Asked by alybarrett65 ·July 24, 2022 ·15.1k readers

Konus microscope?

Hello, My mother owns a specialty educational toy store in Helena, MT. She has offered to buy me a microscope from Konus- https://www.konus.com/en/Catalogue/Scienza/Microscopes/Biological/INFINITY/ since she can purchase wholesale. Can someone recommend one of these? I'm very interested in soil regeneration and would like to eventually be a soil consultant. Thanks!! Aly Barrett Missoula, Montana

microscope

From the KNF library

From the KNF library Drafted by Claude from Office Hours and the books · Sep 2026 · 4 sources

The library never mentions Konus, so this covers what to look for, not a model.

Aim for 400x. Drake works at 20x up to 400x, and says that is enough for biological analysis. (Office Hours Ep. 11, 1:07:01) The Pure KNF Manual likewise names a microscope that reaches 400x as the key. (Pure KNF Manual, p. 63)
Skip the higher powers. Drake says going to 1,000x and beyond is not much more beneficial, and it means using oil. (Office Hours Ep. 11, 1:07:01)
Get a stage you can move. Drake says that lets you scan slides quickly. (Office Hours Ep. 11, 1:07:01)
Drake says you can buy a microscope for about 500 and learn on it. (Office Hours Ep. 5, 55:02)

To learn the method, Drake has Elaine Ingham's full course on his YouTube channel. Look for Ingham Common Ground 2012. (Office Hours Ep. 5, 55:02) The manual says to dilute your soil samples and look for beneficial fungus wider than 3.5 micrometers and darker brown. (Pure KNF Manual, p. 63) Drake calls the microscope an introduction to the invisible world. (Office Hours Ep. 4, 18:01)

Sources

55:02 Office Hours Ep. 5 (Oct 2021) — Water-Soluble Calcium Taste Test, Cold Tolerance, Volcanic Ash · “you can also buy a microscope uh like about 500 and learn”
18:01 Office Hours Ep. 4 (Oct 2021) — IMO1-4 Explained, Pig Pen Roof Design, Mold on IMO2 · “the microscope is an introduction to the invisible world”
1:07:01 Office Hours Ep. 11 (Nov 2021) — Fish Amino Acid vs Hydrolysate, IMO Heat, Seed Soak Storage · “20 times up to 400 times and that's enough to do my um my biological analysis”
p. 63 Pure KNF Manual · “The key is to have a microscope capable of looking 400x and consistently diluting your soil samples to conduct easy visual analysis.”

Also discussed on Office Hours

Ep. 40· Jul 24, 2022 ·15 questions answered

18:58 …and getting a microscope to verify that your substrates are working um and the other solution…

lab imo imo3 imo4 disgustingly cheap microbes maintenance solution

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Konus microscope?

From the KNF library

Also discussed on Office Hours

Soil Compaction, Seawater Drench, IMO3 Microscope

IMO1-4 Explained, Pig Pen Roof Design, Mold on IMO2

IMO4 Pig Feed, LAB Without Milk, Disgustingly Cheap Microbes