One of the crucial lab tools, the microscope, allows one to study things and specimens that are invisible to the unaided eye. The optical device magnifies the model several times so that it is visible to one’s eyes. Microscopes are widely employed in various fields because they can create highly resolved, clear, and magnified pictures of high-quality specimens. For multiple purposes, numerous microscopes have been designed and are readily accessible on the market. Each microscope has unique attributes, capabilities, and features. Choosing a suitable microscope for the lab workflow and applications might be confusing when buying a microscope. Here are a few things to remember while purchasing a biological microscope.

Type of microscope: stereo or compound 

Different types of microscopes are available in the market, like compound, electron, polarizing, inverted, etc., but the two prevalent types are stereo and compound microscopes.

Compound microscopes typically include 3-5 objective lenses that can magnify things from 40x to 400x, with some capable of reaching 1600x magnification. As a result, the microscope is appropriate for examining microscopic creatures and cells such as bacteria, pond scum, blood samples, and aquatic organisms. However, due to mounting and staining procedures, sample preparation for a compound microscope takes a lengthy time.

Compared to the compound microscope, the stereo microscope has a lesser magnification. They can magnify items from 5x to 60x. However, utilizing a stereo microscope and several microscope attachments, 160x magnification may be attained. Stereo microscopes are ideal for viewing more oversized objects or species such as beetles, bugs, jewels, dirt, and tiny plants and animals because of their reduced magnification.

Magnification

The magnification of a microscope is determined by two factors: the objective lens and the eyepiece. Thus, the values of these two components are multiplied to give the total magnification power of a microscope. Eyepieces for microscopes are typical of three types: monocular, binocular, and trinocular. A monocular microscope has one eyepiece, a binocular microscope has two, and a trinocular microscope has two eyepieces with a third eyetube.

Light source

Many different types of lights are mounted to microscopes to fulfill distinct functions. Before purchasing a microscope, four light sources with properties such as heat, lamp life, and color correctness should be evaluated. Halogen generates a bright white light, warms up rapidly, and comes with a dimmer or variable rheostat to regulate the intensity as needed.

LED delivers robust and excellent light that does not generate heat, and it also has a variable rheostat or dimmer to alter the intensity as needed in the tests. Fluorescent lighting emits white light while producing less heat. It has a short shelf life and is usually examined with a specialized or epi-fluorescent microscope. Tungsten/Incandescent lighting is standard in entry-level microscopes. It emits a bright white light and warms rapidly.

When selecting a microscope from Quasmo, one of the essential elements to consider is quality. The light source, lighting, construction, and lenses installed in the microscope are mainly examined. Several microscopes on the market, ranging from low-cost plastics to metal bodies, give strength and longevity.