Pledge:Lab Microscope

This pledge is suspended as we currently have the lend of a similar model to the one proposed below

It's likely that this will reappear as a pledge for a much nicer model some time in the next year.

I think that microscopy is a basic requirement for microbiology lab work, much like soldering in electronics. . Pledge opened: 19/09/13

I've had quite a bit of luck using the OMAX researcher microscope that is linked below. The mechanical stage is really quite good, and very pleasant to sweep across a sample looking for interesting features.

I think the microscopy really brings to life the experiments, so I am keen to have one available in the lab.

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LLOOOK!!! IT'S A CELLLLLLLLL. And it's Purple. (violet)

The item

This seems to be a similar model to the OMAX and the AmScope, but is supplied by a UK company - The Apex Researcher Microscope by Apex Microscopes 4.9 out of 5 stars (24 customer reviews) with a 2 year guarantee.

£229.00 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK

The Apex Researcher is a laboratory microscope for the serious scientist and those that like to use good equipment. A very robust design with a binocular head with two pairs of widefield eyepieces, x10 and x20. There are four objectives giving a magnification range of x40 to x2000. The best in its class, it also comes with a FREE starters pack of slides and coverslips. The microscope has: - Two pairs of eyepieces x10 and x20 - x4, x10, x40, x100 RMS DIN standard objectives giving magnifications from x40 to x2000 - The objectives are parfocal - Mechanical stage with vernier scales - Separate coarse and fine focus controls - Abbe condenser with iris diaphragm - LED illumination (on models purchased from 01/06/2013 - Field lens for even illumination There are a number of extras available as well: - Photography adapter - Digital camera adapter - Measuring equipment

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apex-Microscopes-The-Researcher-Microscope/dp/B001EN6G8M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379627412&sr=8-1&keywords=B001EN6G8M

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I've got one of the OMAX models which has a very similar spec to the Apex one above, but had to be shipped from the US.

• Example: [OMAX 40X-2000X Lab Binocular Biological Compound Microscope] or similar

There are similar spec microscopes, that are also well reviewed, such as this one from AmScope

• Example: http://www.microscopemaster.com/amscope-40x-2000x-biological-compound-microscope-with-mechanical-stage.html

The OMAX seems to get the best review;

http://www.amazon.com/40X-2000X-Binocular-Compound-Microscope-Mechanical/dp/B005TJ5CEG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_indust_2&tag=s601000020-20

Budget estimation

• £229

The main issue for these microscopes is that they need to be shipped from the US at a cost of ~65GBP.

In addition, my one had been bumped, and had some superficial damage, so ideally a UK stockist of the above (charging US prices) would be 'moon on stick' good.

Specification

• 20x optical
• 4 objective lens including 100x
• 2000x max

Additional information

Not a high-end professional one but one of the better budget microscopes

Pledges

• £35 - tolland
• £25 - Czechton

Running total: £35

Approximate target: £194