The Apex Researcher Microscope

I purchased this microscope just a few days before attending a microscope workshop. This event was a serious workshop where professional botanists gathered with their equally professional (and very expensive) microscopes. During the workshop we were encouraged to examine identical specimens down at the cellular level. Some feature were very difficult to identify but my microscope seemed to perform very well with very clear images. On several occasions I was able to carry out direct comparison of the optical quality of my (reasonably priced) microscope and some very, very expensive microscopes. I was amazed and very please to see that my microscope performed just as well as the much more professional machines. I had considered returning this microscope but have changed my mind completely. The quality of this microscope is excellent and I am looking forward to many years of reliable and consistent results. I purchased the snapper attachment for this microscope but have still to obtain the clarity of photographs that I need but I will persevere. As an update, I have reluctantly returned the microscope but not for any issues around quality around the microscope, which is excellent, but more about the clarity of images captured via the Snapper attachment. The images captured are very good but I was unable to record the level of detail that I needed. It has to be said that the customer support has been just tremendous and has gone well beyond that required with the lady from Apex going out of her way to try to help. I am going to rethink my needs and requirements but would thoroughly recommend Apex Microscopes as a first point of call to anyone considering the purchase of a microscope. I certainly will be using this company and its sister company (Brunel) in the future.

This microscope is very solidly built from metal and is initially very impressive for the money. The mechanical stage functions marvelously; it is very smooth in operation and greatly assists viewing slides (have you ever tried moving a slide yourself under high magnification? Its a nightmare!). The optics are also fantastic for the money- very sharp. Four objectives are provided (4x, 10x, 40x and 100x) and two sets of oculars (10x and 20x) so the magnification possible ranges from 40x to 2,000x. Immersion oil is provided so that you can get a sharp image using the 100x objective. This is normal and to do with the laws of physics- so all microscopes will require this at this level of magnification. The binocular head is great; very easy to use and both eye pieces have a diopter so folk who need glasses can use it no probs- even if each eye has differing levels of visual impairment. The scope comes with a cover to keep it dust free when not in use (this is really important- dust in the optics is very annoying- especially when it is all magnified 1,000 times!) The scope has an internal rechargeable battery so that the light source can be used without a cable; which is handier than one might think. So why only three stars? Essentially- its do with the illumination system. The scope employs a LED light source with an iris diaphragm and condenser. This allows "Nelsonian" or "critical" illumination (look it up!). The LED is fine and provides plenty of light. However; for optimum results, the light source, iris diaphragm and condenser have to be well aligned with the objectives. Sadly, on the scope I received they were not properly aligned- as shown in the picture I uploaded. I sent this picture to Apex to demonstrate the problem. The lady on support tried to be helpful (she was lovely) and asked her "technical person" about the issue. I was told that I had to open the diaphragm; the technical team obviously thought that I was complaining that the entire field of view was not lit (which is the case in the picture I took) and told me to open the diaphragm. I knew that! I closed the diaphragm only to obviate the misalignment. Many microscopes come with screws to align the diaphragm and condenser. Sadly, this one does not, letting down an otherwise excellent microscope for the money. It could be that this is a one-off and other scopes in the Apex range are perfectly aligned- but I sent this one back and did not order another one; so I don't know. You can still achieve very impressive results in spite of this fault. However, as the scope is advertised as being suitable for serious lab use, I really feel that is should not suffer from this problem. If I could give it 3.5 stars I would. UPDATE to review- following the return of the microscope, and BEFORE becoming aware of this review, Apex got in touch and offered to hand pick me a scope which is perfectly aligned. However, by this time, I had already ordered one from a different manufacturer. For brilliant customer service, I have upgraded to four stars.

First off, I got really good advice from Apex and the related Brunel Microscopes. I'd used a university binocular compound on a course and was keen to carry on at home, but I was fretting about the cost. Then I saw this and wow, I wasn't disappointed. I've used it at up to 400x and the image is crisp, contrasty and colourful with a decent field of view. Bear in mind this isn't an optical benchmarking test, just a bloke with a pair of mediocre eyes, not much experience, relying on memory but I couldn't say I was missing out on anything in the viewing department by comparison to the kit I'd been using at the uni. I tried a slide I'd prepared on the course, of dividing cells stained with aceto orcein, and clearly saw the stages of mitosis at 400x. Did the cheek cell thing, stopped down the diaphragm a bit and got a nice view of membrane, nucleus and definite detail in the cytoplasm. A big big bonus on this one is the range of independent focus for the eye pieces. My eyes are more than a diopter apart and it was a joy to use an optical device without wearing glasses. Should you buy it? Well if you want a budget introduction to high power compound microscopes and you want a binocular head but no nasty surprises, this is brilliant. If you've a bit more money in the kitty though, look at their "scholar". You might prefer to spend the extra for cooler, whiter more controllable lighting and a third tube to take DSLR shots at prime focus (with the right adapter kit)? But me? I'm chuffed to bits with this one.