[meteorite-list] Microscope search

From: STARSANDSCOPES at aol.com <STARSANDSCOPES_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:24:29 EST
Message-ID: <1a378.8a8abc0.38b0afed_at_aol.com>

Hi list, Richard is absolutely right when he said. "so a simple $100
stereo microscope might be enough to get your feet wet and help solidify the
direction you want to go if, I mean when you purchase your next microscope!"


He touches on an aspect that meteorite and microscope enthusiasts have
known since our first scope. It is more interesting close up. Any specimen
in your collection is much more interesting when you can observe the
subtleties that make it different from the rest.

If you care to look at the micrographs of Angrites in my gallery you will
know what I am saying.

I might also add. I have inexpensive some Xpol scopes that are beautiful
to look at thin sections in. I don't take micrographs with these scopes
but for observation they are wonderful and even with the setup I use to take
micrographs on, the view first hand is 10X better than a picture. I would
even say that the observational view in one of these inexpensive scopes is
better than the best micrograph I can produce.


Tom


In a message dated 2/19/2010 7:40:05 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
damoclid at yahoo.com writes:
Hey Paul.

A seemingly simple question with literally hundreds of answers. I just
purchased a microscope, but I think my needs were possibly very different than
many of the people on this list.

Here's a few questions to ask yourself before you can narrow down the
microscope that is right for you.

How much can you budget for the microscope?

Do you only want to view individuals and slices at lower power to see the
details you mention better, or do you want to view thin sections in
polarized light at high magnification?

Do you want to do photography of your meteorites?

Do you want to view things other than meteorites, ie. biological specimens?

If you simply want to view your specimens magnified and have no plans to
view or photograph thin sections, you can find a reasonably good 10x - 30x
stereo microscope for about $100. For another $50 you can find a VGA webcam
that can be mounted where one of the eyepieces goes and view your specimens
on your computer screen.

Of course if you want to have a microscope that can "do everything" you're
going to have to have a very large budget. But, as you can see on Tom's
page, he has multiple microscopes to do what he needs, so a simple $100
stereo microscope might be enough to get your feet wet and help solidify the
direction you want to go if, I mean when you purchase your next microscope!

I can tell you more about the microscope I just purchased and why I got
what I did privately if you are interested.

--
Richard Kowalski
Full Moon Photography
IMCA  #1081
--- On Fri, 2/19/10, Paul G. Spears <pgspears at cox.net>  wrote:
> From: Paul G. Spears <pgspears at cox.net>
>  Subject: [meteorite-list] Microscope search
> To:  meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Date: Friday, February 19, 2010,  3:20 PM
> Hi, all:
> My eyes need a little help seeing the finer  details of
> metal, mineral, shock, and crystals in meteorite
>  slices.  A microscope would be helpful, and I surmise
> that many of  the scores of scopes out there could be
> useful.  Has anyone been  particularly impressed by
> his/her scope's features and functions when  used for this
> purpose?
> 
> Any tips, or cautions, for  selecting a starter microscope
> will be appreciated.  I would be  willing to pay more
> for a scope with features everyone feels are  essential, and
> would consider new or used, if anyone has recently  upgraded
> and has a reliable unit that needs a new home.
> 
>  My wife, Grace, and I had an unbelievably great experience
> at the Tucson  show!  It was our first time there and,
> if you have never attended  before, we encourage you to be
> there at your first opportunity as it is  an experience you
> will never forget.
> Regards,
> Paul G.  Spears
> IMCA #3272
> 
> 
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Received on Fri 19 Feb 2010 10:24:29 PM PST