<Page>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.4





                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of Veeco Instruments Inc. of our report dated October 19,
1999 relating to the financial statements of CVC, Inc., which appears in Veeco
Instruments Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000.





PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Rochester, New York
March 8, 2002