USB Digital Microscope £29.99 Lidl onsale from 5th Dec

[Poly Hive]

I have done a small bit of digagnosis with the apporiate scopes, as in ya use this one for that and this one for that...

Now can we be sensible please?

You are discussing a £30 bit of kit.

£30.

And you want to do £1000 operations with it.

Get real hmm? There appears to be a considerable gap on this thread tween cost and reality.

PH

 

[region2]

From the ad:

• Contents & accessories not included

Are they selling empty boxes for £30?!

That confused me too - you get some pre-prepared slides, some manipulators/pointy things, a cable, a plastic cover, instructions and software.

R2

 

[dpearce4]

so R2

did u think its any good, worth the £30?

 

[region2]

I have nothing to compare it with - I suspect it's a bit of a toy compared to the £1000 models but it's a start for me and a bit of fun.

Lidl in Horley had 5 when I went there...

R2

 

[itma]

... instructions and software.

Is the software (as was indicated) Windows-only (with no sign of Mac support) ?

 

[region2]

No Mac stuff that I could see - sorry!

R2

 

[itma]

No Mac stuff that I could see - sorry!

Thanks anyway.

 

[oliver90owner]

Some of these smaller toys quote magnification as an area ratio. The normal is objective x eye piece, of course.

I am suspicious when the specs are not available. The 50 quid version from previous years (optical or digital viewing), which I suspect is the model that VM has (he was a little vague with his reply) is likely worth the money.

The last twice I have got a microscope out in the year was the old CTS - it feels and operates like a proper microscope. No turret to change objective lenses but not really a problem as it is not in regular use.

My feeling is that this one is an interesting toy. A bit more sophisticated than my pocket microscope, but not much more magnification.

RAB

 

[Stephenw]

What magnification is sufficiant for viewing nosema or acraine for example?

Steve

 

[Nic Rhodes]

Nosema 400x
Acarine 10x is fine just looking at Tracheas

 

[region2]

My feeling is that this one is an interesting toy. A bit more sophisticated than my pocket microscope, but not much more magnification.

RAB

R2

 

[Ruary]

Nosema 400x
Acarine 10x is fine just looking at Tracheas

Well I do not know about that!
Years ago I dissected out some trachea for interest. Some were very obviously infested with the characteristic dark blotches etc, but I also want some tracheae which were clear. At least one of those, which from X10 examination on the bees I would have sworn was clear, was when examined by transmitted light shown to have some acarapis in them.
Ruary

 

[Nic Rhodes]

10x is fine Ruary, if you can't see a discoloured tube then you probably either don't acarapis or if you do it is at a level that there is little to worry about. If the tube is very dark then that is when you worry! Nosema and to a lesser extent Acarine also are in most if not all hives, it is just when the infection gets to 'higher' levels that we get more concerned / do something about it. Again those of us who dissect Trachae are but a select few with far wider microscopical / bee related interests and this is not the norm for Acarine dissection.

 

[Stephenw]

Thanks very much, one other thing, any recommendation for a beginner bee microscopy book?

 

[Russel]

Thanks very much, one other thing, any recommendation for a beginner bee microscopy book?

For £20 more they have a more versatile unit on the 15th £49.99.
20x - 1280x

 

[Nic Rhodes]

Stephenw

see the bottom of my long post

 

[Stephenw]

Thanks Nic


Steve