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Hello Everyone,

I know I might be going out on a limb on this one. I am interested in acquiring a microscope, preferrably something that you can have a 120V light source. However, when I look online they are usually a little more than the Fecal Examination Budget Plan will allow. I know that I could look on Ebay, and go to Gov't surplus auctions. I would just like to find something reasonable.

P.S. If anyone really knows their microscopes, something that could plug into video inputs would be "spec"tacular.

"Dang It Jimbo! I'm a Mathematician, not a Doctor!"-- The Redneck Mathematician on Star Trek

Here's the type we use at work. Standard stereo workhorse:
http://www.bioquip.com/html/view_catalog.asp

Here's one that is camera ready (Trinocular #6067):
http://www.bioquip.com/html/view_catalog.asp

I'd stay away from e-bay for delicate stuff like this, and Gov. auctions only have stuff that has the life beat out of them....
Hope it helps....

Thanks alot Vodka *hiccups*...just kidding!

You should have never shown me that catalog, I LOVE that stuff! However, I am not allowed to run a college laboratory at home, she won't let me. I did do some searching on some of the products from the catalog's link and ran across opticsplanet.net, they have it all...unfortunately I am looking in the $100-$150 range. I did run across some meade hobby microscopes that look well enough to exam poop. If you have any suggestions for looking at anything on the cellular level, that would be greatly appreciated.

To be honest, I really am not versed well enough to make a really informed decision. I have never attended a biology class in my life (just physics and chemistry, I could never cut anything open, or stand the smell of it)

Thanks for your input

Now I am too curious. Goose, what do you do for turtle supply money? It involves microscopes, which makes me instantly interested. (I'm a med student.)

As you can tell by the catalogue, I'm into vector-related entomology, namely mosquito ID, habitat and biology as it relates to West Nile Virus and other things of an encephalic nature. (Didn't know I was multi-talented, huh?). The Commission I work for does environmental studies (and enforcement) as it relates to public health. Air, water, soil testing, illegal dumping or hazmat storage, emergency management, etc......

Wow you must be on smart guy. I could never do anything like that.

Tertule wrote:If you have any suggestions for looking at anything on the cellular level, that would be greatly appreciated.

If you want to get down to a cellular level, you'd better get your checkbook out. A decent compound microscope will easily set you back a grand, a very good one much more. I got to play with a Nikon equipped with a digital video camera that also took stills and could tie into a media center computer and the cost was just over $35,000.00 (not including camera or computer, of course).

iac637 wrote:Wow you must be on smart guy. I could never do anything like that.

Thanks! (Bangs head and stubs toe at the same time.....)

yeah Tertle needs to look at microscopes in the 100-200 dollar range.

grey goose wrote:As you can tell by the catalogue, I'm into vector-related entomology, namely mosquito ID, habitat and biology as it relates to West Nile Virus and other things of an encephalic nature. (Didn't know I was multi-talented, huh?). The Commission I work for does environmental studies (and enforcement) as it relates to public health. Air, water, soil testing, illegal dumping or hazmat storage, emergency management, etc......

Ok, wow. I'm reading that and thinking...I spent my entire day today building a single frame. It had a zig zag pattern, and the customer wanted the corners to line up, but was in such a hurry that we couldn't cut the frame first then order her mirror, we had to guess at the size of the mirror and order it before the frame moulding came in. So I had to spend half the day measuring and cutting to make the corners line up because the moulding that came in was slightly different sized from our sample, screwing up all our measurements. Most of the moulding was soft and cut poorly, so I spent the rest of the day filling it and painting it to disguise the crappy corners. All because some crazy lady had to have her perfect impossible frame a couple days sooner. So I read your job description and I think wow, my life is pointless.

yeah i know the feeling.

Trust me, some of the things I do, and the places I have to go to get things done, are not very pleasant, especially in the summer. Sometimes I wish I could just sit in front of a microscope or work in the lab all day....Oh wait, that's what I used to do, and it was BORING!!!!!
But I must admit, I look pretty cool in my labcoat.

lol..... I want a labcoat

I've got the uniform supply catalogue bookmarked on my work computer, I'll send the link tomorrow.

why do I need a labcoat? I don't really have a reason for one just think it would be cool to have...lol.... Tertule would want one more then I would anyways