On occasion, we get a stereo microscope back from a customer with the complaint that it does not focus. Sometimes the microscope is defective, of course, but most of the time, not focusing is a matter of the customer not knowing how to adjust the microscope. Stereo microscopes are designed to be used with a huge variety of specimens from twigs, rocks, leaves, circuit boards, machine parts, and so on. These objects vary widely in size. In order to accommodate these different sizes, the head on most stereo microscopes, such as the excellent LOMO SF-100, is mounted on a vertical shaft which allows the microscope head to be moved up and down as needed to make room for the specimen. Quite simply, if, after placing the specimen under the microscope, the microscope fails to come into focus, the head needs to be moved up or down to come within the working distance of the optical system. Just loosen the locking knob on the head and raise or lower the head as needed. Not a big deal and, with experience, it becomes second nature.

Things are moving quickly on the laboratory front. Only two weeks ago I first reported on our expansion into scientific sales and the intent to service the research and lab market. This week we will have meetings to make the final decision as to which laboratory equipment and laboratory consumables to carry. Thank you to those who had contacted me to vote for the product categories and brands that you wanted. One small piece of bad news is that we will not initially carry laboratory chemicals or reagents. We haven't yet worked out the issues with hazmat, so that won't happen until early next year. We will, however, have a very wide selection of laboratory safety products. In addition to the major name brands such as Kimble, Corning, Thermo, Beckman, and others, we will also be adding LabNet and Unico products shortly. I will have more news later this week, so please stay tuned.

Yury here, with an update on our upcoming laboratory expansion. We figured that only selling microscopes is not enough to help all of our customers sustain their research. We have, therefore, decided to significantly expand our lab product offering. We are currently in negotiations as to which scientific product categories and laboratory brands to carry. Some of the ones on the bubble right now are Brandtech, Brady Scientific, Heathrow Scientific, and Whatman. Help us to become your online laboratory distributor by letting us know what other brands you would like to see. This is the time to best send in your suggestions as the initial scientific products offering is not yet complete. Is Eppendorf your favorite centrifuge brand? Is Beckman Coulter's cell counter the most accurate? Are you partial to Axygen's microtips? Let us know what you need for your scientific and research needs and we will do our best to get these items for you.

I spend all my time outdoors, this time of year, so that means not much time indoors at the microscope. If you are stuck indoors, though, for one reason or another, observing with a microscope is a great hobby. It definitely ranks as one of my favorite indoor activities. You should get outdoors, though, long enough to do some collecting. If you're working with pond water, my advice is to think green. The base of most aquatic food chains is comprised of algae and photosynthetic bacteria. These organisms provide cover and nutrition, just as green stuff does in the macro environment. Be sure to also scrape some samples from the bottom muck for organisms that are working that part of the ecosystem. When preparing slides, a little goes a long way. Just a drop with a little green or muck is all you need. Too much and you won't be able to isolate those protozoans and invertebrates from their hiding places. If you are thinking of getting your first microscope, first read my article, Microscope Guide for Beginners. If you are trying to figure out how to use your first microscope or make a slide mount, see my article Using your First Microscope.

If you are looking for a microscope of reasonable quality for the price, the new line of Celestron microscopes has arrived. Each and every one features metal construction and the manual is definitely better than average for a microscope at these prices. For the youngster or elementary school student, there is the the Celestron 44100. For the middle school and high school student, there is the Celestron 44102 and the Celestron 44014, which I rate as a best buy in terms of features for the price. For a better scope, also suitable for the high school student, I recommend the Celestron 44106. College level students should move up to a binocular model in the Celestron 44108. Celestron's best microscope is the Celestron 44110, which would be suitable for professional applications calling for a brightfield microscope.

Hi everyone, This is Yury writing to you from Microscopes.com. We're getting ready for some grand developments in the near future. For those of you who are on a constant lookout for laboratory equipment, laboratory instrumentation, and laboratory consumables to purchase at a great price, I have some terrific news for you. Microscopes.com is currently in negotiations to expand our laboratory product offering. I will be writing every few days to keep everyone appraised of the situation. If you're curious what kind of products I'm talking about, I'll give you a little peak into our upcoming store. We will be attempting to become a full-service laboratory distributor. We will carry some of the top brands including Thermo Electron, Kimble, Whatman, and many, many more. We will have a full staff of specialists to help you with setting up your laboratory needs. Whether you are a serious researcher, a forensic scientist, a law enforcement lab, or a scientific hobbyist, Microscopes.com will be able to help you with all your lab needs. ...please stay tuned...