Let us show you minerals  - as you have never seen them before.

Let us help you -- read this before you purchase a microscope
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ACC Cleaning tips                                                                                        Magnification                                                                                                           
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Determining your needs:  

• What do you want to be able to see with the microscope?  Size & type of specimens                  
• What do you want to be able to do with the microscope in 3-5 years?  
• Are you interested in photography?  
• Do you see yourself getting involved in photography?
• What is your price range?
      

Magnification

Magnification can be achieved in several different "layers" of lenses.   Eyepieces, objectives and supplementary lenses

ACC recommends 10x or 15x eyepieces 
1.  Always multiply your zoom objective number by your eyepiece magnification for total magnification.
2.   If you have a supplementary lens, then multiply the total magnification by the supplementary lens value for your final magnification.

Examples:
On a Meiji stereo zoom with a .7x - 4.5x zoom range 
- 10x eyepieces would give you 7x to 45x total magnification.
- 15x eyepieces would give you 10.5x to 67.5x total magnification.

On a turret scope with 1x/3x turret and 10x eyepieces -- total magnification is 10x or 30x
                                   2x/4x turret and 10x eyepieces -- total magnification is 20x or 40x

To increase your magnification further ACC recommends supplementary lenses which attach to the bottom of the scope body.
(Beware supplementary lens will affect your working distance under the scope and the depth of field.)

 A 1.5x supplementary lens would increase your magnification another 50% -- 15x eyepieces, 1.5x lens -- 15.75x to 78.75x

Please call us at 860-583-0502 for a detailed explanation.

Click here to see "Wulfenite" at difference magnifications.
Click here to see "Bugs in Amber" at difference magnifications.

Lighting

Lighting is essential to all microscope viewing needs.  It is usually very specific to the scope and application.  A ring light is the optimum solution for most general applications.  Fluorescent ring lights are the most cost effective on the market today.  Cost new         $ 175.00 ea.
Ring light adapter (may be necessary to connect the ring light to the microscope body)      $  40.00 ea. (most models)
Replacement bulbs  (with an approximate lifetime of  4,000 hours)    $  39.00 ea.
    Color Temperature 5600oK                                       

Fiber optic light guides powered by Halogen illuminators are very versatile but costly.  Halogen lighting is a must for photography.
Options for Fiber optics include Polarized lighting, single and double spot (Fiber optic guides) lighting, substage lighting, flood lighting, diffused and colored lighting. 
Cost new -- Halogen illuminators    $290.00     Replacement bulbs cost  $16.10 ea.
               --  24" Double pipes         250.00
               --  18" Double pipes         230.00
               --  Ring lights                     305.00
               --  Polarizer/Analyzer        275.00

   --     TechniQuip 150w Halogen illuminator w/step-down iris            $ 390.00
            (To maintain constant color temperature while adjusting brightness)