Buying a Microscope

[FAY]

Wanting to buy a microscope for a friend.

Would this be strong enough to do some flotation tests?


Magnification：40X～640X

 

[Virides]

640x = 640 x actual size

So did a quick search about "floatation tests" and it came back to refering about coal dust with particle sizes of 600um, at this magnification the particle would appear to be 384mm across, so... I think that is just fine lol.

Even at 40x the particle would be 24mm across.

If the particle size was even a 10th of this, your max magnification would make it about 40mm across

 

[geckodan]

Most faecal microscopic works is done at 100-400X , thats a 10 x eyepiece with 10-40 x objective

 

[o-Lara-o]

I do faecal floats and smears with a microscope at 100x - 900x.
I purchased a kids microscope for $40 at Australian Geographic (also Post office shops) and it does the job well!

 

[FAY]

Thanks for all your help guys.
He has also bought your good book Danny 'Under the Microscope'.

 

[pythonmum]

Resolution is as important as magnification. You are better off with a smaller, clearer image than a big, blurry one. You can often pick up old light microscopes without built in lights cheaply. I got an old one that a high school was getting rid of. Great optics and a wonderful old-fashioned wooden box to store and carry it