Phenix Optics BMC-302A Microscope Review

I had the pleasure of testing the first BMC series microscope to arrive in Europe. The model I was sent has 160mm conjugate achromatic optics. Both Plan and Infinity Plan options are available, and the binocular head also features a trinocular option. We'll examine the main components to provide an overall assessment. In the US market, its price is 617$ (€547 at the current exchange rate).

 

STRUCTURE

As is universally popular among all manufacturers, it is cast in a single piece of aluminum, a solution that guarantees long-lasting alignment. It is comfortable to use, with the controls located where your hands instinctively go. The overall weight is just under 6 kg, ensuring good stability.

 

 

The microscope comes with four optics containers, two filters, blue and green, and a screwdriver: the eyepieces are held in place with a grub screw.

The BMC-300 series is made up of 6 models differentiated as follows:

Lighting

Like almost all LED microscopes in this price range, the Phenix uses a 3W power supply. This is sufficient for using the optics up to 100X in bright field with well-prepared slides. I would have liked a couple more watts to make the most of the higher magnifications, even with relatively opaque subjects. It is undoubtedly better equipped than many competitors, which, in reality, begin to fall short at 40X. I believe that with a small modification, the leap in quality would be significant. The positive aspect is the complete absence of any flicker. Unfortunately, as is usual for this price range, it lacks the option of Kohler illumination.

 

Focusing

The focus has coaxial micro and macro controls with a good adjustment system for the rotational force on both knobs. It's precise and smooth, so much so that it doesn't make you miss the old metal systems.

 

Capacitor
The 300 series features an Abbe condenser with a 1.25 aperture, equipped with a diaphragm, which is easy to center and has good vertical excursion. Even without the Kohler system, it can be adjusted intuitively and easily.

 

Table
This is the component that amazed me the most: total absence of any play in both axes, orthogonality with the optical axis such as to always keep the sample perfectly in focus even at the extremities, the controls are very fluid and precise.

 

Optics
The kit includes four achromatic DIN objectives with the usual RMS thread: 4x at 0.1, 10x at 0.25, 40x at 0.65 with spring, and the 100x at 1.25 oil and obviously with spring, mounted on a mechanically well-built rotor. Not much else to say except that it offers good contrast and a remarkable flatness for optics that are not explicitly planar. The curvature begins to be noticeable near the edges but is contained enough to not be noticeable.

 

Just out of curiosity, a shot of the Navicula from Kemp's slide taken with the 40x.

Binocular head
The head is a classic Siedentopf inclined at 30°, supplied with two pairs of eyepieces, 10×20 and 16×15, wide angle and high pupil with 30mm diameter.

 

 

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

As with all things, a proper evaluation must take into account the purchase price, which, in the US market, is 617$ (at the current exchange rate, €547). There's no point in me making comparisons; just search online for a microscope with similar features and you can draw your own conclusions. 

The components I appreciated most were the stage and the focuser. In my opinion, these are essential components for a relaxing observation. Having difficulty framing a subject and loose or poorly geared focusers are enough to make using any microscope unpleasant. Unlike the optics, they cannot be replaced without getting rid of the entire instrument.

Let's not be tempted to make comparisons with vintage models, because on paper, any current microscope, even a mid-to-high-end one, would be in shambles. The reality, however, is often quite different: no support, spare parts must be sourced from online vendors, initial maintenance often difficult or impossible for inexperienced users and too expensive if performed by a specialized laboratory. Not to mention that every purchase is a gamble: fungus, delamination, and damaged bodies impossible to align. Furthermore, the user is very different: vintage enthusiasts want an instrument, while those seeking new ones want to observe.

The question is: is this microscope attractive? And for whom? I believe the series in question (possibly the models with Infinity optics for those who want to follow the most popular system) is very well suited even for semi-professional use if limited to brightfield or as a first microscope for those who want to approach microscopy with a ready-made product at an affordable price. It is obvious that, as with all brands, wanting to use more sophisticated techniques such as fluorescence or darkfield will require replacing the entire microscope.

Unfortunately, the binocular head did not allow me to take any decent images, my adapters cannot be mounted on eyepieces, I had to settle for an old camera with an optic that was also not very suitable.

 

THANKS

THANKS

Thanks to Dr. Renata Specht and Phenix Optics for allowing me to write down my impressions of this interesting microscope, without any restrictions.

 

DISCLAIMER

Binomania is not a store. On this website, you will only find reviews of sports, photographic, and astronomical optical products. Salimbeni and any collaborators involved are impartial, as is the duty of any journalist, and we do not receive any percentage of sales on any product purchases. For this reason, if you would like to purchase or have information on any price changes or new products, I recommend visiting the official website. Phenix Optical Co. Ltd, By clicking on the banner, which is the only form of advertising in this article. Thank you!

 

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