5 Lessons I Learned in 7 Years of Microscopy

[@3DPrinterz]

Through these seven years you never fail to give us insight on the matter. Thanks :)

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

Suggestions for 2025: I like the idea to get more 'hand's on/how to/preparation tips' on live sessions. Give a fish Vs learn how to fish. For 'regular' video, it would be nice to see you taking sample outdoor. How to find a proper site, mistakes to avoid, gear to have, what to look for. Urbain Vs wild area. Where to find microorganism (what kind of organism to expect on various types of deep/shallow sediment, water, soil, compost) How to build and maintain your micro-pet farming. What kind of free container to use How to maintain a colony of vorticella, how to feed your water fleas, nematodes, plankton, algae, diatom, etc. Tips to keep a marine sample alive (is it different from other live sample?). Organise a contest to find local magnetotactic bacteria and co-host a live (or a video or pictures) with that person to better explain how to do it! If somebody have other ideas, please list them below!

[@amantedar123]

I have discovered your channel a few months ago and although I watch several other scientific videos on different aspects from cadavers to photography to outer space, I tell you your channel has become top priority to me. I have learned so much and I see you as a humble person that is not afraid to say you do not know on that rare occasion when you do not know. This for me is more important. Keep on the good work. Thanks.

[@chrismayer8990]

Thank you!

[@MrPatb57]

Thanks Oliver for taking the time to make very interesting videos.

[@ThaiMicrocosmos]

Congratulations on 7 years, you're an excellent teacher to so many!

[@bobs5596]

i am a fish enthusiast who occasionally uses an old AO med student microscope to view infusoria cultures used to feed fry. when i look at them, i am never quite sure what i am seeing, they are never the same. there are many protozoans that look like paramecium but they can't all be. it would be helpful if there was a vid showing random cultures of the many types of protozoans where they are called what they are, to help ID better. i do know by sight vorticella, stentors, and rotifers, but having a reference vid with all would be amazing. would like a guide on seed shrimps, so many look like daphnia. algae is interesting. also some nematodes. other things useful to me would be animal stool samples for cats and dogs so i could diagnose problems and know when to get the animal to the vet. practical applied microbiology. as a kid i read the few library books about making permanent slides, building a collection, but never got too far. some of the materials seemed hard to obtain, canadian balsam, denatured alcohol, round cover slips, the turntable, etc. would be interested to hear how they do it these days, are they still using same materials, stains, etc. a vid on preparation of fruit fly giant salivary gland chromosomes and how to permanently mount that specimen. there's my wish list...

[@garycroftsmicroscopy]

Great tips Oliver, your channel continues to be very inspirational 🎉

[@MarieChardome]

YOU ARE AMAZING, MH! you have changed my life, given me a whole new direction. i can never thank you enough

[@tubepkn]

I am certainly looking forward to more 'how to's. That is also why I always tune in on your Saturday Night Livestreams. Thanks!

[@davidwoodrow8524]

Thank you ever so much for sharing your knowledge..

[@MisterMcHaos]

A week ago, I took delivery of four Swift SW150 microscopes - one for *me* and three to give away to young teenage children of family and friends. Maybe, I can inspire a future microbiologist or two... :)

[@heatherramsay6182]

Thanks, it really helps when you share both your success and your failures. Knowing that it also takes you time to find things helps me to have more confidence.

[@darwexter]

Thank you for your channel - you make amateur microscopy approachable at all levels.

[@MicroFrogLab]

Thank you, all the information you share on the channel is very useful and presented in an accessible and pleasant manner.

[@KendrickMan]

I wish there were 8 of you so that one of you could focus on moss/fungi microscopy without all the other microscopy topics getting overlooked lol.

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

Hi KendrickMan, I invite you to suggest a list of content idea for 2025. Oliver is always asking for new ideas, this is a good place to write them down. I also like the idea to get more soil, moss, fungi, nematode as a broad topic.

[@lotharmayring6063]

the most important is to have the eye to find the intersting specimen outside in nature

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

You are 100% right. A microscope without interesting sample/specimen is just a paperweight! I hope Oliver will show us how easy it is to find awesome life form our local area. Local pound, the garden, compost bin, forest moss, etc are unlimited sources of free goodness! I've started the hobby in 2024 and I have a wonderful micro-farm of micro-organism. I call them my 'low maintenance micro-pets'

[@lotharmayring6063]

@@alexandrevaliquette3883 Oliver is to much concentrated on thechnical stuff and selling his microscopes. You should go to microscopy communities, seach for biologists wich have Dr. degree and go to excursions with them or study biology on university. A good microscop is of course important and with 4000 bugs you are on the right way

[@lotharmayring6063]

before you start to edit images or videos you have to take them perfect because the best editing is senseless if the image is bad

[@ligablumfelde3477]

As someone who owns a microscope and uses it at a hobby level, I can agree with 50% of this video (like that patience part). I only recently started to share my discoveries but it has been very rewarding. I am even considering learning how to improve and advance my methods so I could make good slides and start my microscopy channel on Instagram (it would be very useful if you made some technique videos). I also found interesting what you said about picture/video editing - I have never done that or even thought about it. Thank you for an inspiration!

[@lotharmayring6063]

preparing the speciman is very important. So you need a good stereo microscope also tansportabel in nature outside. At home you need a good equipped laboratory and perfect micro tools . You should know some chemistry basics also. Before you start preparing you must spend some time for meditation and respiration methods to calm the heartbeat and the respiration and the eyes because without the clam of your hands you are not abel to prepare good specimen

[@bhanujha7372]

How to take care of your microscope and parts for beginners How to document findings Where is the best community to learn and grow

[@lotharmayring6063]

before you start you should read a good book and all documentations of the specimen you want to microscop and learn learn about biology or mineralogy basics

[@H4CK41D]

Hello, what is the model of the small microscope you have there?

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

The small one is probably the SWIFT SW-150 (or equivalent) for about 80-150$ look at different place before buying to get the best price. It got a very nice image quality for the price for low to medium magnification. But the high magnification is not very good (40x objective + 10x eyepiece = 400x magnification) because there is no condenser + diaphragm. So, it's a great tool to have fun and learn about the hobby at a very affordable cost. It all depend who will use it. For a kid, I would not suggest a compound scope, instead, find a low power stereomicroscope (4x to 20x magnification). The image will be 3D (don't be confused with a binocular compound microscope) and the sample preparation is way easier and the image is easier to understand.

[@H4CK41D]

@@alexandrevaliquette3883 Thank you for the info! It's actually for myself since I'm a microbiology major and want to practice light microscope technique at home and just for fun to develop a new hobby, so I would want compound. Thanks for pointing out the condenser/diaphragm issue, I'll look to get one with those included. I live on an island country with a bit less valuable currency (NZ) so even that small microscope can't be purchased for less than $400 NZD or ~$230 USD, if you can believe it. As a student I could probably afford to get one up to ~$500 USD or $880 NZD. Hoping to get what I need with that.

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

@ What I have is the SWIFT380B (B = binocular, T= trinocular). I got it new/open box for 200$ Canadian, next day shipping included on Amazon. The full price was 300$ Canadian in 2024. It's the best bang for your buck if your are serious (but have a limited budget). Condenser, diaphragm, filter holder so you can make your DIY dark field, Reinberg and polarisation filters for free. The objectives are already high quality, you may want to get a 20x or maybe a 60x (20$ each, ship incl). Get a pack of 72 blank slide and 100 cover slide and you are good for years!!!

[@Zunree1869]

So, take micrograph, enhance contrast, maybe a little bit of sharpness if needed, boom, image😊.

[@vio3667]

Hi, today i've got mine Levenhuk med 45T hope it's nice one. It feels solid metal :) thank you @Microbehunter your educational videos were awesome hope you will get more subs.

[@lotharmayring6063]

the microscope itself is not so important. Important is good quality objectives, condensors and light source and you have to know how to arrange and tune them perfect

[@jujjuj7676]

You want more views make better thumbnails, cause your content is amazing..😊

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

What do you suggest to make the thumbnails better? More intriguing maybe? How?

[@lotharmayring6063]

if you follow Olivers advices you are no longer a microscopy hobbist.

[@lotharmayring6063]

today nobody needs to buy permanent slides because all pictures are on the internet and even better