How to buy the
Right Microscope

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If you've been looking for a microscope that offers a lot more, but without the price of a full professional model, the M1 might be just what you need.

The M1 microscope looks right at home in a laboratory setting or an AP Biology classroom. The binocular head, built-in mechanical stage, coaxial coarse and fine focus controls, and reverse nosepiece are premium features built onto a large stable frame for durability and years of use.

M1 Binocular Microscope Features:

Binocular viewing with Widefield Eyepieces

Ask any professional, binocular microscopes (that is, having two eyepieces) greatly reduce eyestrain. While viewing with both eyes at once, there is no squinting, and no trying to ignore one eye or another. Relaxed full vision viewing is the result.

Since it is binocular, you'll need to adjust for the distance between your eyes, so the M1 has the seidentopf pivot to make the adjustment (not the sliding style found on cheaper scopes). If you've used a nice pair of binoculars you are already familiar with this type of pivoting adjustment.

The diaptor adjustment allows you to also adjust for the difference between your eyes.

The M1 features nice wide field eyepieces which are a pleasure to look through.

The head is ball bearing mounted, rotating a full 360° for ease of use, and is inclined 30°.

Built-in Mechanical Stage

A mechanical stage holds your slide for you, and provides controls for moving that slide with extreme accuracy. Gone are the days of poking the slide with your fingers to move it around.

Every professional microscope has a slow release built-in mechanical stage - well, the M1 has one too.

"Slow release" means that when you let go of the grip lever, it slowly grabs the edge of the slide to hold it in place. It will not chip or break the slide.

We sell a lot of add-on mechanical stages for our popular 3088 Premium and Student Series microscopes. Since the M1's stage is built-in (not add-on), it is fully integrated into the microscope. As a result, the controls for the stage drop down below the stage, and are easily accessible to the focus knobs where your hands already are.

You'll enjoy your microscope more when moving your slides around is such an easy matter.

The stage is 125mm x 130mm.

DIN Achromatic Optical Glass Objectives

The M1 sports fine Achromatic Objectives which conform to the DIN standard for threading, length, and focal distance. Twenty or thirty years down the road you'll have no problems finding new objectives for this scope if you need them.

The lenses are parfocal (once one is in focus, changing from one to another maintains focus), and parcentered (the specimen center remains the same from objective to objective). We do advise that with any microscope that you lower your stage a little when moving to or from your 40x or 100x objectives to avoid breaking your cover slips.

We offer lens two setups with the M1.

• The M1 400 (for $369) has three objectives, 4x, 10x, and 40xr. With the 10x eyepieces, the resulting magnification is 40x, 100x, and 400x.
• The M1 1000 (for $419) has four objectives. It has the three that the M1 400, but adds one more objective, a 100xr, which yields 1000x.

The objectives are mounted in a four position reverse nosepiece which rotates the unused objectives out of the way under the arm of the scope.

Up to 400x is what is used in most hobbyist microscopes, which will allow you to see plant and animal cells, all sorts of protozoa, cheek scrapings (for large human cells), and what have you. 1000x is quite a bit harder to do, and is usually college level work. With 1000 power you'll get a good look at tiny blood cells, bacteria, and details of cellular structure.

An adjustable stage stop protects your objectives and slides from damage, and the 40xr and 100xr objectives have spring loaded retractable tips (again for protection).

Halogen Lighting

Like professional microscopes, the M1 has halogen lighting and is fully dimmable (rheostat controlled). The 110V / 220V electrical system is auto-switching for easy use outside the USA. The scope uses a 12v 20w halogen bulb that you'll find in most stores like Home Depot and Lowe's (when you need a replacement). A spare bulb is included with your scope.

By the way, the M1 also includes a mirror assembly which allows it to be used in the field where no electricity is available.

Coaxial Focus

The M1 has coaxial coarse and fine focus. That is, the coarse and fine focus knobs are conveniently located on the same spindle.

Internal gears are metal, and are protected from overzealous children with a slip clutch. If someone were to keep cranking the focus knob at the end of the focus range, instead of stripping the gears, the knob simply slips.

Sub-stage controls:

Condenser on a rack and pinion gear system. The glass lens located in the hole in the middle of the stage on any microscope is called the "condenser" because it condenses the light to focus it on the specimen. At times this condenser needs to be moved, which is easily done on the M1 with the condenser focus knob.

Iris diaphragm. Beneath the condenser is the diaphragm which refines the light stream coming up out of the halogen system. The iris is a series of interlocked metal leaves which can be opened and closed as needed - from wide open to just a pinhole. Make sure you find your iris knob when viewing live protozoa from the local creek - it will help you to see every last detail. NA 1.25 ABBE condenser.

Construction

The M1 features heavy cast alloy construction with acid and reagent resistant finish.

Why is the M1's paint so tough?

1. The frame is first coated with a special primer, formulated for a lasting bond to your scope's metal frame
2. Next it is sanded to remove imperfections and insure adhesion of the top coat
3. It is then coated again with a reagent resistant finish, impervious to common formulas used in labs and schools
4. Finally, it is baked at scorching temperatures to insure a tough, permanent finish

Dimensions and Weight

• Height: 15” (380mm)
• Length: 9” (230mm)
• Width: 6.63” (170mm)
• Weight: 8.8 lbs. (3.99kg)

Warranty

Lifetime on materials and workmanship, one year on electronic components.

It is highly recommended that you take a few minutes and read our e-Book "How to buy the Right Microscope".  It will help you understand some of the unfamiliar terms above, and help you to make the right buying decision.

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Microscope Slides Included!

The M1 Microscopes is for viewing microscopic things so it needs glass slides. GreatScopes has ready-made, prepared slides available, and also has blank slide kits for preparing your own.  The PLUS kit is yours fee with the M1 purchase, or you can upgrade to the Super Kit for enough to last a good long time.

Free with your M1 Microscope! Online access to "25 Simple Slides in a Snap":

Want to hit the ground running with your new microscope? Buy one of the slide kits featured above and you'll be viewing microscopic specimens that YOU COLLECT in just minutes!

• Print these twenty-five labels on plain paper, glue them to the slides, and start collecting the samples - ALL of them easily found around the house. (You may want the Super Slide Kit to insure you have enough slides.)

• Bonus: fifteen more slide labels for specimens that are a little harder to collect - but we tell you how to find them.  You'll make 40 slides in all!

The M1 Microscope offers everything you could ever want in a student microscope. Taken care of, it will offer a lifetime of fun.  Why not order one today?

Looking for a better grade microscope with more features?  Check out our Revelation III.

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Phone Ordering

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• Purchase orders over $500 can be faxed to us at (800) 556-8270 for approval. Please prepay for purchases of $500 or less.

• We ship by UPS Ground. Shipping time estimates (subject to availability).

• In a hurry?  Give us a call, and we'll see what we can do.

• Shipping costs are higher to Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada.  Email us your zip code for rates.

• International Shipping available.  Click HERE for details.

• We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express, as well as PayPal, Checks, and Money Orders.

• Quantity Pricing is available.

• The M1 Microscopes retail for $529 to $579. Our everyday discount pricing saves you $150!