Which Microscope Should I Buy?

There are now three different options when buying a microscope
1. Traditional microscopes, including stereo and compound biological microscopes.
2. Digital microscopes
3. Traditional microscopes with digital eye attachments that give you the best of both worlds

The first consideration is what you want to use the microscope for. The second thing to consider is your skill level. Some microscopes are easier to use than others.


Traditional microscopes

There are two kinds of traditional microscopes: stereo, or compound biological microscopes and each is used for a different purpose.

1. Compound microscopes include Binocular and Monocular. They have high magnification up to 1000 X (sometimes as high as 2000X) and are used to examine microscope slides, which have a very thin specimen on them. Light passes through the specimen and is viewed in the eyepiece of the microscope.

You can buy specially prepared slides, or prepare them yourself. One of the most common slide preparations is onion scrapings, which are placed on the slide and the onion cells can be clearly viewed. Monocular microscopes are easier to use but binocular microscopes are better if you are spending a long time looking into the eye piece. 		Binocular Microscope
2. Stereo microscopes are low magnification normally 20X and 40X. They are used to look at macro objects such as insects, leaves and rocks.
They are also sometimes called dissection microscopes and can be used when making dissections, doing fine jewellery work etc.

Both types are used in secondary schools. Stereo microscopes are more common in primary schools.		 Stereo Microscope 

Digital microscopes

Digital microscopes are used in industry for forensic work, to examine soldering or joins, textiles, skin lesions etc and the advantage is that you can save the images to a computer so that you can compare changes over time. Software packages also allow for time lapse photography. They are great for children of all ages and are easily used in the field to examine and take images of leaves, rocks, insects, fossils  etc.

 Digital Microscope 

Traditional microscopes with digital eyepieces.Digital Eyepiece

A conventional microscope can become a digital microscope quite simply with the addition of a digital eyepiece.  A digital eyepiece is a small digital camera that replaces the standard eyepiece of the microscope and is then connected to a computer via USB.
If you want the best of both worlds - a traditional microscope with high magnification and  the ability to capture and save images then this is a great solution.  With the software you can measure, calibrate and analyse the images and perform a number of experiments.

Cost differences

More expensive microscopes have better optics and tend to be more durable. However improvements in technology mean that even microscopes in the $100 to $200 range perform as well now as high end microscopes did 20 years ago. These days everyone can afford equipment that only the top laboratories could once afford.

Microscopes for School Aged Children

Many parents wish to purchase a microscope for their children, but find selecting an appropriate microscope a challenge. Typical microscopes ideal for student use include the TLI XSP4 Duo monocular microscope, the TLI 700 and TLI XTX3C stereo microscopes and the TLI USB Scope 2MP digital microscope. If you need further assistance with your choice please contact us.