Microscope strength for pollen

[Etton]

Any one know what Microscope magnification is needed for decent identification of pollen and is this microscope any good?

 

[Etton]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Microscope...575490667&sprefix=digital+micr,aps,472&sr=8-7

 

[masterBK]

That one not suitable for pollen . Contact Brunel for advice. Good firm used by many beekeepers preparing for BBKA microscopy exam.
http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/beekeeping.html
Suggest you need a compound microscope with X15 eyepiece and X 40 objective giving magnification of 600 to identify pollen grains (stained with fuschin and mounted in glycerine jelly) Need to also think of resolution ie need decent optics. Getting one with Binocular head and stage micrometer worth thinking about if you have the money

 

[Etton]

That one not suitable for pollen . Contact Brunel for advice. Good firm used by many beekeepers preparing for BBKA microscopy exam.
http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/beekeeping.html
Suggest you need a compound microscope with X15 eyepiece and X 40 objective giving magnification of 600 to identify pollen grains (stained with fuschin and mounted in glycerine jelly) Need to also think of resolution ie need decent optics. Getting one with Binocular head and stage micrometer worth thinking about if you have the money

Thanks masterBK good advice.

 

[drex]

You would get away with 400 x magnification as mentioned in " practical microscopy for bee keepers" by Bob Maurer, a good book to get you going.
Totally agree with Master BK about Brunel. Very helpful when I got my gear for the exam. They do good beginner kits for beekeepers and I am still using one of their basic microscopes, but more money does get you better optics.

 

[Popparand]

Any one know what Microscope magnification is needed for decent identification of pollen and is this microscope any good?

But for pollen don't you need to go electron?

 

[Beefriendly]

But for pollen don't you need to go electron?

Nope, bit of an overkill for the hobbyist. Most compound microscopes are fine.
Although a scanning Electron microscope is great for giving you pollen shapes and showing the exine layer external decorations

 

[SWEET]

My Zeiss Standard works very well, can be found on EBAY rather cheap

Phase contrast x10 NA .22 (achromat) - cheap digital cam mounted on eyepiece.

 

[pargyle]

This is what I have .. really nice bit of kit for what they cost .. I actually got mine with all sorts of bells and whistles and a fitted wooden box for £38 ...hardly looked as though it had been used -it even has a mechanical stage. Great for checking for Nosema as well. Russian so built like the proverbial brick outhouse ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lomo-Bio...177824?hash=item3fd303bf60:g:49IAAOSw8iRdIhdw

 

[oliver90owner]

Some of us are easily ‘taken in’ by the advertising methods of any unscrupulous suppliers.

Proper, honest descriptions provide a linear magnification, while the trash end use area as their advertising hype.

I expect the one linked above has a true linear magnification of little over thirty times.

Honey is cleared of (virtually) all solids, if filtered at 75 microns. Use that as your starting point?

 

[pargyle]

Some of us are easily ‘taken in’ by the advertising methods of any unscrupulous suppliers.

Proper, honest descriptions provide a linear magnification, while the trash end use area as their advertising hype.

I expect the one linked above has a true linear magnification of little over thirty times.

Honey is cleared of (virtually) all solids, if filtered at 75 microns. Use that as your starting point?

I think Rab is talking about the £30 Amazon the OP is (hopefully now was) considering ... I totally agree ... much better to get a proper job rather than a toy. There are bargains to be had in second hand decent microscopes if you are prepared to wait and watch ..

 

[Portsoy]

It is possible to pick up a bargain on ebay, I have Brunel SP22 with aluminium storage case that I paid £45 shipped for. I doubt it was used a couple of times before wasn't a mark on it.

Storage case is £35 plus VAT by itself from Brunel.

So just really need to keep an eye out