buying a mircoscope

[REDWOOD]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I have now obtained one from a very kind forum member who no longer need it

 

[itma]

The field of view is far too small to examine slide for nosema if the infection level is low if the slide is covered in spores then you will see them with {the Bresser Biolux NV}.

Ruary, I was wondering whether the one you had tried was equipped with one of the Wide Field "WF" eyepieces?

 

[Moggs]

Re Bresser: It's all relative I thought it was a reasonable buy a good while ago - and I suppose that it is value for money. However, having played with some serious optics throughout the course of microscopy, its shortcomings are clear.

Spend your forty quid by all means but bear in mind that you will buy a twenty quid microscope with twenty quid's worth of accessories!

Not a real contender for anything but an insight, IMO.

 

[Ruary]

Ruary, I was wondering whether the one you had tried was equipped with one of the Wide Field "WF" eyepieces?

I can't remember, I know that I checked the diameter of the field of view and so came up with the ratio of 16 times.

 

[Ruary]

Re Bresser:
Not a real contender for anything but an insight, IMO.

Ruary

 

[MuswellMetro]

My Association has just purchased two of these [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apex-Microscopes-The-Researcher-Microscope/dp/B001EN6G8M/ref=sr_1_4?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1383554523&sr=1-4&keywords=apex"]The Apex Researcher Microscope: Amazon.co.uk: Camera & Photo[/ame] for our members to test their own bees for Nosema

They are a better built scope than the Bresser and about 6th form or higher student grade

 

[Ruary]

It is well suited for that purpose. You could also look at AFB spores and EFB bacteria if you were licenced to so do.

 

[jd101k2000]

Microscopes for less money

Hi I've just accumulated a modest amount of money - as it is my birthday. I was wondering if any of you have experience of the Brunel SP22 at approx £85 + VAT. It looks the part, but would it be good enough for pollen identification (and nosema)?

Thanks.

 

[REDWOOD]

You need 400 magnification for nosema

 

[Black Comb]

I,ve bought a few things from Brunel and the service has always been exemplary.
I've not used this particular scope but on paper it is ok for both pollen and nosema.

 

[jd101k2000]

Thank you both. I'll be popping in to Brunel this week.

 

[itma]

You'll need a few "bits & bobs" as well for pollen (you can get by with just some slides for Nosema). Note that Brunel offer a pollen kit (book inc) for £29+vat. (But no vat on the book, surely!)

 

[alanf]

Hi I've just accumulated a modest amount of money - as it is my birthday. I was wondering if any of you have experience of the Brunel SP22 at approx £85 + VAT. It looks the part, but would it be good enough for pollen identification (and nosema)?.

Yes, seen an SP22 used for Nosema.

 

[jd101k2000]

Well, it's on its way now. I also ordered an adaptor for my DSLR, as I like taking photos. I'll see if I can get anything useful out of it.

 

[Itchy]

Looking forward to your feedback.....

 

[jd101k2000]

I'm also interested in fungi... So looking forward to identifying some of them from their spores... And the pollen in my honey... So looking forward to many geek-hours of pleasure

 

[jd101k2000]

Here is a little video that I took through the SP22 (with a camera adapter) http://missingbee.com/?attachment_id=28
I must say that I am really impressed. This was through x400 (x10 eyepiece, x40 objective).
I don't have any bee debris yet - this is some life from the local bird bath.

 

[itma]

I'm also interested in fungi... So looking forward to identifying some of them from their spores...

What is different between preparing fungal spore slides and pollen slides?

 

[REDWOOD]

I'm no expert but what I'v read you need to have an active live fungi to get the best results

 

[jd101k2000]

I don't know what the difference is in preparing pollen and fungal spores. I was really just saying that it is going to be used for more than (just) bee things.
Apparently basic fuchin stain is good for preparing pollen. I found this article http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/facts/microscopy.php that suggests different stains are used with fungi. The microscope required seems to be the same for both interests.
Fortunately, I have some fungi that are ready to fruit in the kitchen. (Not dry rot... yellow oyster mushrooms.)