Microscopes in Mycology: Stereo vs Compound microscopes

[@DatGirlWhoDoesShtuff]

Good vid! One thing, though: Amscope microscopes are definitely NOT the Honda civic of microscopes, in the sense that they are not a hardy/reliable scope. They are difficult to service (no easily available spare parts and no shop will service them,) and they break easily. I personally own more than one Amscope microscope, and they are about the bottom of the barrel as far as build quality goes in microscopes. BUT, they have the same optical quality as much more expensive name-brand microscopes at a far lower price. Build quality / serviceability or price; that's the tradeoff. Something to consider for any would-be microscopists.

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

Hmmm maybe the “daewoo” of microscopes then…. I still love them and will be getting one of the newer Amscope stereoscopes - they have really nice cameras for cheap now 👍 As for maintenance, watch this video - if you can avoid all the common pitfalls it will last a very long time without any problems kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHaZoGWpj82Brdk

[@vazap8662]

Yet another awesome and hugely informative video from this channel. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!!

[@bounceurabdelaziz4973]

Thank you very much Gary, greetings for you from Algeria🇩🇿Mush Love🍄🍄

[@JosephKeenanisme]

Good one. I compare the two to using binoculars and a telescope. My stereo scope is just a cheapy, wanting to upgrade to something a little bit better than a $20 "coin" one.

[@benink5690]

You are my favorite myc man. Hoping to learn more and more. Started making agar plates and highly enjoy learning. So thank you! Also, Bring back the ray bans!

[@kingmetroplex]

Thank you I now j ow which to utilize when looking fir fine details

[@markkmchugh]

Exactly the stage I am at, keep them coming Gary.

[@danielsigursson6215]

Nice comparison between the two types.

[@tims-pt1yy]

Thank U for the presentation

[@allenrogers6557]

Long story short... If you're planning a commercial operation, you'll probably need both.

[@aaronpham7575]

Is there any “cheap” microscope you recommend for new people in the hobby wanting to do mushroom breeding? Not wanting to spend too much yet.

[@GotterVibez]

Im so frustrated with a microscope i ordered. It seems the specimen must be translucent for me to see something. i cannot use it for opaque specimens because the light comes from underneath , just like you presented the compound microscope. Is there any way to mount a light source above the specimen so that we can use it for opaque specimens?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

This goes for all microscopes except for a stereo scope which js basically a big magnifying glass. For this situation a cross section should be used. You can try slicing really thin cross sections with a scalpel or exacto knife or professionals use a microtomer with parafin wax to make slides.

[@pankajchauhan506]

Which type of microscope is best for fungi(in agriculture)?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

I think both of these would be good

[@yazx2434]

Hello from Rochester :)

[@julescircuits845]

anyone know where to get objectives serviced in wellys NZ? got hold of a decent olympus k3 that has a fair bit of dust on and in her....

[@7082-z8l]

Hi, I just discovered your awesome channel. I already watched a lot of your videos but I can't see any guide for people like me breaking into mushroom growing or breeding without a solid background. Can you please make a video about starting a mushroom growing business. Much love from the Philippines!

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

yes we have an ebook but are currently working on a playlist for patreon!

[@7082-z8l]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi oh, may I know where I can find it?

[@iconofsin1043]

Oh thanks a lot for this video, bro! I was just researching this few weeks ago

[@RustyColonsCPA]

Do you have to have your microscopes serviced regularly? Another great video.

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

No not often

[@InconspicuousOwl]

I am interested in learning about microscopes in mycology.

[@Martha_mycology]

👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻 Hey look up the handle for good spores,grow kits ,shrooms etc

[@ZodiYak369]

YAAAAAYYYY

[@corvo9249]

Is there a compound microscope in the $100-$200 range you would recommend? I would like to start identifying spores and isolating single spores as well.

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

this is as cheap as I would go - I got mine for 40% off on black friday. Maybe check a university at the end of semester (May is a good time to reach out) sometimes they massively discount nice scopes because they are upgrading.

[@corvo9249]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi Thank you! I'll have to start saving and check my college

[@camhowelse5797]

Why do you say the stereo is especially useful for breeding? Thank you for sharing all the amazing work, info and content!

[@camhowelse5797]

I’m wondering because I thought it was mentioned that the compound has better magnification and resolution. So I would think without knowing better that compounds would be my choice for breeding. But then I heard you say the stereo is especially useful for field work and breeding. So I’m curious. Thank you for any clarification :)

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

It just because the stereo have a tendency to 'turn ON' some female specimen.

[@themyceliumnetwork]

I am just getting into the stage where I need to see clamp connections but if i remove the clamp connection & put it on a slide its no longer a viable sample that can be used to make the strain using the compound microscope..... or am I wrong? (joining haploid to haploid to make diploid)

[@julescircuits845]

When observing for clamp connections in dikaryon mycelium we generally take a small sample from the agar plate to view, leaving the rest of the plate as viable culture, if there's visible clamps in the sample you can pretty much bet your left eye they're in the rest of the mycelium on the plate...

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

yes this 👆🏻

[@themyceliumnetwork]

​@@julescircuits845 thanks, i do not have a microscope atm & have been looking at a compound microscope. i've been doing serial dilutions, culturing haploid colonies, transfering haploids in pairs of two to a new plate & waiting for them to pair & viewing with a magnifying glass, it just impossible to get the view needed with a magnifying glass & relying on them pairing as an actual physical connection. i wish i could upload photos

[@julescircuits845]

@@themyceliumnetwork You're doing well ;) best thing until you get a scope is keep doing that and put any mycelium that appears rhizomorphic (usually indicates diploid state) to a new plate-grain-bulk and see what fruits you get from what :) I've been cultivating gourmet as a hobby successfully for a year now and only just got a compound microscope, looking forward to doing identifications, seeing basidia, clamp connections and spores etc but not necessary for most of the usual growing process at our level and I think experimenting is kinda half the fun 😊

[@RubberDuckStyle]

👍👍👍👍👍👊

[@johnbauby6612]

I have been agonizing over which to get. The new stereo scopes are not expensive and seem to have decent magnification BUT the compound scope can't be beaten for magnification. I still don't know which to get for looking at spores but I think a moderate compound sounds like it might be better. I can only barely afford just one so I have to make the choice count

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

yes I would find a friend nearby and each get one ☝️

[@johnbauby6612]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi Unfortunately not likely as microscopes are a niche market and people don't buy them unless they need them.

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

@@johnbauby6612I'm in the same situation. Ok, I'm from Montréal, let's just buy one each and share... Well... not that convenient isn't! I'll go with the stereomicroscope with a trinocular. I think it's more versatile (mushroom, electronic inspection, broken nail/small injury inspection, low to moderate magnification and cool 3D effect).