Microscope Buying Guide

If you're thinking about purchasing a microscope, you either a.) know what you're doing, or b.) haven't a clue. Optics is an intimidating field, no matter what you're buying, but microscopes are particularly difficult. And though they've gotten much cheaper in recent years, it's still not the kind of decision you want to make on the fly.

Where to start? Well, for one, you want to decide what you're going to be looking at. You might think, "The more magnification, the better," but you might be wrong. If your interest is in entomology, electronics or stamp collecting, higher magnification might prove completely worthless. However, if it's cells, microorganisms, or chemistry that interest you, higher power would be important. High power A few things to keep in mind when buying high powered microscopes (technically those ranging in power from about 80X to 1000X). These are what you want if you desire to see things that absolutely cannot be observed with the naked eye.

Children love microscopes- they're indispensible for the study of sciences, and they've become relatively cheap. However, under no circumstances should you bother with a model that claims to be "for" children and is made entirely of plastic. Some models are a little smaller for kids, but in general you want something framed entirely in metal that includes professional gear like slides and technical instructions.

Light for high powered scopes is placed under the specimen and the light source should be included. Older models used mirrors to gather light, but these are rare these days.

Prices have dropped dramatically in the past years, like those for many technological products. However, don't go too far into "bargain" territory. Remember, you're making a purchase you don't want to make again. There are great products made in China, for example, but there are also some microscopes made over there that don't pass muster.

Low powered microscopes
The magnification of a low powered microscope ranges, in general, from about 10X to 80X. Obviously, there is middle ground between the two. Your primary concern should be that the object is well-illuminated from top and bottom and that you can observe transparent and opaque objects.

Since low powered microscopes are used for larger items, it is important to see depth. For this reason, most have two eyepieces, each with a separate objective lens. As a result, you'll get a 3-dimensional image with great perspective. If it's a low powered scope you want, you likely want one with this "stereo" feature.

Finally, low power, stereo microscopes are usually bought for a specific purpose, meaning a very tight range of magnification. So, again, have in mind exactly what you'll be doing with it and consult those who do the same.

You will be able to find three general types of low powered microscopes; single power, double power, and continuous range. Of course, the price will increase with more variability, but you may only need one or two magnifications, so why go with a more expensive model with continuous range?

That should be enough to get you started. Thanks for reading and good luck!