Thank you very much for this thorough review and the comments it inspired. It seems to me the problems are less a matter of design than they are just sloppy assembly practices.
Some of those problems are the same as with my cheaper one. Yours is still better than mine, but when I get a chance to actually budget for one, I want to make a good choice. Thank you for the information.
The objectives may not line up with the condenser because the nosepiece was not lined up properly when you tightened it. If you can loosen the nosepiece and rotate it so the objective lines up with condenser lens and then re-tighten the nosepiece, you should be able to fix the problem. Right now you are getting vignetting due to misalignment of the nosepiece. If this brand new, I would have returned it.
Thanks, it's a good advice for the future. I fixed the alignment in another way and it worked perfectly fine. Now I have upgraded a bit and working on getting the camera mounting unit on place.
Hi good work man, I just got one yesterday, and although mine didn’t have any of the same problems yours did, it had its own unique ones. The spring arm that holds the glass slide in place is sitting up off the table by 5mm so it completely misses the slide and doesn’t hold it. When I push it down to make the contact and release it, it raises the slide off the table to that 5mm level it sits at. I may have to try to bend it permanently. Annoying! Secondly my eyepiece adjustments are loose, so that when I open them out to suit my eyes, gravity pulls them back down to be closer together. I’m not sure what a jump in quality of microscope would cost, but I have to say despite these two things I’ve had hours and hours of fun already and it’s hard not to enjoy. Skål :)
Awesome! Thanks for sharing the defects with your microscope! It will definitely help people! I have tried to see if the two screws on both sides of the eye pieces could tighten them up but it does not seem to be the case. I assume the top plastic case with IX marks might cover some important adjustment bolts.
A good microscope will have centering screws for the condenser. There was a mention of three "bolts" holding the condenser. Maybe they can be adjusted to center the condenser. The other defects are unacceptable.
The screws were on the plastic plate, so the way I fixed it is by widening the holes and make the condenser loose a bit with the ability to tighten it on the right position
@@snorman1951 yes, the microscope is now working like a charm! I also fixed a good phone holder so the videos also have great quality. Very happy for the purchase overall :)
The problem with Swift microscopes is that they are a Chinese manufacturer, only 15 years old. Makes a short production run, and 😊makes it obsolete with the next model. There is no distribution network no product support, and replacement parts are unavailable.
I'm in Canada and there aren't many good options for microscopes without having to pay crazy expensive shipping fees from other countries, whereas this microscope is convenient on Amazon, despite these problems would anyone still recommend it?
i'd for sure recommend it as a first microscope. Please note that my case is exceptional, and the video is more or less to share ideas how to fix the issues.
Thanks for sharing this! I had the same problems! The objective holder of the lens are loose and misalign the lens. How did you fix this? Which screws did you tightened?
Hi mate, i guess it's the entire objective holder/the mocroscope head that is loose - so you might want to tighten the screws that are somewhat hidden and would tighten it toward the mocroscope body, maybe you can point out the time on the video where I am mentioning the same issue, so I understand better where it is
Located in Canada here, I have been having a hard time figuring out what would be the next step up from the readily available SWIFT SW380T and where I could find other options?
that's a good question! I went up to the zeiss axioskop 40 which is the old (like from 2000 ish) lab grade microscope that I was able to get for about 1000 usd and than upgraded to axio imager z1. But that is a big jump in the technology and cost. So i'd say check the ebay for any of those items and contact sellers, they might offer you 50% discount form the listing price if you ask nicely (like I did =) Or if you have the financing and you don't like the DIY than the new axio lab series might be something ? And sorry that I am only going the zeiss way now It's just because i recently got few extra zeiss microscopes that I am exploring now and maybe will sell one of them.
I actually managed to fix it all myself. Some deep teardown was required bit it went well. it's a relatively simple microscope. Now it's replaced by zeiss and that one is a big step up
It’s unlikely that it was dropped on the floor as the adjusting knob had no visible plastic defects (assuming it was dropped on the side) . And the adjusting rod was bent inside the microscope. I would rather assume the assembly was done from weird parts or some leftovers and it did not go through the quality control. Now, I don’t know what is the percentage of such devices , it might be pretty low hopefully.
This is very good! The idea is to create awareness, so that people check their unit before buying it. So one knows what issues might be there. At this point in time, I have fixed all of the issues and happily used it. In fact, I have just upgraded to Zeiss axioskop 40 and will sell my good faithful SW380T
Если качество картинки хорошее, то все эти недостатки можно исправить. Скажу честно, по началу я хотел себе купить этот микроскоп SW 380T. Но вдруг увидел на рынке Swift Stellar 1. Пока выбирал один из двух, на рынке появился новый Swift Stellar 1 Pro Infinity. Я тут же купил себе Swift Infinity. Он немного дороже этих моделей но я об этом даже не жалею. Не зря потратил деньги. И вот теперь смотрю этот ролик и понимаю что чуть не совершил ошибку, если б я купил именно SW380T!!!
Happy that it helped you make a better choice! What was the proce for the Stellar Pro ? I could not find it in sweden. Does it also come with the trinocular head ? And what do you think are the main advantages of the stellar versus this one ? Apppreciate your comment!
@@manCaveSweden Да, тринокуляр тоже имеется. Преимущество наверное в бесконечности и в план обективах. Да и головка тринокуляра не такая шаткая как у SW 380T. И дизайн по солиднее. Я живу в Германии и покупал его здесь же. Без проблем.
I've read about so many people having issues with this scope, it seems hit or miss whether you will get a fully functioning model which is a terrible business set up. Thanks for the video but I'd rather pay extra for a scope that will just work as it is supposed to without having to fix it right out of the box.
dont think that i was scammed, I think it might have been the unit that maybe was taken off the line to fix the quality issues, and than sold without treating those defects
i know man, this was one of my first videos =) sorry for that. Now I have a bit better studio setup. For example check this one th-cam.com/video/H6yM7T0e2qc/w-d-xo.html
hello and very thanx for this superbe vidéo :-) sorry but i got a little question •_• i think i gonna buy this one .. ok :-) but › you think it's compatible with my LUMIX GH4 aparel photo ??? i dont understund if it ok :/ thanx alot .. if someone got link or answer it's top :-D thanx !! from france
I had a similar question. I have Canon Mark II. I know for sure, that there are the adapter rings that work for my camera and I am sure there are adapters for Lumix cameras as well. THey might be expensive though. So maybe before buying it try googling "lumix adapter for microscope" and see what are the price ranges there. Otherwise, a phone adapter will do the basic work for you as well.
@@jwstore7558 :-) thanx alot !!! i got it now :D so wonderfull !!! thanx alot of what you do .. but just a little last question please •_•. .. i got SONY a6000 and right now i looking the GOOD adaptator to connect this camera on my new super swift •_•. .. i really search the good connector .. you got a link to buy it please ??? and also .. i don't have black filter :'( you got to ?? i gonna buy everything :-D. thanxxxx for all !!!
@@manCaveSweden Thank you. I already have a SW380T, but I can't find a 60 eyepiece anywhere. I would like to buy another one, but I can't find one. I'm just learning and maybe someone will give me some directions. I know someone had such an ocular, but I don't know if it's from the same company or if there are other ones that fit. I tried: WF60X eyepieces (23mm) -I guess it is 23mm., but cant find
Thanks for the question! I actually had to do some reading and checking on the microscope to answer this one. And yes, it’s certainly parfocal. The default objectives are well adjusted from the factory so they can be changes without further re-focusing
@@manCaveSweden I assumed from the twisted/bent arm the gears/controls inside too have been shift with it, straightening it may fix all issues, either mount it in a vice or have a friend hold one end and twist a little, til the light matches the optics
Thank you very much for this thorough review and the comments it inspired. It seems to me the problems are less a matter of design than they are just sloppy assembly practices.
totally agree! and its possib;e to fix them, all =)
bought from eBay official store, more cost-effective, www.ebay.com/itm/304084210900
Some of those problems are the same as with my cheaper one. Yours is still better than mine, but when I get a chance to actually budget for one, I want to make a good choice. Thank you for the information.
any time mate! Which one do you currently own and would you recommend it for someone ?
i have one since a year it's been fantastic
I agree! Its very nice when tuned up properly
bought from eBay official store, more cost-effective, www.ebay.com/itm/304084210900
The objectives may not line up with the condenser because the nosepiece was not lined up properly when you tightened it. If you can loosen the nosepiece and rotate it so the objective lines up with condenser lens and then re-tighten the nosepiece, you should be able to fix the problem. Right now you are getting vignetting due to misalignment of the nosepiece. If this brand new, I would have returned it.
Thanks, it's a good advice for the future. I fixed the alignment in another way and it worked perfectly fine. Now I have upgraded a bit and working on getting the camera mounting unit on place.
Hi good work man,
I just got one yesterday, and although mine didn’t have any of the same problems yours did, it had its own unique ones.
The spring arm that holds the glass slide in place is sitting up off the table by 5mm so it completely misses the slide and doesn’t hold it. When I push it down to make the contact and release it, it raises the slide off the table to that 5mm level it sits at. I may have to try to bend it permanently. Annoying!
Secondly my eyepiece adjustments are loose, so that when I open them out to suit my eyes, gravity pulls them back down to be closer together.
I’m not sure what a jump in quality of microscope would cost, but I have to say despite these two things I’ve had hours and hours of fun already and it’s hard not to enjoy.
Skål :)
Awesome! Thanks for sharing the defects with your microscope! It will definitely help people!
I have tried to see if the two screws on both sides of the eye pieces could tighten them up but it does not seem to be the case. I assume the top plastic case with IX marks might cover some important adjustment bolts.
bought from eBay official store, more cost-effective, www.ebay.com/itm/304084210900
@@jwstore7558 indeed! Thanks for the direct link. Is there a possibility to do my affiliate link ?
A good microscope will have centering screws for the condenser. There was a mention of three "bolts" holding the condenser. Maybe they can be adjusted to center the condenser. The other defects are unacceptable.
The screws were on the plastic plate, so the way I fixed it is by widening the holes and make the condenser loose a bit with the ability to tighten it on the right position
@@manCaveSweden Alright! Sometimes you just have to improvise or modify. I'm glad you fixed that problem at least.
@@snorman1951 yes, the microscope is now working like a charm! I also fixed a good phone holder so the videos also have great quality. Very happy for the purchase overall :)
The problem with Swift microscopes is that they are a Chinese manufacturer, only 15 years old. Makes a short production run, and 😊makes it obsolete with the next model. There is no distribution network no product support, and replacement parts are unavailable.
which one would you recommend to buy as a beginner microscope ?
I'm in Canada and there aren't many good options for microscopes without having to pay crazy expensive shipping fees from other countries, whereas this microscope is convenient on Amazon, despite these problems would anyone still recommend it?
i'd for sure recommend it as a first microscope. Please note that my case is exceptional, and the video is more or less to share ideas how to fix the issues.
Thanks for sharing this! I had the same problems! The objective holder of the lens are loose and misalign the lens. How did you fix this? Which screws did you tightened?
Hi mate, i guess it's the entire objective holder/the mocroscope head that is loose - so you might want to tighten the screws that are somewhat hidden and would tighten it toward the mocroscope body, maybe you can point out the time on the video where I am mentioning the same issue, so I understand better where it is
Good review
Located in Canada here, I have been having a hard time figuring out what would be the next step up from the readily available SWIFT SW380T and where I could find other options?
that's a good question! I went up to the zeiss axioskop 40 which is the old (like from 2000 ish) lab grade microscope that I was able to get for about 1000 usd and than upgraded to axio imager z1. But that is a big jump in the technology and cost. So i'd say check the ebay for any of those items and contact sellers, they might offer you 50% discount form the listing price if you ask nicely (like I did =) Or if you have the financing and you don't like the DIY than the new axio lab series might be something ?
And sorry that I am only going the zeiss way now It's just because i recently got few extra zeiss microscopes that I am exploring now and maybe will sell one of them.
Notify Swift, their OK people. My 380T has had no issues.
I actually managed to fix it all myself. Some deep teardown was required bit it went well. it's a relatively simple microscope. Now it's replaced by zeiss and that one is a big step up
Hi, mine also don't got this issues
Hope that it will stay this way! Where did you buy yours ?
I would return it and get another one and if that has the same issues just return it and get a different model.
I got lucky the second time!
Nån måste ju tappat den i golvet eller nått? Jag var precis på väg att beställa en. Tack för varningen!
It’s unlikely that it was dropped on the floor as the adjusting knob had no visible plastic defects (assuming it was dropped on the side) . And the adjusting rod was bent inside the microscope. I would rather assume the assembly was done from weird parts or some leftovers and it did not go through the quality control. Now, I don’t know what is the percentage of such devices , it might be pretty low hopefully.
bought from eBay official store, more cost-effective, www.ebay.com/itm/304084210900
I have that scope and do not have any of those issues with mine.
This is very good! The idea is to create awareness, so that people check their unit before buying it. So one knows what issues might be there. At this point in time, I have fixed all of the issues and happily used it. In fact, I have just upgraded to Zeiss axioskop 40 and will sell my good faithful SW380T
@@Alongfortheride693 That is awesome. It was relatively easy to fix all of them, and that is done by now. So I am a happy camper =)
Если качество картинки хорошее, то все эти недостатки можно исправить.
Скажу честно, по началу я хотел себе купить этот микроскоп SW 380T. Но вдруг увидел на рынке Swift Stellar 1. Пока выбирал один из двух, на рынке появился новый Swift Stellar 1 Pro Infinity. Я тут же купил себе Swift Infinity. Он немного дороже этих моделей но я об этом даже не жалею. Не зря потратил деньги.
И вот теперь смотрю этот ролик и понимаю что чуть не совершил ошибку, если б я купил именно SW380T!!!
Happy that it helped you make a better choice! What was the proce for the Stellar Pro ? I could not find it in sweden. Does it also come with the trinocular head ?
And what do you think are the main advantages of the stellar versus this one ? Apppreciate your comment!
@@manCaveSweden Да, тринокуляр тоже имеется. Преимущество наверное в бесконечности и в план обективах. Да и головка тринокуляра не такая шаткая как у SW 380T. И дизайн по солиднее.
Я живу в Германии и покупал его здесь же. Без проблем.
I've read about so many people having issues with this scope, it seems hit or miss whether you will get a fully functioning model which is a terrible business set up. Thanks for the video but I'd rather pay extra for a scope that will just work as it is supposed to without having to fix it right out of the box.
I bought one of these 4 days ago, and it's PERFECT in every way. Maybe you bought a cheap copy. Maybe you were SCAMMED
dont think that i was scammed, I think it might have been the unit that maybe was taken off the line to fix the quality issues, and than sold without treating those defects
You might want to do some fixes on your microphone. It has a major issue because we can barely hear you.
i know man, this was one of my first videos =) sorry for that. Now I have a bit better studio setup.
For example check this one th-cam.com/video/H6yM7T0e2qc/w-d-xo.html
I got mine and my binocular tube gave me double vision. I think something with the prisms inside it i wrong.
It might happen if they drop it while it's on the box .
hello and very thanx for this superbe vidéo :-) sorry but i got a little question •_• i think i gonna buy this one .. ok :-) but › you think it's compatible with my LUMIX GH4 aparel photo ??? i dont understund if it ok :/ thanx alot .. if someone got link or answer it's top :-D thanx !! from france
I had a similar question. I have Canon Mark II. I know for sure, that there are the adapter rings that work for my camera and I am sure there are adapters for Lumix cameras as well. THey might be expensive though. So maybe before buying it try googling "lumix adapter for microscope" and see what are the price ranges there. Otherwise, a phone adapter will do the basic work for you as well.
@@manCaveSweden :-° ok.. thanxxxxx very much and hello from france :-) thanxxxx !! really
@@perdresontemps3560 any time mate!
bought from eBay official store, more cost-effective, www.ebay.com/itm/304084210900
@@jwstore7558 :-) thanx alot !!! i got it now :D so wonderfull !!! thanx alot of what you do .. but just a little last question please •_•. .. i got SONY a6000 and right now i looking the GOOD adaptator to connect this camera on my new super swift •_•. .. i really search the good connector .. you got a link to buy it please ??? and also .. i don't have black filter :'( you got to ?? i gonna buy everything :-D. thanxxxx for all !!!
SW380T or SW380B?
That's a trinocular version, so T.
@@manCaveSweden Thank you. I already have a SW380T, but I can't find a 60 eyepiece anywhere. I would like to buy another one, but I can't find one. I'm just learning and maybe someone will give me some directions. I know someone had such an ocular, but I don't know if it's from the same company or if there are other ones that fit.
I tried: WF60X eyepieces (23mm) -I guess it is 23mm.,
but cant find
@@mijang3394 60x are quite rare. I got mine from ebay. They can cost same money as the microscop itself.
Especially for my current microscope.
and it has to be an objective, not an eyepiece.
Is this microscope parfocal
Thanks for the question! I actually had to do some reading and checking on the microscope to answer this one. And yes, it’s certainly parfocal. The default objectives are well adjusted from the factory so they can be changes without further re-focusing
It's called bad shipping lol
I agree. but on the other hand, how could bad shipping bend the focusing axis inside the microscope, without any visual damage on the outer part ?
@@manCaveSweden I assumed from the twisted/bent arm the gears/controls inside too have been shift with it, straightening it may fix all issues, either mount it in a vice or have a friend hold one end and twist a little, til the light matches the optics
@@KavorkaDesigns yup! that's more or less what I did. I also used a super precise device called hammer -)
v
A !