Your microscopes are delicate, precision instruments that will provide years of quality images if you follow some simple guidelines.
The microscopes you are using are stereo (a.k.a. dissecting) microscopes. This means that the two eyes focus on the same point from two different angles through the large objective lens, thus providing you with a sensation of depth while viewing. This is unlike compound microscopes that you may have used in microbiology or histology, that provide only one pathway for light through the small objective lens [the compound scope splits this single image into two identical images for your left and right eyes].
These scopes cost about $2000 each with the light sources and boom stands. The trinocular scope used to show video cost about $7500 by itself, more for the video cameras. Of course, we need to take good care of them.
Care and feeding
If you are not wearing glasses, keep the eyecups up to prevent
your eyelashes
from getting oil on the lenses. Oil from your hair won't damage
the
lens, but will obscure viewing. NEVER NEVER NEVER
WIPE THE LENS OR THE OCULARS WITH ANYTHING EXCEPT LENS PAPER THAT HAS
BEEN
MOISTENED WITH LENS FLUID. Moisten the lens paper first, then
lightly
rub in a spiral from the center to the edge. Do not worry about
materials
left on the edge of the lens, since they will not be in view.
How to make the microscope "parfocal".
Parfocal means that the scope is focused at both high and low
magnification. To adjust the scope to make if parfocal, you must
first place a piece a flat
paper or cardboard under the scope at the level at which you usually
focus
(e.g. crayfish height). Set it to highest magnification.
Focus
what you see with your RIGHT eye with the main focus knob. Now
change
to the lowest magnification. Focus your LEFT eye view by
adjusting the
eyepiece focus. Now focus the RIGHT eye view using the right
eyepiece.
Return to high magnification to determine hat the scope is now
parfocal.
Repeat if necessary.
modified 11-20-03