Recently, my company bought a compound microscope for our
lab. I have doing some research and survey on how to choose a suitable one. So I would like to share some important
factors to consider when choosing a compound microscope. But before that, let us know basic parts of a compound microscopes.
.....and factors to consider are.....
Magnification size. It is the most important subject when choosing a microscope. Magnification size defined as the ratio of enlarged image to the size of original sample. It telling us how many times the microscope can enlarge the image of original sample. So when choosing a microscope, defined your sample’s size, the purpose and the magnification size that you need.
Purpose and user.
Usually a microscopes for elementary and high school students is more simple
and cheaper as it usually just for introduction or for observation of plant
cell or animal cell. The microscopes usually have at least 400 X magnifition
powers. On the other hands microscopes for university students, pharmaceutical,
veterinary, biology professional and for research purpose are usually more
advance. The microscopes have at least 1000-2500X magnification size complete
with camera and microscopes software. Example of samples, purposes with suitable magnification
size is as in the table below.
Sample
|
Purpose
|
Suitable magnification size
|
Onion skin
|
To see plant cell structure
|
100X-400X
|
Blood
|
To see the shape of red blood cell
|
400X
|
Insect | Insect anatomy | 40X |
Bacteria
|
To defined shape of bacteria
|
100X-400X
|
Nematode’s egg
|
To enumerate nematode egg
|
100X
|
To identify nematode egg
|
400X
|
|
Coccid
|
To identify coccid
|
400X
|
Worm
|
For anatomy
|
100X
|
Aphid
|
For anatomy
|
100X-400X
|
Stool
|
To find parasite in stool
|
100X-400X
|
Eye lens
|
Objective lens
|
Total magnification
|
10X
|
4X
|
40 X
|
10X
|
100 X
|
|
40X
|
400 X
|
|
100X
|
1000 X
|
|
25X
|
4X
|
100 X
|
10X
|
250 X
|
|
40X
|
1000 X
|
|
100X
|
2500 X
|
Types of stage. Stage is the part of
microscopes to place slide. You can
choose a pin type stage or a mechanical stage. A mechanical stage is more user friendly where user can easily adjust the slide in the position they want and
see the slide thoroughly while doing observation.
Monocular, binocular
or trinocular microscopes. The three types will not effect on image result
but it depends on the comfortibility of the user to choose how many eyepiece(s)
suitable for them. Compare to monocular (single eyepiece), the binocular has
two eyepieces which usually more easy to use as the brain do not have to choose
the right or left different image seen by our eyes. On the other hand,
trinocular microscopes also have only two eyepieces but have an extra vessel
for external hardware such as camera.
Microscope’s camera. Usually
for research use a camera is important to keep picture or video of sample’s
image which is important for documentation. If you buy a camera specific for
microscopes, it usually comes along with complete software that enhance your
analysis efficiency such as better image, measuring size and editing image.
However normal camera also able to take picture and video of sample’s image.
Just fixed your camera lens on one of the eyepiece and then zoom to the image
to get picture or video.
Source of light.
There are few choices such as florescent, luminescent, LED and halogen light.
Fluorescence and luminescent light is usually used for kids’ microscopes where
it is yellow in color and less bright. Nowadays LED light is more popular as it
gives white light, last longer, less sensitive and cheaper. On the other hands
halogen lamp give bright white light but have short life and quite expensive.
The halogen lamp also have very sensitive filament that it easily broken when
there is movement while in used.
So that are the important factors, however there might be
other things you might want to consider such as price, material that make the
microscopes, size or brand of the microscopes.
I hope the tips can help you to find a suitable microscope for yourself.
For me as I need it for microbiology research purpose, I prefer a trinocular
compound microscope, have mechanical stage, image enlargement until 2500X
magnification size, complete with microscope software and using LED light.
OK, choose wisely!
OK, choose wisely!
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