ever were able to get by without it. Ramo For one species to mourn the death of another is a new thing under the sun. -Aldo Leopold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squalicorax Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 thank you bowkill. defiantly considering purchasing one when the funds are in. My Flickr Page of My Collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/79424101@N00/sets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Siphuncle Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I have a digital microscope with a flexible stand (mfr escapes me). It is 1.3 megapixel and cost $349 from Think Geek about 4 years ago or so. I'm sure that technology has brought better resolution for the money by this point in time. It still serves my needs (micro echs, micro crinoids, micro teeth, micro ammos etc). The only feature I don't like is the flexible "snake" stand as it seems to move slightly once set in position, messing with depth of field and focus, so I have to shoot images fast before things drift out of focus. Whatever you buy, I'd recommend something with a rigid stand. Grüße, Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas "To the motivated go the spoils." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgodwin37 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Start relatively cheap until ($100-150) and figure out how much you will really use it before spending a bunch on a really nice one. It all depends on what you will be doing and how often. For true microfossils I use 20-40x, maybe 60x (but rarely). I have been using a cheap one for some time now for conodonts for preliminary identification, final identification with an SEM. My philosophy is not to blow a bunch of cash on something new until I KNOW I will be using it a lot. cory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Majed86 Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 Thank you my dear friends, I bought binocular microscope Stereo Microscope, and also I bought lends adapter. Their features are posted below: The microscope features: http://www.microscopenet.com/stereo-microscope-10x20x30x60x-dual-lights-p-229.html The Lends Adapter: http://www.microscopenet.com/microscope-adapter-nikon-olympus-dslr-with-lens-p-181.html Regards, --- Majed Majed N. Turkistani @MNMT86 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raistlin Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Aww man now I want one of those also. I keep see new stuff I want LOL. That would be really cool to check some fossils out with. Time to put some money aside for one I guess. At least this hobby though is cheaper than my car hobby. RobertSoutheast, MO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgodwin37 Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 I have a lens adapter for my Nikon DSLR as well, I like it a lot. My avatar was taken with it, on my petrographic scope. Cory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micropterus101 Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 I bought a trinocular stereo zoom on a boom amscope last year and love it no problems at all. . fossil crabs website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micropterus101 Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 heres a pic of a 3mm pocket of a micro-mineral thompsonite i took using the scope and a kodak camera. fossil crabs website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 (edited) I have an Amscope also, it works fine for general use, and you can buy a thru the lens digital camera for about $70 that will save pix on your computer. (see my L.Permian mini-teeth gallery) not great but ok with only a 1.3 meg camera. You can also get a cheap hand held digital microscope on e-bay for about $40 that will do a fair job. Edited April 24, 2012 by Herb "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Majed86 Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 I bought binocular microscope with Nikon lens adapter approximately $200 Canadian. Majed N. Turkistani @MNMT86 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottnokes2015 Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Hi everyone,firstly,I'm posh new to fossil collecting,About 3 months or so and I have collected some sample of crinoids,brachs,and various bryzoans. At the moment I only have one those led magnifiers from Wal-Mart craft section that is 2x with 4x spot. Well,I'm a student with lots of student loans and I'm trying to find out if there is any type of microscope I can get for a very limited budget ago I can atleast see my collection in bit more detail. At the moment,the I'm able to do is tho use my digital SLR in macro mode to do close up shot and then download to my commputer and enlarge the pics and look over them. Thanks for any help anyone can give Scott <))))*} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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