Products, Services and Support for Ecological Landcare

Good Quality Light Microscopes at Reasonable Prices

Full Size Light Microscope

This is a very nice heavy microscope with a wide base for stability. It is ideal for viewing compost tea, soil and compost samples. The optics are very nice for such an inexpensive scope and the brass gears are a nice bonus. With proper care it should perform for many years. We are currently using this microscope to quantify compost, soil and compost tea quality. The microscope and instructional DVD packaged has been developed by Tim Wilson. Priced at $600.00, most people can have the ability to perform the same assessments with a little self training.

Trinocular; binocular, camera, inter-pupil adjustment, swivel, camera port size adaptors

Eyepieces: 20 mm extra widefield 10X & widefield 16X

Achromatic Objectives: 4X, 10X, 20X, 40X

Stage: Mechanical: left, right, up down

Coaxial Course & Fine Focus; 0.02 mm increments

Gears; Cast Brass

Abbe Condenser: 1.25 N.A. with swing-out filter holder; rack & pinion adjustment

Lamp; 20 watt halogen; adjustable intensity

Microscope Specifications

The brightfield images are very good, equivalent to or better than higher priced microscopes like the Leica CME (which is a minimum $1,200.00). The brightfield (true) resolution is actually somewhat better than when using the enhancement devices. The enhancement effects refraction and diffraction of light with the use of different colors as well as black to block certain portions of light. This provides a contrast making the subjects stand out more to the human eye. Each microscope will come with a set custom designed filters. The enhancement produces images which are similar to those seen using phase contrast and differential interference contrast (3D).

Each microscope also comes with a DVD for the purpose of teaching the use of the microscope, general microscopy and some compost and compost tea observational techniques. There are extras available for additional charges, such as a 3X multiplier lens and camera. Please see below for the details.

Support

The DVD which accompanies the microscope contains 9 views of content. You must click on the double arrow to turn the pages. Occasionally, buyers only watch the first 3 (of 34) chapters and then end up emailing the developer with questions which are addressed in the DVD. We are open to providing email support, however the instructional DVD which is included with the purchase of the microscope is more than sufficient to guide you through the process.

The 3X multiplier Barlow lenses are a great investment. One of these in each eye piece of the trinocular work very well. They are priced at $25 for one lense or $46 for two with the purchase of the microscope.  Please note that although the 3X multipliers are nice to have on hand, they are not absolutely necessary for observing soil microbes. When using the 10X objective, they increase the magnification from 100X to 300X and the 20X objective from 200X to 600X. They are not effective with the 40X objective.

A camara is available which fits onto the trinocular and interfaces with your PC. Please contact us for details.

We strongly recommend purchasing the Microbe Identification DVD Set for $33 (regular $40) with the purchase of a microscope.

Extras to Enhance Microscope Function

Warranty

All microscopes are inspected prior to shipping. The manufacturer is offering a one year warranty. Return postage costs are not included.

Shipping

Within the continental US, you can expect shipping to cost approximately $75.00 which includes insurance.

Other Details

Compostwerks LLC  487 E Main ST. Suite 160 Mt. Kisco, NY 10549        customerservice@compostwerks.com   914.837-2364               Copyright 2012