Microscopes

Recommended microscope specifications for use in the soil biology context (from the Microscope Intensive Course):

  • Binocular Microscope: it's highly recommended that you get a trinocular microscope to connect a camera to your computer; this allows you to take images and videos from your microscope through your computer
  • Adjustable Eyepieces: you should be able to adjust the distance of your eyepieces
  • Adjustable Focus for your eyepieces: at least one of the eyepieces needs to be adjustable to focus on the slide
  • Adjustable Headpiece (this is optional)
  • Objective Lenses: 4x, 10, 40x, 100x (note: 100x will be rarely be used, most work is done done using the 40x lens
  • Stage Lever: to hold your slide
  • Stage Control: used whenever to move to another field of the slide
  • Light Source: LED bulb recommended
  • Dimmer: allows light adjustment
  • Condenser/Condenser Knob: to focus the illumination of the light
  • Iris diaphragm: used in shadowing to maximise the resolution of the slide
  • Coarse Focus/Fine Focus: to adjust the stage when focusing on the slide

For use in mycology (and especially for the identification of fungi by their spores), we have the additional requirement of:

  • A 100x Oil-Immersion Objective Lenses
  • Last modified: 2022-03-11 09:40
  • by Peter