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The first snowflakes were falling through the mists of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park as I packed my field microscope and latched on my cross-country skis. The heavy winter snow had come and only a short stretch of the north highway was open. I hunt small game. With a Swift FM-31 I carry in my backpack. The Swift field microscope is a compact inverted microscope with long focal length objectives. I started with a bright field configuration about 10-years ago, but recently retrofit to a phase contrast condenser and objectives. It comes with a leather case for the microscope. With achromatic par focal lenses, the Swift is of quality comparable to the better student microscopes.
The mechanical stage has a spring caliper to hold a standard slide. The Swift suffers from the problem all portable microscopes and many lab microscopes - insufficient lighting. Turning the top-mounted condenser toward the sun provides excellent lighting for all high powers, even with phase contrast. The leather case is nice, but I do not use it. Fully loaded with microscope and pocket lab, it weighs about 4-lb. In this case my microscope has survived airplane luggage handlers, falls, and grandchildren. My pocket laboratory has changed over the years. At various times I have tried other tools, some were discarded and some have been useful. I have added a length of plastic tubing to extend the reach of the pipettes.
The interesting stuff in a sample is usually rare, tiny pebbles and silt is not rare. I have tried a small battery-powered centrifuge and filters. I have faithfully carried a razor blade and forceps for years, but almost never used them. I never go out without a pocket full of small, screw-cap tubes for collecting. I carry neutral red vital stain, but rarely use it. The first compromise is portability, and it exacts a severe penalty. A small turret means fewer objectives with nonstandard threads. The second compromise is cost. A specialty instrument with a small scale of production means high costs. The field is smaller. So, is it worth it to have an extra, rather expensive, slightly inferior microscope for the field? I think it is. Without a field microscope, I can only observe samples brought back to the laboratory.
Observation from any site more than a day away from my home would be sharply limited. Rather than describe alternative portable microscopes, either antique or still available, I will direct you to the Microscopy UK Article Library and to Tony Saunders-Davies’ description of a home-modified Meopta portable microscope kit on the Quekett Microscopy Club website. Yellowstone National Park is south of Boseman. If one is willing to ski in or to take the slow Canadian-designed ski-tractors, you can see Yellowstone in winter without the hoards of tourists that come in the summer. Geysers tend to be crowded, even in winter. The hot springs are the most fertile grounds for the field microscope.
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