Binocular Microscope for Owl Pellets

[Roger P]

I've been using a borrowed binocular / stereo microscope to analyse the contents of owl pellets. The owner has to have it back very soon. I'm thinking of buying my own. Can anybody make any suggestions as to what make / model I should look at?

[Cactusdave]

Depends on your budget. Bresser make a range starting around £200. Brunel microscopes also have a good range. Check out Ebay and Brunel's website. http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/stereo-tour.html

[etudiant]

The small Zeiss 8x20s make a fine stereo microscope. Zeiss offers(ed) a stand which allowed for hands free operation, which is sometimes sold on Ebay for about $100.
Presumably any similar binocular would work as well.

[Chris Oates]

The small Zeiss 8x20s make a fine stereo microscope. Zeiss offers(ed) a stand which allowed for hands free operation, which is sometimes sold on Ebay for about $100.
Presumably any similar binocular would work as well.

Pentax Papilios'

[cheersm8]

Just an addition to this thread.
Anybody deciding to 'have a go' at the owl pellet thing, my advice is to always, pick the pellets apart under water! This will safeguard you breathing in fungal spores that could be harmful.

[Roger P]

Thanks all, although I'm probably even more confused at the range of possibilities.

Thank cheersm8, I always soak the pellets and dissect them underwater, I think you can do the job more thoroughly but hadn't thought about spores. Lighting / reflections can be difficult though.

Any one use a particlar 'scope they'd recommend?