<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