New Compound Microscope Donated to the Lab

Thanks to a very generous donor, we now have a brand new Compound Microscope! It’s the OMAX 40X-2500X Full Size Lab Digital Trinocular Compound LED Microscope with 14MP USB Camera and 3D Mechanical Stage.

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Here are some detailed specs:

  • Total magnification: 40X-100X-250X-400X-1000X-2500X

  • Objectives: achromatic DIN 4X, 10X, 40X (S), 100X (S, Oil)

  • Viewing head: 45 degrees inclined 360 degrees swiveling trinocular

  • Interpupillary distance: sliding adjustable 2-3/16inch ~ 2-15/16inch (55mm ~ 75mm); Diopter: adjustable on both eyepiece tubes; Nosepiece: revolving quadruple

  • Stage: mechanical stain-resistant double layer, size: 5-1/2inch x 5-1/2inch (140mm x 140mm), translation range: 3inch x 2inch (75mm x 50mm); Photo tube adjustment range: 5/8inch (15mm)

  • Focus: coaxial coarse and fine focus knobs on both sides, rack and pinion adjustment, with tension control; Focusing knob can be locked for observation and transportation

  • Condenser and diaphragm: Abbe NA1.25 rack and pinion adjustment condenser with iris aperture diaphragm

  • Black palm rest on the base; Illumination: transmitted (lower), replaceable 3W LED light, variable intensity; Metal mechanical components; Power supply: 100V~240V 50/60Hz worldwide range (US and Canada power plug)

  • Digital camera: - true color 4096x3288 pixels (14M pixels) - 0.5X reduction lens to get larger field of view - 0.01 mm calibration slide: 1mm/100 division - Frame speed: 1.8fps at 4096x3288, 10fps at 2048x1644, 27fps at 1024x822

  • Software compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10, Mac OS and Linux operating system - Capturing microscope images, recording live video, measuring lengths, angles, areas, editing images - USB cable included

Once you hook up your laptop with the cables, you can download the software/drivers to get up and running. We were able to do this without too much difficulty. A company called Carolina sells live samples, so we looked at mixed infusoria, volvox globator, ameoba proteus, hydra and mixed protozoa with the scope.

Here’s a larger Rotifer.

Here’s a larger Rotifer.

Amoeba! Very fun to watch move about by extending and retracting ‘pseudopods’. Video below.

Amoeba! Very fun to watch move about by extending and retracting ‘pseudopods’. Video below.

Single-celled paramecium (protazoa). Notice the cilia hairs on the exterior.

Single-celled paramecium (protazoa). Notice the cilia hairs on the exterior.

Watch the amoeba change shape. Towards the end of the clip you’ll see some much smaller bacteria moving around.