another bloody yank

Can one of you scientific type geniuses out there tell me which one of these is a better deal or point me in another direction? I'm slightly more concerned with quality than $$ but need to keep it under $200.00. I realize with optics, you (usually) get what you pay for and I realize that poor quality optics are worse than useless. Also bear in mind, this is for a kid to look at stuff, probably bugs and toenails and scabs and the like, not work or school.

Thanks in advance for your brilliant advice!

Scope 1:

http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3029647

Scope 2:

http://www.discoverthis.com/first-di...icroscope.html


Scope 3:

http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3083024


Scope 4:

http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3119400

Bill_S

Someone called for a scientific genius?

For what your kids will be looking at, I would suggest:

Scope 5: http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3119501


The four scopes you listed are intended for transmitted light illumination of thin sections, or very tiny transparent objects, mounted on slides. Bacteria, pollen, mold spores, thin slices of plant material, etc. Trying to look at anything large, irregular, or opaque won't work. Scope 5 is a stereo dissecting microscope suited to reflective illumination of larger objects. That site has other examples that are more flexible, but are much more expensive.

another bloody yank

Thank you sir! That's given me something to think about. Most of the "Things to do with your new microscope" books and kits deal with stuff that goes on slides. My way of thinkg was, as soon as they run out of stuff on slides they are going to want to look at whatever is handy. So it appears I'm going to have to confirm my criteria with the person that told me (at 4am this morning) " Your daughter said she wants a microscope for Christmas, get on the internet at work and see if you can find something."

Bill_S

Here's another one that has more magnification options, but is $250:

http://www.dissectingmicroscope.com/001b000m.html

another bloody yank

Here we go...

Why the hell is it that I always want the thing that is more than my budget?

Bill_S

Another thing to keep in mind: I can tell you from personal experience that a stereo dissecting scope + fine forceps = the perfect kit for getting splinters out of fingers

Bill_S

You could try eBay perhaps. I checked American Science & Surplus, but anything with variable magnification is expensive. Higher magnification isn't always better, though.

another bloody yank

That's damn near worth the $$ by itself. It would be just the ticket, wouldn't it?

cindyabs

My dad got me one of those kits for Xmas when I was 12, it had a pickled frog in it, sea monkey larvae and a good microscope with slides and tools for dissecting the frog (). I enjoyed it.

Bill_S

I noticed a banner ad at the bottom of the page: Microscopes at Low Price. A couple of clicks later, and look what I found

lots of scopes in your price range

penguinsix

Do you have a swimming pool, beach or other location with hot babes nearby? Then what are you doing looking at microbes and stuff. Get a telescope and really take in the scenery

I like these big Dobsonian jobs. Big and you can see all sorts of wild things from space to your neighbors.

http://www.telescope.com/control/dobsonian-telescopes

another bloody yank

Well look at that...

Thanks again!


I'd need something a lot bigger than that to see the closest beach.

Bill_S

You're welcome. Maybe brainiacs caleyjag and dbj will have some ideas as well. Now I'm off to see what banner ads are turning up in the gun and circumcision threads.

Philgr

I really hope that is a gun thread and a circumcision thread and we haven't become overrun by extremist mohels.

another bloody yank

They are generally armed with knives.