stereoscope

Hello,
I am getting my lab set up and was wondering what scopes people recommend for general worm work. I am hoping to find something relatively inexpensive that I can add to later if I need fluorescence. It will probably be my only scope for awhile, so I want to make sure I get a good one.
Thanks!

Ellen Tarr
Assistant Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Midwestern University
Glendale, AZ

Hello,
I currently am thinking of going with a Zeiss Stemi2000 or a Leica S8APO. Any suggestions? Does anyone know if I still need to ask for special glass to be put in over the light source or should these be ok with the standard configuration?
Ellen

I have a Leica S8APO and my students love it. It is a great scope for the price. I didn’t find the need to deviate from the standard configuration using the transmitted light base.

Congrats on getting your own lab!

I bought Olympus SZ60s with Leica L2 (cold light) base.

My fluorescence scope is a Nikon SMZ1500. Great working distance and range of magnification, beautiful optics. It’s modular, so you can add a fluorescence turret when you want to. I got a trinocular and added a camera to it.

I bought refurbished/demo models.

If you want quotes or more info, feel free to e-mail me at gumienny@medicine.tamhsc.edu.

Regards,
Tina L. Gumienny

hi Ellen

I set up my lab some years ago and initially bought the ZEiss discovery-V8, equipped with transmitted cold light device.
it is a bit expensive but very comfortable for daily work and with a bit more amplification than other scopes.
however, due to economical reasons, I have bought two NIKON SMZ645 also equipped with transmitted light. This is a much cheaper option (does not come with cold light source so if you are working with strains relatively sensitivy to temperature maybe this is not your choice) but still very good daily work standards.
Hope it helps
All the best
Antonio

I’m using an old Wild stereo dissection scope with a 20X objective. I’ve had good luck using a 9-LED flashlight as a cold light source (~$5).

note the cheap GFP microscope options shown at:
http://130.15.90.245/gfp_stereoscope.htm
http://www.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/Haseloff/imaging/cheaposcope/cheaposcope.htm