Purchase Guide
How to Select a Microscope?
Your application is the most important factor in choosing a microscope. What you need to see and
what you want to do with that image will determine what kind of microscope you need. There are two
basic types of optical microscopes: high power and low power. High power microscopes can go up
to more than 1000X magnification power which are used to view the tiny objects that are hard to see
by your bare eyes, like the cells in a drop of blood. The compound microscopes used in clinic offices
and veterinary labs are examples of high power microscopes. Low power microscopes come with
magnification powers usually less than 100X that are used to look at the small objects you can see
by your bare eyes but can not get details. Stereo microscopes used in industry and dissecting
microscopes in hospitals are typical low power microscopes. If you need very high magnification to
view the internal structures of cells, you would most likely use a compound microscope. If you need to
examine solder joints on circuit boards or other relatively large objects, you would probably use a
stereo microscope. Within each of these applications, however, there can be far more demanding
requirements; a researcher studying the functions of neurons will require a far more sophisticated
instrument than a high school biology teacher introducing students to cellular structures for the first
time. If you have a very specific application, you may need a highly specialized microscope or special
accessories. With our wide range of microscopes and accessories we can help you configure an
instrument for almost any application.
Compound microscopes are what most people visualize when they think about microscopes. They
are available in monocular, binocular and trinocular formats. They have a number of objectives (the
lens closest to the object being viewed) of varying magnifications mounted in a rotating nosepiece.
Typically the range of magnification on a compound microscope is between 40X and 1600X, although
some are capable of higher or lower magnifications. Because only one objective is used at a time,
the viewer sees a two-dimensional image of the specimen. The image is usually reversed and
upside-down. For basic student microscopes used to learn science, refer to the Elementary, High
School or Monocular section; for advanced medical student microscopes refer to the University
section; for professional applications in a biological laboratory and clinic/vet office refer to the
Binocular or Trinocular section; for the specialty compound microscopes with special structure and
feature refer to Multi-View, Inverted, Darkfield, Phase Contrast, Fluorescence, Metallurgical, and
Polarizing sections in High Power Microscope group.
Unlike a compound microscope that offers a 2-dimensional image, stereo microscopes give the
viewer an erect (upright and unreversed) stereoscopic (3-dimensional) image. This is particularly
useful for biologists performing dissections, technicians repairing circuit boards, paleontologists
cleaning and examining fossils, Jewelry workers inspecting gemstones or diamonds, or anyone who
needs to work with their hands on small objects. Most stereo microscopes come with magnifications
from 7X to 45X. With the proper microscope and accessories, magnifications can be extended to from
3.5X to 90X, even further up to approaching 180X. For educational and hobby use refer to the
economy Fixed Power Stereo Microscopes. To customize and build a stereo microscopy system for
industrial, forensic or other high end stereo uses refer to the Zoom Power Stereo Microscopes, Boom
Microscope and/or Inspection Microscopes. These types of system will allow you to customize stands
and illumination systems for any type of application. We feature the Dissecting Microscopes and LED
Microscopes. These systems are designed for critical viewing for research, medical or other
advanced uses. For the stereo microscopes with special structure and feature refer to Articulating,
Jewelry/Gem and Coin Microscopes.
For many applications the ability to capture, display, and preserve specimen images is of equal or
greater importance than actually viewing the specimen through the eyepieces. Photomicrography
(35mm and other chemical formats) has been a common option on microscopes for decades, but
the recent development of relatively inexpensive USB digital cameras and CCD (charged couple
device) video has greatly increased both the popularity and flexibility of microscope imaging. Instead
of clicking through slides during a lecture, university professors can now display real-time video
images on projection televisions; petroleum geologists can e-mail images of core samples to their
laboratories from remote locations around the world; oncologists can refer to CD or on-line
catalogues of cell images to help them make faster and more accurate diagnoses. For USB digital
image and CCD video systems refer to "CCD, USB, Camera" section. The USB digital microscope
cameras in the section fit all kinds of microscopes in this store. For the compound and stereo
microscopes with an image/video system that capture microscope images and displays live video on
computer screens refer to Digital Microscope and Digital Scope sections, respectively.
There are many different methods for capturing, displaying, and recording microscope images, and
each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It would be impossible to cover all of these options
here but one basic piece of information will be important in selecting your microscope: While it is
possible to mount a camera on a monocular or binocular microscope (note: a binocular microscope
has two eyepieces, but is not necessarily a stereo microscope), it is far better to use a trinocular
microscope designed for camera work. Trinocular models have two eyepieces for normal viewing,
plus a third "photo tube" on which you can mount a camera without interfering with the normal
operation of the microscope. Trinocular microscopes are ideal for photo, digital or video applications.
Remember, depending upon your application additional components are required on your
microscope depending upon your use. Our friendly sales force can assist you in choosing the correct
items required.
Hopefully this brief outline will help you to determine which kind of microscope your application
requires. If you would like further information on any of these topics, or if you would like help in
choosing the right microscope for your application, simply contact us toll free at 1-888-950-2888 or
email us and our technical support and sales staff will be happy to help.
All of our microscopes come with five year warranty.
How to Select a Microscope?
Your application is the most important factor in choosing a microscope. What you need to see and
what you want to do with that image will determine what kind of microscope you need. There are two
basic types of optical microscopes: high power and low power. High power microscopes can go up
to more than 1000X magnification power which are used to view the tiny objects that are hard to see
by your bare eyes, like the cells in a drop of blood. The compound microscopes used in clinic offices
and veterinary labs are examples of high power microscopes. Low power microscopes come with
magnification powers usually less than 100X that are used to look at the small objects you can see
by your bare eyes but can not get details. Stereo microscopes used in industry and dissecting
microscopes in hospitals are typical low power microscopes. If you need very high magnification to
view the internal structures of cells, you would most likely use a compound microscope. If you need to
examine solder joints on circuit boards or other relatively large objects, you would probably use a
stereo microscope. Within each of these applications, however, there can be far more demanding
requirements; a researcher studying the functions of neurons will require a far more sophisticated
instrument than a high school biology teacher introducing students to cellular structures for the first
time. If you have a very specific application, you may need a highly specialized microscope or special
accessories. With our wide range of microscopes and accessories we can help you configure an
instrument for almost any application.
Compound microscopes are what most people visualize when they think about microscopes. They
are available in monocular, binocular and trinocular formats. They have a number of objectives (the
lens closest to the object being viewed) of varying magnifications mounted in a rotating nosepiece.
Typically the range of magnification on a compound microscope is between 40X and 1600X, although
some are capable of higher or lower magnifications. Because only one objective is used at a time,
the viewer sees a two-dimensional image of the specimen. The image is usually reversed and
upside-down. For basic student microscopes used to learn science, refer to the Elementary, High
School or Monocular section; for advanced medical student microscopes refer to the University
section; for professional applications in a biological laboratory and clinic/vet office refer to the
Binocular or Trinocular section; for the specialty compound microscopes with special structure and
feature refer to Multi-View, Inverted, Darkfield, Phase Contrast, Fluorescence, Metallurgical, and
Polarizing sections in High Power Microscope group.
Unlike a compound microscope that offers a 2-dimensional image, stereo microscopes give the
viewer an erect (upright and unreversed) stereoscopic (3-dimensional) image. This is particularly
useful for biologists performing dissections, technicians repairing circuit boards, paleontologists
cleaning and examining fossils, Jewelry workers inspecting gemstones or diamonds, or anyone who
needs to work with their hands on small objects. Most stereo microscopes come with magnifications
from 7X to 45X. With the proper microscope and accessories, magnifications can be extended to from
3.5X to 90X, even further up to approaching 180X. For educational and hobby use refer to the
economy Fixed Power Stereo Microscopes. To customize and build a stereo microscopy system for
industrial, forensic or other high end stereo uses refer to the Zoom Power Stereo Microscopes, Boom
Microscope and/or Inspection Microscopes. These types of system will allow you to customize stands
and illumination systems for any type of application. We feature the Dissecting Microscopes and LED
Microscopes. These systems are designed for critical viewing for research, medical or other
advanced uses. For the stereo microscopes with special structure and feature refer to Articulating,
Jewelry/Gem and Coin Microscopes.
For many applications the ability to capture, display, and preserve specimen images is of equal or
greater importance than actually viewing the specimen through the eyepieces. Photomicrography
(35mm and other chemical formats) has been a common option on microscopes for decades, but
the recent development of relatively inexpensive USB digital cameras and CCD (charged couple
device) video has greatly increased both the popularity and flexibility of microscope imaging. Instead
of clicking through slides during a lecture, university professors can now display real-time video
images on projection televisions; petroleum geologists can e-mail images of core samples to their
laboratories from remote locations around the world; oncologists can refer to CD or on-line
catalogues of cell images to help them make faster and more accurate diagnoses. For USB digital
image and CCD video systems refer to "CCD, USB, Camera" section. The USB digital microscope
cameras in the section fit all kinds of microscopes in this store. For the compound and stereo
microscopes with an image/video system that capture microscope images and displays live video on
computer screens refer to Digital Microscope and Digital Scope sections, respectively.
There are many different methods for capturing, displaying, and recording microscope images, and
each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It would be impossible to cover all of these options
here but one basic piece of information will be important in selecting your microscope: While it is
possible to mount a camera on a monocular or binocular microscope (note: a binocular microscope
has two eyepieces, but is not necessarily a stereo microscope), it is far better to use a trinocular
microscope designed for camera work. Trinocular models have two eyepieces for normal viewing,
plus a third "photo tube" on which you can mount a camera without interfering with the normal
operation of the microscope. Trinocular microscopes are ideal for photo, digital or video applications.
Remember, depending upon your application additional components are required on your
microscope depending upon your use. Our friendly sales force can assist you in choosing the correct
items required.
Hopefully this brief outline will help you to determine which kind of microscope your application
requires. If you would like further information on any of these topics, or if you would like help in
choosing the right microscope for your application, simply contact us toll free at 1-888-950-2888 or
email us and our technical support and sales staff will be happy to help.
All of our microscopes come with five year warranty.
AmScope.com
Purchase Guide
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