Wild Stereo Microscopes


Models available on the Used Market and Expected Cost


Wild Stereo Microscopes are now manufactured under Leica Microsystems and the newer models are now simply brand-marked as Leica microscopes.

Leica is a market leader in the fields of microscopy, microscope software, confocal laser scanning, specimen preparation and medical equipment.



Wild History

Wild entered the stereo microscope market in 1958 with the Wild M5 and quickly followed with the Wild M4 in 1959.

Today, Wild microscopes are among the world’s finest microscopy instruments, with several models of stereo microscopes added by Wild since their beginning.

The year 1972 was the starting point of cooperation between Leitz Wetzlar and Wild Heerbrugg and now development is solely under the Leica brand.


Wild Models

With Wild stereo microscopes, you examine specimens independently by both eyes, each from its own angle. This is similar to a pair of binoculars, or to a pair of independent compound light microscopes, which have been set side by side at a 15° converging angle.

The following is a list of stereo microscopes that were manufactured by Wild that cover the spectrum of uses and applications for this type of microscope:

  • Wild M5 Stereomicroscope for Transmitted Light
  • Wild M5A Stereomicroscope for Incident Light
  • Wild M5A APO Stereomicroscope for Transmitted Light
  • Wild M7S Stereomicroscope for Incident Light
  • Wild M8 for Transmitted Light Brightfield & Darkfield
  • Wild M3Z Zoom Stereomicroscope with Oblique Tilt for Two Observers
  • Wild M3Z Zoom Stereomicroscope for Transmitted Light
  • Wild M8 Stereomicroscope for Imaging in Transmitted Light
  • Wild M420 Makroskop Zoom Stereo Microscope - Trinocular

The universal M5 stereo microscope is still very much in demand on the used market. Users claim that having a Wild microscope in their lab has left them feeling spoilt. It is known for its world-class performance.

The issue now might be, do you stay with the older Wild microscope or do you look to a newer microscope and begin to make comparisons with the other major manufacturers like Nikon, Olympus and Zeiss?

Some people swear by Nikon and find Zeiss scopes too expensive but if you are still enjoying your Wild stereo then by all means why change? They live up to their reputation as being serious work-horses.


Wild Advantages

Users often refer to the Wild Stereo Microscope, a laboratory and research tool based on a concept of modular design, as the finest microscope in the world.

Some of the advantages are:

  • Rapid interchangeability of parts
  • Attractive appearance of the instrument
  • Bright field/dark field style
  • Phase contrast
  • Images easily recorded with a variety of attachable micro reproduction equipment

Ultimately, stereo microscopes from Wild are recognized models designed for markets such as industrial inspection and life science research.


Wild Disadvantages

One of the major disadvantages of stereo microscopes is the lack of ability to interchange parts when needed. For customer ease and speed, there are several independent companies that can be found on the web offering Wild microscope parts.

Ask the proper questions to be sure you are getting what you need.

Many Wild microscopes are rebuilt and proper alignment needs to be verified. If it has been refurbished, your next question should be if its original quality or function have been impaired in any way.

Considered the best stereo manufacturer, the only real disadvantage for Wild is the high value of its stereo microscopes, which matches its reputation.

The main point here is that you as the consumer can still find a good wild stereo microscope but be prepared for the price. Just be sure that it has been serviced by an authorized microscope technician and is in excellent condition and working order.




Wild Cost

The cost varies according to current condition but in excellent working order, a used Wild M5 asking price can be expected at around $800 USD and a Wild M420 Makroskop Zoom Stereo Microscope sells for around $3500 USD.

As stated previously, Wild Stereo Microscopes have a solid reputation to match the prices seen on the used microscope market.

When searching for stereo microscopes to purchase, always take into account these important features:

  • Easy to maintain and repair
  • Available replacement parts (sometimes used parts can be found on ebay-you will have to do your research)
  • Good residual value in used equipment

Wild stereo microscopes are used in almost every modern industry. These features and more are found in the entire line of microscopes and related products manufactured by Leica.

See also: Bausch and Lomb Stereo Microscopes

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