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MustardMan
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Registered: 10/18/05
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Microscope question
#6415423 - 01/01/07 12:16 PM (17 years, 4 months ago) |
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Hi, I've ordered the following microscope..
Microscope
I was wondering, what is the best way to view spores and mycelium under this compound scope? I have a bunch of glass slides and cover slips, but do I need oil? If so is where can I get some of that oil? (I can't just use water?)
Thanks, any other useful info./advice on using a microscope would be much appreciated, thanks
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RogerRabbit
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Registered: 03/26/03
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Re: Microscope question [Re: MustardMan]
#6415602 - 01/01/07 01:48 PM (17 years, 4 months ago) |
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Hopefully, they give you two sets of eyepieces. If so, use the 10X and forget the 20X because they don't let enough light get through.
The oil is for an oil emersion objective. You won't need it when using the lower power objectives. When used, the oil goes between the coverslip and the objective.
Use distilled water beween the slide and the coverplate. If you're viewing spores from a syringe, just squirt one drop onto the slide, then put the cover over it. The cover presses it all down so the spores are all in focus at the same time. You can do the same with your LC. Just put a drop on the slide, then place the cover over it.
100x to 400X are best for viewing clamp connections. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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MustardMan
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Re: Microscope question [Re: RogerRabbit]
#6415708 - 01/01/07 02:33 PM (17 years, 4 months ago) |
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Thanks RR
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 Cultivated Cubensis

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fastfred
Old Hand



Registered: 05/17/04
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Re: Microscope question [Re: MustardMan]
#6416184 - 01/01/07 06:17 PM (17 years, 4 months ago) |
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Looks like he's got 10X and 15X eyepieces. Just remember that 1600X is not a reasonable magnification. The 15X eyepiece with the 100X objective just isn't going to deliver any more resolution than the 10 X 100, and it will deliver less light.
1000X is your best reasonable magnification, and you will need to use oil with it. Just get some cheap immersion oil, it lasts a long time since you only use a drop each time you use the 100X objective. You could probably find a substitute with the refractive index that you're looking for. Maybe mineral oil, or some other type of oil.
-FF
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Cryogenicz
what?


Registered: 07/01/04
Posts: 2,421
Loc: Oregon
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Re: Microscope question [Re: fastfred]
#6423024 - 01/03/07 09:43 PM (17 years, 4 months ago) |
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I am very interested in buying a microscope, which one would you guys suggest.
I am planning on using it to detect contaminates on cultures.
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fastfred
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Re: Microscope question [Re: Cryogenicz]
#6423824 - 01/04/07 04:46 AM (17 years, 4 months ago) |
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I have an Olympus and am satisfied with it.
Here's what I would look for. All metal construction, course and fine focus, mechanical stage, adjustable light source, 100X (X 10=1000) oil objective, and an adjustable condenser.
It's also nice to have a mechanical stage that is large enough to hold a petri dish. It's also nice to have long distance eyepieces (for glasses) and ultra long focal length objectives for viewing through petri dish lids. Spring loaded 40 and 100 objectives are also a good choice unless you like shattering slides.
-FF
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RogerRabbit
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Re: Microscope question [Re: fastfred] 1
#6426472 - 01/04/07 10:39 PM (17 years, 4 months ago) |
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I use my zoom microscope much more often than the compound microscopes. If you'll be looking for contaminants in petri dishes, the zoom microscope is what you want. With a zoom or stereo microscope, the light and the lense are on the same side of the object you're viewing. In other words, you see the light that is reflected back from the object rather than the light that shines through it. A stereo or zoom microscope is also what you want for studying the gill structure or mycelium. They're like having a super magnifying glass.
For viewing at the cellular level, you'll need a compound microscope. Therefore, to see if mycelium is dikaryotic or monokaryotic, or to view clamp connections, bacterial rods, etc, you'll need a compound microscope. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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Zen Peddler


Registered: 06/18/01
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Re: Microscope question [Re: RogerRabbit]
#6427046 - 01/05/07 03:54 AM (17 years, 4 months ago) |
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Like what fast fred said - for spores, basidia and cystidia i find the 1000X oil immersion seems the best for me with just a regular 10X eyepiece. Its clearer than the 400X for me in terms of lighting. If you want to look at spores again anything providing 400X is fine prettymuch. 1000X is obviously right up close. Having a single eyepiece gives me a headache - if you can get a double thingie then your probably gonna be better off.
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Cryogenicz
what?


Registered: 07/01/04
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Re: Microscope question [Re: Zen Peddler]
#6434753 - 01/07/07 02:07 PM (17 years, 4 months ago) |
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I want to be able to look at mycelium and Spores. Is there anything that does both, light from top and bottom?
-Graham
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fastfred
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Re: Microscope question [Re: Cryogenicz]
#6435785 - 01/07/07 06:28 PM (17 years, 4 months ago) |
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Sure. You can point a lightsource down on a compound microscope stage and get reflected light. You just can't get the light to illuminate the specimin at higher powers very easily because the objective will shadow it.
You could rig something up yourself or get a fiberoptic lightsource. They're pretty expensive though.
-FF
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