How to choose a microscope

Contrary to popular belief, a microscope is not just an interesting and very useful thing that allows you to significantly expand the child's knowledge about the world. No one lesson in chemistry and physics at school and institute can do without this tool, and this tool is extremely necessary in various industrial laboratories and in production. All sorts of amateurs, masters of a screwdriver and a soldering iron are also using it - it is easy to solder small transistors and other parts to the printed circuit board. Of course, only in the case when the microscope is chosen correctly, and its functionality fully complies with the requirements and operating conditions.

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The best manufacturers. What company choose a microscope?
Types of microscopes and the principle of their action
Selection options. What to look for when choosing a microscope?
Which microscope to choose for specific tasks?
Microscope selection video

choose a microscope

The best manufacturers. What company choose a microscope?

Modern models of microscopes are significantly different from their predecessors. The quality of the transmitted image, resolution and clarity, as well as additional features, such as backlighting and digital image recording functions, appear. The only thing that remains the same is the leading manufacturing firms that are considered traditional market leaders and supply their own products to various industrial laboratories. For this reason, preference should be given to products of the following manufacturers:

Sturman;
Sititek;
Zeiss;
Nikon;
Sigeta;
Bresser;
Levenhuk;

Under these brand names produced a great variety of products that can meet the needs of both beginners and specialists in certain areas. However, before giving preference to one or another model, it is necessary not only to study its technical characteristics and compare the device with its nearby counterparts, but also to get acquainted with the reviews of customers who had time to try one or another model in practice and outlined its strengths and weaknesses.

Types of microscopes and the principle of their action

A microscope is an optical device that allows you to view objects with their multiple magnification. The simplest microscopes are a complex of lenses of various designs and diameters, which provide multiple approximations and allow us to consider the cellular fiber structure of a particular object. The basic principle of operation and the functionality of the device remain unchanged to this day, but the technical implementation of the basic capabilities has advanced far through the implementation of electronic computing power and computer technology. Currently, all the microscopes on sale can be divided into the following conditional categories.

Monocular microscopes

The most simple and popular among buyers optical devices with decent functionality. The range of approximation of the best devices can reach 1200-1500 times, which, coupled with the use of high-quality optics, provides a sharp, detailed and clear picture. Included with the majority of models are interchangeable color filters, allowing to level the features of the incidence of light, as well as interchangeable monoculars, expanding the capabilities of the device.

Virtues

Compact size;

Allow installation of monoculars with different multiplicity characteristics;

Replaceable color filters included;

Approximation to 1500 times;

Decent functionality;

disadvantages

Do not differ in high durability;

Some discomfort due to the monocular construction;

Rather time-consuming setting that requires certain skills;

Binocular Microscopes

Devices equipped with two independent monoculars, thanks to which the user can observe through a microscope with two eyes. This has a positive effect on the clarity of the resulting image and provides high-quality and full color reproduction of the object being studied. The best models of this class can boast an approximation up to 1500-1600 times, while the range of approximation of the eyepieces varies from 10 to 20x. A very interesting feature of such devices is the so-called revolving holder with fixed lenses of various multiplicities, which allows you to change the range of approximation in on-line mode.

Virtues

High functionality;

Ability to connect a digital camera (not all models);

The presence of a revolving clip, which allows to fix lenses of various degrees of multiplicity;

The high range of approximation of lenses, reaching 1500-1600 times the most functional models;

A clear, sharp and detailed picture in any operating conditions;

disadvantages

Require certain treatment skills;

Additional accessories are quite expensive;

Not cheap;

Electron microscopes

The most functional, modern and advanced devices, which have now received great popularity. These devices have no eyepieces as such, and the image is transmitted either to the built-in LCD display or to a computer monitor using a special cable, and therefore the user can record the resulting image without using any additional devices. Another advantage is the presence of a large number of different accessories - both original, manufactured by manufacturers, and third-party compatible with a specific device. With their help, you can significantly expand the functionality of the device, change its sensitivity or range of approximation, level the color flow using the appropriate filter and perform many other functions.

Virtues

Easy to use;

The presence of a large number of additional accessories;

The ability to record images in digital format without the use of additional devices;

High quality pictures;

Excellent functionality;

disadvantages

High price;

The need for a power supply or stationary PC;

Selection options. What to look for when choosing a microscope?

we select a microscope according to characteristics

Modern microscopes are high-precision optical devices, the functionality of which entirely depends on the technical solutions implemented by the manufacturer and a set of additional options present in it.Of course, the higher the functionality of a microscope, the more expensive its total cost. It is for this reason that when selecting a device with the highest price-quality ratio, the following functions should be taken into account:

Lens design. The resolution of the displayed image and its overall quality depend on how thoughtful the design is. Currently, you can find on sale both immersion lenses and their liquid counterparts. The latter allow to obtain a high-resolution image, and oil or distillate is used as a working fluid.
Optical image correction system. Any optical device necessarily has a so-called chromatic aberration - a kind of defect, manifested in the distortion of the geometric direct image. In order to minimize it, manufacturers use a variety of different solutions and, in particular, install special lenses that have a special shape. The highest quality devices are equipped with plan-achromatic and plan -pochromatic lenses, in which chromatic aberration is completely absent. Such lenses are marked with the letters PLAN and PLAN-APO, respectively;
Lens magnification. Displays the maximum multiplicity of approximation and the ability to view the smallest details of a particular object. The multiplicity almost always starts from 10-15x and can reach 2000-4000x in professional research models. Since this parameter has the most direct impact on the functionality of the microscope, it is necessary to determine the tasks that will be solved with its help before purchasing a device.
Resolution of the microscope. The parameter directly affecting the quality, sharpness and contrast of the resulting image. It depends entirely on the aperture of the device - the higher this parameter for a particular microscope - the higher its resolution. If we are talking about dry lenses, their numerical aperture is 1.0. For “wet” models, this parameter is 1.25, respectively. When choosing an optical microscope, preference should be given to models with a resolution of at least 0.2 microns.
Maximum useful microscope approximation. Displays the zoom limit at which the picture quality is still at the maximum level. As a rule, for optical microscopes, this parameter can vary in the range from 1000 to 1250 times, depending on the type of lenses mounted on it. Despite the fact that such devices are able to provide a greater approximation, the quality of the picture suffers greatly, which in some cases makes the device useless;
Eyepiece type and design. If we talk about optical models, on sale you can find devices equipped with monocular, binocular microscopes, as well as models of the combined type, equipped with both a monocular and binoculars. In the case of electronic and digital devices, the role of eyepieces is performed by a digital display or a computer monitor.

Which microscope to choose for specific tasks?

microscope selection criteria

The technical features of specific devices are a parameter that is undoubtedly important, but it is necessary to consider it, based on the functionality and specific operating conditions, as well as the tasks that are planned to be solved using the device.

Choosing a microscope for the student

In order for natural science lessons to take place as efficiently as possible and to bring benefits to the child, it is necessary to select a high-quality microscope. A monocular or binocular optical microscope equipped with lenses with a plan-chromatic design is quite suitable for these purposes. The multiplicity of such a device should reach 350-400x with the ability to change with the help of a set of interchangeable lenses located on the turret.A useful feature for sure will be the ability to connect a digital camera, which will allow you to receive detailed images of the object being studied.

Choosing a microscope for cell research

The study of cells is not an easy task and not everyone needs it. First of all, we are talking about those who study such a discipline as biology. The main characteristic of such devices is the maximum possible approximation multiplicity, and therefore preference should be given to models with a maximum approximation ratio equipped with a plan-achromatic or plan-apochromatic objective and a resolution of at least 0.25–0.3 µm. The design of the device can be both traditional, optical, and modern digital - everything depends on the tasks and on the conditions in which the research will be carried out.

Criteria for choosing a microscope for soldering

Microscopes are no less popular among various kinds of radio engineers and electronic computer amateurs, as well as among the masters involved in its repair. Soldering of printed circuit boards and their individual elements using a microscope is a rather common occupation and imposing quite specific characteristics on the type of microscope. The multiplicity of approximation here does not play a significant role - devices with an approximation of about 50-75 times are quite enough. The overall width of the image, as well as the complete absence of distortion and chromatic aberration, plays a much more important role. The resolution also plays an important role - the higher it is, the easier it is to carry out the process of soldering small parts. The most popular among engineers are ordinary optical microscopes, equipped with a binocular eyepiece type, as well as modern digital devices.