Where to buy good quality lab microscope?

[venuschan]

Hi Parents,


May I know where to buy good quality lab microscope. I'm thinking to buy the one as mentioned in the link, but wonder if anyone has any idea of this sort or anywhere can I get one with same or better quality.

http://www.mblearningsystems.com/brockmagiscopes.htm

[spykid27]

Omni-theatre at science centre has a shop called astro-scientific that sells optic systems such as telsescopes, binoculars and microscopes, but their price is not cheap. their website is http://www.astro.com.sg


as for the microscope you want to buy, I reccomend getting a more reputed brand like olympus or carl ziess, cos several of these microsopes sold online are actually toys to fool unprofessional people into buying them. To me, it looks fake :evil:

it also depends on what you want to use the scope for. you can't just jump in and say: Hey! let's buy a microscope to look at stuff. you'll have to define the \"stuff\" first. binocular microscopes usually have magnifications up to 80x and can view 3d objects such as insects and surfaces of small objects. (they give you an image simillar to what a magnifying glass gives you) they're easy to use: just place the specimen in the tray under the objectives and you get a view.
compound light microscopes ( the 'normal' telescope') can't be used for viewing 3d objects, but translucent objects sealed in slides. you can only view cells and et-cetra.
it really depends, and I think the best thing to do is research

[venuschan]

Hi Spykid27,


I'm thinking of buying one with description as below provided, do you have any advice for me and/or to suggest. :thankyou:

The link:

http://www.amazon.com/OMAX-40X-2000X-Biological-Microscope-Mechanical/dp/B004RZXINU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1350468110&sr=8-2&keywords=40x-2000x+professional+compound+microscope+%2B+3mp+camera

OMAX 40X-2000X Digital Binocular Biological Compound Microscope with Built-in 3.0MP USB Camera and Double Layer Mechanical Stage

It's now a good buy, but need to order from US.

[spykid27]

@mummy o threee, I don't think $100 can get you a good microscope. I think the cheapest I saw was like 200 plus, and that one was a handheld camera one, not the very good kind. It was manufactured by celestron ,a good but not the best brand.


@ venuschan, I'm sorry, I'm not an expert on microscopes (but on telescopes, I am. )

I'm not too sure about that one, but In my opinion, buying from online is not the best option. If the product gets damaged thru shipping, you can't refund conveniently, and you do not know how thee product looks like until you have received it.

I think, to buy a good scope from a good dealer, you can go search under the 'science equipment' secton of the yellow pages and call up some of the vendors. I think SMITECH would sell (but they're fore professionals, I guess)

Hope I helped! :imcool:

[spykid27]

But that scope looks good... just that the eyepieces look poor quality...

and I forgot to add, other than the scope itself, other accessories are also needed, like cleaning items, lens oil (to make images above 400x clearer) and all others.

but for now, the only place I know of that sells good scopes is astro scientific.

[venuschan]

Hi spykid27,


Since you mention you are good with telescope, can you recommend any good and affordable telescope for young beginner, as young as 6/7 yo? of course I also wish the telescope to last for at least 5-10 years ie. not easily obsolete…

Now @ Microscope----I read reviews posted by users who used that in Amazon, most of them gave favorable reply… I know I have to buy slides too, and lens oil as you just said…apart from that do you STILL advise me to buy if I could ask my relation to carry back to Singapore…because price is so tempting…

[venuschan]

Hi spykid27,


Unfortunately Astro Scientific doesn't carry Omax....they carry other brands...also what they carry are all without USB camera.

Why so \"Cham\"....look like we all arent very concerned with bio-science!???

[karenmok]

My DD of 10 has been bitten by the microscope bug and she wants me to buy her a real microscope, not a toy one. I want to buy a good, working microscope, not too expensive. I checked in science centre and the microscopes there sell for more than 1000$. I want an inexpensive model, even if it is a used one or not so latest quality - so that if DD gets tired of it or loses interest, not much is lost.

Any suggestions from other kiasu parents?

[learningstore]

Perhaps can check the below


Elite Microscope
http://www.learningstore.com.sg/product_info.php?products_id=562

[jaemz]

last weekend I was at Vivocity Toy Outpost and saw this product, it is a microscope lens which attaches onto an iphone or galaxy s3 via a special casing… it is called Smart Micro Scope.


bought one and tried it out with my iphone, quite fun! really crisp magnification of things you put under the lens!

quite a good product which satisfy curious minds without having the need to fork out a hefty investment!