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BlimeyGrimey
Collector of Spores




Registered: 08/24/05
Posts: 3,791
Loc: Puget Sound
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I am has microscopy?
#11787410 - 01/08/10 12:31 AM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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I just received my Amscope B490 microscope. 
I started using it right away and finally got to look at some spores and bacteria cultures. The oil immersion works great. I'm using Cargille Type A at the moment.
Here's the first photo I took using my phone. I think one of my roommates has the real camera at the moment.
Spores from this Psathyrella species;

@ 1000x magnification:

Now I just need a reticle and stage micrometer. I saw a site selling "reticle disks". They looked like small lens filters with the reticle on them. Are these just laid into the eyepiece?
I'll be back with more pictures.
-------------------- Message me for free microscopy services on Psilocybe, Panaeolus, and Gymnopilus species. Looking for wild Panaeolus cinctulus and Panaeolus olivaceus prints.
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist


Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,319
Last seen: 4 hours, 31 minutes
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Quote:
Are these just laid into the eyepiece?
Yes. Usually a little retainer ring is needed to hold the disc in place, but you could use a tiny bit of glue as well.
Be careful not to get immersion oil on the 40x objective.
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psychedelicSLUG
ovoideocystidiata protector



Registered: 11/20/08
Posts: 3,291
Loc: NJ
Last seen: 2 years, 4 months
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SWEEET!
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Variety is the spice of life!
   
   
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BlimeyGrimey
Collector of Spores




Registered: 08/24/05
Posts: 3,791
Loc: Puget Sound
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I realized the frame is a bit crooked on the base. Makes the stage move slightly diagonal to the base.
Also the damn label above the light intensity wheel came off when I pulled the blue protective sticker off of it. It only had one drop of glue to hold it on, I guess I'll have to super glue it back later.
I was considering returning the item but that'll end up costing me shipping which will make me have a loss in the end.
Why do I always get the defective/mis-assembled crap?
-------------------- Message me for free microscopy services on Psilocybe, Panaeolus, and Gymnopilus species. Looking for wild Panaeolus cinctulus and Panaeolus olivaceus prints.
Edited by BlimeyGrimey (01/08/10 04:10 AM)
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Bobzimmer
Crawlin' Kingsnake



Registered: 09/07/08
Posts: 8,696
Loc: NY
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Congrats on the scope, Blimey!
Quote:
Why do I always get the defective/mis-assembled crap?
I hear ya...That's because everything is made in China nowadays. Even if the optics are made in Switzerland, chances are, the base was made in China or another similar second-world shithole.
-------------------- Mr. Mushrooms said: I will confess something that should be quite obvious, CC. I love mushrooms, i.e. fungi. I really do. I am talking about a strong feeling, i.e. emotion, for them. I think they are beautiful. I even dream of them.
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World Spirit
PNW



Registered: 07/27/01
Posts: 9,817
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psylosymonreturns
aka Gym Sporrison



Registered: 10/16/09
Posts: 13,948
Loc: Mos Eisley,
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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did you get it brand new or off craigslist or something?
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BlimeyGrimey
Collector of Spores




Registered: 08/24/05
Posts: 3,791
Loc: Puget Sound
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Quote:
Bobzimmer said: Congrats on the scope, Blimey!
Quote:
Why do I always get the defective/mis-assembled crap?
I hear ya...That's because everything is made in China nowadays. Even if the optics are made in Switzerland, chances are, the base was made in China or another similar second-world shithole.
Quote:
psylosymonreturns said: did you get it brand new or off craigslist or something?
Yeah, after doing a bit of research I've found out that Amscope's scopes are Chinese XSG models. My particular model is called the Amscope B490 but its real name is an XSG-109L, like the manual says. The slight mis-alignment isn't too bad and doesn't affect the optical properties at all. Not too bad of a scope for only $220 plus shipping.
Here's the scope itself;

and here's some of DannyGlick's Gymnopilus luteus spores @ 1000x;
-------------------- Message me for free microscopy services on Psilocybe, Panaeolus, and Gymnopilus species. Looking for wild Panaeolus cinctulus and Panaeolus olivaceus prints.
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Chaos_ultt
Stranger

Registered: 09/05/08
Posts: 1,050
Last seen: 9 years, 5 months
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Does that particular model come with the piece used to measure whatever it is you're viewing?
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BlimeyGrimey
Collector of Spores




Registered: 08/24/05
Posts: 3,791
Loc: Puget Sound
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Re: I am has microscopy? [Re: Chaos_ultt]
#11797937 - 01/09/10 06:37 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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No, it did not include a reticle or micrometer.
The site where I ordered my immersion oil sells reticles for $10 and the retaining ring is $6. I've seen a few WF10X eye pieces with reticles for about $25-30.
The biggest cost is the stage micrometer, cheapest one I've found is $65.
-------------------- Message me for free microscopy services on Psilocybe, Panaeolus, and Gymnopilus species. Looking for wild Panaeolus cinctulus and Panaeolus olivaceus prints.
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Chaos_ultt
Stranger

Registered: 09/05/08
Posts: 1,050
Last seen: 9 years, 5 months
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I think I'm eventually going to buy a scope from that site, but what you said re: the construction of your scope makes me a bit uneasy.
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Bobzimmer
Crawlin' Kingsnake



Registered: 09/07/08
Posts: 8,696
Loc: NY
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Re: I am has microscopy? [Re: Chaos_ultt]
#11798041 - 01/09/10 07:03 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Chaos_ultt said: I think I'm eventually going to buy a scope from that site, but what you said re: the construction of your scope makes me a bit uneasy.
They're probably ALL made in China unless you're willing to shell out the really big bucks. Don't sweat it...like Blimey said, it doesn't affect the optics and if it comes down to it, the new ones have a warranty.
 That's a pretty nice lookin' scope you got there Blimey! And your already taking some nice pics!
-------------------- Mr. Mushrooms said: I will confess something that should be quite obvious, CC. I love mushrooms, i.e. fungi. I really do. I am talking about a strong feeling, i.e. emotion, for them. I think they are beautiful. I even dream of them.
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist


Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,319
Last seen: 4 hours, 31 minutes
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Quote:
and here's some of DannyGlick's Gymnopilus luteus spores @ 1000x;
That picture looks great, I can almost see the roughness on the spores.
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The biggest cost is the stage micrometer, cheapest one I've found is $65.
Sometimes you can find them on ebay for $30, but I can send you mine.
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I think I'm eventually going to buy a scope from that site, but what you said re: the construction of your scope makes me a bit uneasy.
If you want a good scope, get an Olympus BH-2.
If you don't want to get one of those, an amscope will work just fine.
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BlimeyGrimey
Collector of Spores




Registered: 08/24/05
Posts: 3,791
Loc: Puget Sound
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Quote:
Chaos_ultt said: I think I'm eventually going to buy a scope from that site, but what you said re: the construction of your scope makes me a bit uneasy.
I tried turn the neck to be perfectly aligned with the base and it won't budge; which is a good thing. Its built very solid. The misalignment is actually only 2 degrees once I measured it. As you can see from the pictures, it works great.
The truth is, they are cheap Chinese scopes with good optics. In the end its the optics that matter and these are awesome for the price. There are toy microscopes that goes for similar prices with shitty optics and no mechanical stage.
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Alan Rockefeller said: That picture looks great, I can almost see the roughness on the spores.
Thanks, I tried to focus it just right to show the roughness.
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Alan Rockefeller said: Sometimes you can find them on ebay for $30, but I can send you mine.
Thanks, I'll let you know once I have a reticle to work with.
Ps. stuntzii @ 1000x:

Lepista nuda @ 1000x:

Pluteus sp. (possibly cervinus):

Anyone know a good stain for mycelium? Preferably to show the nucleus.
-------------------- Message me for free microscopy services on Psilocybe, Panaeolus, and Gymnopilus species. Looking for wild Panaeolus cinctulus and Panaeolus olivaceus prints.
Edited by BlimeyGrimey (01/10/10 12:23 AM)
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