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From: cole@unix.SRI.COM (Eugenio Martinez-Uriegas)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.bio
Subject: Thinking of buying a microscope
Message-ID: <6266@unix.SRI.COM>
Date: 30 Nov 89 06:10:32 GMT
Reply-To: cole@sri-unix.sri.com (Susan Cole)
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA
Lines: 32

For a couple of years I have been toying with the idea of buying
a microscope, just for fun.  I don't know anything about them,
but I think I would enjoy looking at various things -- hairs,
mold, plants, bugs, and so forth.  I wonder if some microscopist
on the net would be willing to comment on the issues of buying 
and using microscopes for the amateur.  

I understand there are two general magnification categories -- one
suitable for the above (20-40x?) and one with a much higher
magnification for looking at prepared slides (~200x?).  Presumably I
would get more pleasure from the former.  Can you just stick something
under it and look, or is there some preparation involved even for the
lower magnification type?

Do microscopes require much care?  Are they very delicate?

How much would I need to pay to get a decent one?  When I first looked
around, I was told "around $200" for a new microscope.  About right?
Do I have to be careful about issues such as distortion of the image,
eye fatigue, etc?  How should I check out a microscope before buying
it?  Where would I look for a decent used one (not on the net,
apparently! -- I've been watching for the past few years!)

Finally -- what is interesting to look at under a microscope?  Any
good books?  Kids' books would be just about right!

Thanks - Susan


-- 
cole@unix.sri.com
{hplabs,rutgers}!sri-unix!cole


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