Safety Tips in Microscopy Pt.1

There is a ton of articles and instructions for taking precaution steps when handling solvents and stains. Much less is discussed when it comes to taking precautions about handling organisms themselves. Below is general advice to adhere to when handling samples that contain microorganisms.

Image: http://www.fscjinstituteforfoodsafety.org/

1. Open wounds:
Do not handle microorganism-containing media if you have open wounds or cuts in your skin.

2. Disinfection:
Always disinfect hands and surfaces with an anti-bacterial cleaning agent.

3. Disposal:
Autoclave the used culture medium at 120°C for 30 minutes. This should also be able to kill spores. If you do not have an autoclave available, then cover the petri-dishes or culture medium with chlorine bleach. Allow sufficient time for these substances to work. When you add bleach, be aware that this is a corrosive substance when concentrated. Eye and skin contact must really be avoided.

4. Avoid Aerosolization:
Some microorganisms spread over air. Avoid spillage of the culture medium and carefully add the disinfectant to the medium before disposal, avoiding splattering of the liquid.

5. Keep Bacterial Counts Low:
Make sure that the sample (such as a hay infusion) contains many ciliates that consume the bacteria. Keep the level of nutrients low to avoid too many bacteria from forming and ensure that the medium has sufficient oxygen supply for the ciliates to grow.

Keep petri dishes closed and sealed. This minimizes the risk of accidentally touching the agar surface, which may be covered by bacterial colonies. Being aware of your work space and the risks of the chemicals used can reduce the possibility of you encountering risks from working with bacteria specimens.

Image: http://www.fscjinstituteforfoodsafety.org/

A Microscope Master Review

Review: 

OMAX 40X-2000X Digital Binocular Biological Compound Microscope with Built-in 3.0MP USB Camera and Double Layer Mechanical Stage

"The construction and all round capabilities of this microscope surpass what you would normally expect for this price. 

 This Omax microscope offers affordability, convenience and durability. Images obtained are bright and clear, controls are firm and the stage and slide holder are easy to work with. 

 Equipped with a 3.0M pixel built-in USB camera, you will enjoy not only photo capability but video as well which is especially beneficial where participation in a group setting is necessary. 

 Pictures can be brightened, cropped and saved easily. 

 It is compatible with MS Windows 2000/XP/Vista as well as Windows 7 -32bit and 64bit. 

 Worth noting is Omax's excellent customer service and informative technical support."

Shop Model: M827S-C30

How to Set Up a Phase Contrast Microscope

Phase contrast is a microscopy technique that is helpful in viewing many biological specimens such as bacteria or blood cells. When setting up your phase contrast microscope, you must have phase contrast objective lenses and a phase contrast condenser.

The condenser shown above has five settings on it: 10x, 20x, 40x, 100x and bright field. The two screws that stick out from the condenser are centering screws and will be used when you set up the phase contrast microscope for the first time.  Set the condenser on the bright field setting and focus on a specimen. Adjust the height of the condenser for optimum image quality. Move the condenser turret to the phase setting for whichever lens you are currently using and remove the specimen.

Remove one of the eyepiece lenses and insert the centering telescope in its place. If there is a set screw on the side of your centering telescope this should be used to focus the centering telescope. When looking through the centering telescope you will see two rings. By turning the centering adjustment screws on the condenser, you can align the rings so they are concentric.

Remove the centering telescope and replace the eyepiece lens. Put your specimen back on the stage and you are ready for phase contrast observation! You will want to go through this process when you change objectives.

Shop Phase Contrast Kits: http://bit.ly/11Rn0yh

Adjusting Condensers

The condenser aperture diaphragm is used to control the contrast and resolution of an image. An improper setting of the condenser aperture diaphragm  can be the cause of much frustration both for teachers and students. Students may attempt to find the focus with the condenser aperture diaphragm all the way open.

Remember, an open condenser aperture diaphragm results in a low depth of field. Students may not see anything at all when working with high magnifications because the image is too dark. In this case the diaphragm is closed too much. The diaphragm should not be used to control the amount of light, but for some specimens or magnifications there may simply be no way around this especially if the lamp is not very powerful. The higher the magnification, the more need for a condenser.

Tips:

• Completely close the condenser aperture diaphragm when starting to use the microscope. 
• Rotate the low power objective into position and find the focus with the coarse focus knob. The larger depth of field and higher contrast makes it easier for the students to focus the specimen. 
• When switching to a higher magnification, the students should start to gradually open the condenser aperture diaphragm, to observe the differences in image quality. 
•  Adjust the light intensity with the dimmer to prevent glare. Students should be made aware that the condenser aperture diaphragm should be adjusted to the numerical aperture value which is printed on the objective.
• Opening the diaphragm further will not increase image quality, but may result in glare. If the sample is thick, strongly stained or pigmented then the diaphragm has to be opened to allow more light to pass through the specimen. As a consequence, the depth of field becomes smaller.
•  Use the fine focus adjustment knob to focus through the different layers of the specimen

Shop Darkfield Condensers here: http://bit.ly/16rya5k

Gemology: Diamonds

Diamonds are one of our links between the world back then and the world now. We don't know if they truly are forever but we do know that they have been in existence a very long time.

Diamonds are made of carbon atoms that are formed into a tightly packed structure with extreme heat, pressure, and oxygen conditions. Most diamonds form in the earth's crust or mantle but some deeper down. Under the earth's crust they form as impact diamonds under the deep earth. due to mass pressure. The redox reaction of CO2 or Methane forms diamonds. The complex pattern of diamonds could take anywhere from 3 billion years to form in the earth's mantle and brought so the earth's surface through magma.

Shop Jewel Gem System Microscopes here

Home School Microscope Projects: Crystals

This is a great project for homeschooling because it's a fun and simple observation project that will allow students to identify various crystal shapes under a microscope. Crystal patterns come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Supplies needed are:

1. Microscope
2. Glass Slides
3. Salts, Sugar, Lemon Juice
4. Polarizing Film

Procedure:

1. Dissolve salt in water to create saltwater.  Repeat this for other minerals you want to test. Put mixtures in clean glass slide. 

2. Let slides dry overnight until the liquid is evaporated. 

3. Observe formations at various magnification powers. Observe images in observation log. 

4. If formations are difficult to observe, you can use polarizing film. Place one piece over the light source and place the second piece over the slide on top of the stage. Adjust intensity of light illumination as needed. 

5. Observe the magnification at various powers, the film should make the crystals appear with different colors. 

6. Record all changes and observations. 

Compound Microscopes 101

A compound microscope can be used for medical research to a day at the beach. A compound microscope includes an eyepiece, stage clips, and objectives with different lenses, adjustable knobs, a power button, and a stage with light source. Other parts include the body, nose piece, arm, and stage stop.

It can be used in various science fields such as Microbiology and Geology. Forensic investigators and scientists identify crystal shapes to reference pharmaceuticals and other medical needs. Microscopes can also help them see human cells, minerals, and metals. 

The setup of the optical parts plays an important ole in working with a compound microscope. The condenser focuses light onto the specimen with either bright-field or darkfield condenser attachments. 

By understanding these basics, you can independently carry out an experiment for observing minute objects of your interest, and try to explore some of the incredible things with the help of this wonderful instrument. Nowadays, compound microscopes are used in various domains, within or outside science. Care should be taken while buying any of the microscopes, be it compound or digital microscope. For better understanding, you can always discuss with a science teacher or an expert.

For more info check out our website's shopping guide here.

Shop Compound Microscopes here.

Multi Viewing Attatchments

A multi-viewing attachment is one of the most beneficial accessories for your microscope if you are interested in group research and observations. Most multi-viewing microscopes are designed to allow for anywhere from two to six viewers. Over the years consumers wanted more heads for larger conferences and research and also for teaching purposes. Nowadays there are systems with even up to ten to a dozen heads, while they function properly, the image quality is not the greatest with so many heads. This is because any microscope with more then six heads will make the light not be evenly distributed  The light gets harder to find and all the users may not be seeing the same quality image.

For teaching purposes, two or more persons to view the specimen simultaneously is a great feature. It is also useful got presentations. We recommend out dual binocular model which is great for labs, demonstrations, clinics, universities, and schools.  Shop double binocular head compound microscope here.

Features Include:

-4 levels of magnification

-Dual binocular heads

-2 pairs of eyepieces

-4 achromatic objectives

-Variable intensity illumination

Illumination Types for Microscopes

• Tungsten – the least expensive method, and the most common on low-end scopes, tungsten illuminators use standard incandescent light bulbs. They are relatively bright, but they produce a yellowish light and considerable heat. In particular as the light is dimmed, it shifts further toward orange. This warm color balance can obscure the true colors of specimens. The heat produced by the incandescent bulb may kill live specimens and quickly dries out temporary wet mounts made with water. Lamp life is relatively short.

• Fluorescent – costs a bit more than tungsten, and was quite popular before the advent of LED illuminators. Fluorescent illuminators provide bright light that appears white to the human eye, but is actually made up of several different discrete colors that are mixed to appear white. Accordingly, color rendition can differ significantly from the true color rendition provided by daylight. Fluorescent bulbs emit much less heat than incandescent bulbs, and so are well suited to observing live specimens. Some fluorescent illuminators are battery-powered, but most use AC power. Lamp life is relatively long.

• LED – priced about the same as fluorescent illuminators, LED illuminators have become very popular, largely replacing fluorescent illuminators. LED illuminators have the same color-rendition problems as fluorescent illuminators, but are otherwise ideal for many purposes. LED illuminators draw very little power and emit essentially no heat. Their low power draw means they’re the best choice for a battery-powered microscope, and are ideally suited for portable microscopes that can be used in the field. Lamp life is essentially unlimited.

• Quartz-halogen – the most expensive type of illuminators  and the one preferred by most scientists. They provide a brilliant white light needed for work at high magnification that reveals the true colors of specimens. Unfortunately, quartz-halogen lamps also produce more heat than any other type of illuminators  Their high power draw means they are AC-only. Lamp life is relatively short.

Microscope Maintenance

Routine optical and mechanical maintenance of compound microscopes can ensure that your microscope works well for many years to come. Periodic microscope servicing by a qualified microscope technician is recommended. Compound microscopes should generally be serviced after about 200 hours of use. For most schools, this would be about every three years, possibly more frequent if the microscope is used multiple times each day.

Handling and Storage

Most microscope problems occur as a result of mishandling. When carrying the microscope, always hold it by the base and the metal support arm. If you will be traveling with your microscope frequently from one location to another you might consider purchasing a microscope carrying case. Aluminum cases work best for protecting your microscope in case it falls or tumbles while in transport.

When the microscope is not in use keep it covered with the dust cover. This alone will extend the life of your microscope. Even if the microscope is stored within a cabinet, you should still cover it with the dust cover. Do not store a microscope without any eyepieces, even if it is covered. This can allow dust to collect within the eye tubes, which can be difficult to clean. If the microscope eyepieces must be removed, simply cover the tubes with caps or a plastic bag with a rubber band around the eye tube.

Try to always store your microscope in a cool, dry place. 

Mechanical Maintenance

Each microscope should come with a user's manual. If it did not with a manual in the packaging you can download the manual on the company website. Always consult your user's manual before making any adjustments to your microscope. Avoid using excessive force when performing any maintenance on your microscope. This can damage metal parts in the microscope or strip the parts of their binding. 

Microscope Diagram Nose piece Adjustment

The microscope nose piece can sometimes become loose. Generally there is an adjustment mechanism on the nose piece. A simple loosening or tightening of the slot-headed screw in the middle of the nose piece should generally resolve this problem. Check your microscope's manual for complete instructions on how to adjust it.

Cleaning Your Microscope

Caring for your microscope is essential to keep all the components working smoothly and maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of your microscope will help ensure clear visibility when looking through your eyepiece. 

It is best to only clean the eyepiece when needed. Use the proper cleaning materials which can be purchased on our website under the accessories category or from another independent retailer. If your eyepiece needs cleaning you can dip your cloth into an alcohol solution to remove stubborn spots.

The eyepiece and objective lens can obtain build up easily from use. If your objective lens is also dirty you can clean it with lens paper dipped into a diluted ammonia solution. Place a few drops of ammonia into about 1/2 cup of water. 

To ensure you will not scratch your eyepiece(s) or lenses refrain from using anything other than a special lens cleaning cloth or tissue. Do not use your finger nails to try to remove any spots or debris.
Click here to browse our selection of cleaning tissue. 

How to Focus a Microscope

Focusing your microscope is the key to getting the clear image quality you expect out of your microscope. When first looking at a specimen, the item will almost always never be focused. Learning how to focus your microscope is the essential step to assure proper observations and results. 

Here a five easy steps for focusing your microscope:
1. Place prepared slide underneath the viewing tray of the microscope and secure with clips 

2. Look through your eyepiece and determine if you can see the specimen. The specimen may be fuzzy and/or unrecognizable.

3. Turn the coarse focus knob slowly. Continue turning the coarse focus knob until the specimen becomes recognizable.

4. Next slowly turn the fine focus knob until the image becomes sharper and clear. At this point small details about the the specimen should be crystal clear. 

5. Adjust the diaphragm of the microscope to ensure the entire specimen is in your peripheral view. 

Featured Product: Student Microscope 40X-2000X Lab Binocular Biological Compound Microscope

A compound microscope is ideal for students majoring in bio/medical fields as well as for homeschooling and hobbyists. Compound microscopes are ideal for slide observations, which is what most students are required to examine in the classroom. Our Binocular Biological Compound Microscope is an ideal starter microscope for students and is on promotion right now for a low price of $198.99. 

This microscope is great for students because it can be easily upgraded with a digital camera, a darkfield adjustment, and slides. This microscope is easily customizable and easy to use. Compound microscopes will continue to be a crucial part of research in scientific fields. The compound microscope is still a mainstay in many fields and also is a wonderful tool for students to begin with when learning how to use these instruments in a laboratory. Their ability to provide higher magnifications and excellent resolution of a specimen makes the compound microscope an important tool for scientists and students alike.

Product features include: 

• High quality professional optical glass elements
• 45°inclined 360°swiveling binocular head
• Easy to mount electronic eyepiece (digital microscope camera)
• 8 levels of magnification: 40X-80X-100X-200X-400X-800X-1000X-2000X
• 4 achromatic objectives 
• 2 pairs of eyepieces: WF10X and WF20X
• Sliding interpupillary distance adjustment
• Ocular diopter adjustable on both eyetubes
• Variable intensity illumination
• Coaxial coarse and fine focus adjustment
• Focusing knobs on both sides
• Stage upward moving lock protects objectives and slides
• Stain-resistant double layer mechanical stage
• NA1.25 Abbe Condenser with iris diaphragm & filters
• Rack and pinion adjustment condenser
• Product GS and CE approved

Microscope Glossary

The following terms have been simplified and defined in order to enhance your understanding of the use and functions of the various components of both stereo and compound microscopes.  Arm:  The part of the microscope that connects the tube to the base.  When carrying a microscope, grab the arm with one hand and place your other hand under the base. Articulated Arm:  A type of stand that holds a microscope body.  The stand clamps to a table and has a variety of motion in three dimensions.  Base:  The bottom support of the microscope. Binocular Head:  A microscope head with two eyepiece lenses, one for each eye.  Body:  This term is used mostly with the low power stereo microscopes and it is the basic heart of the microscope without any type of stand or illuminators.  It usually includes the eyepiece and objective lenses but not the focusing block. C-mount:  This is an adapter used with various types of video cameras.  Usually, you unscrew the lens from the camera and screw in the adapter.  The adapter then connects to the trinocular port on the microscope. Coarse Focus:  This is the rough focus knob on the microscope.  You use it to move the objective lenses toward or away from the specimen (see fine focus). Coaxial Focus:  A focusing system that has both the coarse and fine focusing knobs mounted on the same axis.  Usually the coarse knob is larger and on the outside and the fine knob is smaller and on the inside.  On some coaxial systems, the fine adjustment is calibrated, allowing differential measurements to be recorded. Condenser Lens:  A lens mounted in or below the stage whose purpose is to focus or condense the light onto the specimen.   The higher power objective lenses have very tiny diameters and require concentrated light to work properly.  By using a condenser lens you will increase the Illumination and resolution.  Condenser lenses are not required on low power microscopes. Contrast Plate:  A circular opaque plate placed on the stage of a low power microscope.  One side is white, the other is black.  It can be flipped around depending on the coloration of your specimen. Cover Slip:  A very thin square piece of glass or plastic placed over the specimen on a microscope slide.  When used with liquid samples, it flattens out the liquid and assists with single plane focusing. Diaphragm:  Generally a five hole disc placed under the stage on a high power microscope.  Each hole is of a different diameter.  By turning it, you can vary the amount of light passing through the stage opening.  This will help to properly illuminate the specimen and increase contrast and resolution.  The diaphragm is most useful at the higher powers. Dual Head:  A microscope with a single eyepiece lens coming out one side and an additional single eyepiece tube coming either off the top or from the opposite side.  Dual heads are used so that a teacher can verify what a student is seeing or can be used for video or camera work.  It is not recommended that two students do a lab sharing a single dual microscope as it will get to be uncomfortable for the student using the top eyepiece. Eyepiece Lens:  The lens at the top of the microscope that you look into.  They are usually 10X but also are available in 5X, 15X and 20X.  Widefield lenses have a large diameter and show a wide area of the field of view.  Fine Focus:  This is the knob used to fine tune the focus on the specimen.  It is also used to focus on various parts of the specimen.  Generally one uses the coarse focus first to get close then moves to the fine focus knob for fine tuning.  Field of View:  Sometimes abbreviated "FOV", it is the diameter of the circle of light that you see when looking into a microscope.  As the power gets greater, the field of view gets smaller.  You can measure this by placing a clear metric ruler on the stage and counting the millimeters from one side to the other.  Typically you will see about 4.5mm at 40X, 1.8mm at 100X, 0.45mm at 400X and 0.18mm at 1000X.  See micrometer. Fixed Arm:  A type of stand used with low power microscopes.  The arm and body are integral parts of the microscope and connected solidly to the base.  Focus:  A means of moving the specimen closer or further away from the objective lens to render a sharp image.  On some microscopes, the stage moves and on others, the tube moves.  Rack and pinion focusing is the most popular and durable type. Head:  The upper part of the microscope that contains the eyepiece tube and prisms.  A monocular head has one eyepiece, a binocular has two (one for each eye), a dual head has two but they are not together, and a trinocular head has three, one which is generally used for a camera connection. Illuminator:  A light source mounted under the stage.  Three types of light are commonly used:  Tungsten, Fluorescent and Halogen.  Tungsten is the least expensive and most common.  Fluorescent is bright, white and runs cool and Halogen is very bright and white but gives off heat like tungsten. Immersion Oil:  A special oil used in microscopy with only the 100X objective lens (usually at 1000X total power).  A drop is placed upon the cover slip and the objective is lowered until it just touches the drop.  Once brought into focus, the oil acts as a bridge between the glass slide and the glass in the lens.  Inclination Joint:  Where the arm connects to the base, there may be a pin.  If so, you can place one hand on the base and with the other grab the arm and rotate it back.  It will tilt your microscope back for more comfortable viewing.  One drawback of tilting it back is that wet samples will run off the slide. Mechanical Stage:  A mechanical way to move the slide around on your stage.  It consists of a slide holder and two knobs.  Turn one knob and the slide moves toward or away from you.  Turn the other knob and the slide moves left and right.  Since everything is upside down on a (high power) microscope it takes some getting used to but it is very convenient to have one especially when observing moving specimens like protozoans or other pond water critters.  Microscopes either have the bolt on mechanical stage that can be added (to many models) at any time or the integral mechanical stage that comes built in to the microscope.  Micrometer:  Also called a micron it is the metric linear measurement used in microscopy.  There are 1000 microns in a millimeter.  If something is 1.8mm long then it can also be expressed as 1,800 microns long. Mirror:  Allows you to direct ambient light up through the hole in the stage and illuminate the specimen. Monocular Head:  A microscope head with a single eyepiece lens. Nose piece:  The part of the microscope that holds the objective lenses also called a revolving nose piece or turret. Objective Lens:  The lens closest to the object.  In a stereo microscope there are objective pairs, one lens for each eyepiece lens.  This gives the 3-D effect.  On a high power binocular model there is still only one objective lens so no stereo vision. Oil Immersion Lens:  An objective lens designed to work with a drop of special oil placed between it and the slide.  With oil, an increase in resolution will be noticed.    Also, see "Immersion Oil" above. Rack Stop:  Usually set at the factory, the rack stop keeps you from cranking the objective lenses too far down (damaging something).  If you are using a very thin slide, you may find that you can't get the high power objective lens close enough to the slide to focus.  Here you can either adjust the rack stop or place a thin glass slide under your original slide, making it closer to the lens. Resolution:  The ability of a lens system to show fine details of the object being observed. Ring Light:  An independent light that usually connects to the microscope body and gives off a ring of light.  Semi-Plan Lenses:  Lenses are never perfect.  If you were looking at something perfectly flat, you might find that much of the center part of your field of view is in focus but out on the edges it is fuzzy and a bit out of focus.  Semi-plan lenses improve this deficiency by showing sharper images and less aberrations in the perimeter of the field of view.  They are better than standard achromatic lenses but cost quite a bit more. Slide:  A flat glass or plastic rectangular plate that the specimen is placed on.  It may have a depression or well to hold a few drops of liquid. Slip Clutch:  When students bring the focus all the way up or down and continue to try turning the knob, damage to the focusing system can occur if there wasn't a slip clutch.  It is a mechanical device that protects the gears of the microscope. Stage:  The flat plate where the slides are placed for observation. Stage Clips:  Clips on the stage used to hold the slide in place. Stage Plate:  On a low power microscope, there is a frosted circular glass plate that fits in over the lower illuminator.  This is called the stage plate.  See also contrast plate. Stand:  On a low power microscope, the type of connection between the microscope body and the base.  There are three main types:  the post, the fixed arm and the universal boom stand.  T-mount:  A type of adapter used to mate still cameras to microscopes Tension Adjustment:  This is an adjustment of the focusing mechanism that is made at the factory.  It is set so that the instrument is easy to focus but also tight enough so that the stage doesn't drift when you are not focusing. Stage drift is caused by the weight of the stage automatically unfocusing the microscope. Trinocular Head:  Available on both high and low power microscopes, tri heads have two eyepiece lenses and a third port at the top for a camera.  Some microscopes give you the option of sending all the light to the tri port. On some stereo tri heads with dual power, the tri port transmits the image through the set of lenses not being used by the stereo eyepieces. Widefield eyepiece lenses:  These are wide diameter glass eyepiece lenses.  They offer the greatest field of view when looking at specimens.  X:  Times as in 200X or two hundred times magnification.  The magnification of a microscope is determined by multiplying the power of the eyepiece lens by the power of the corresponding objective lens.

Microscopes For Students

Buying a microscope can sometimes seem like a difficult challenge because there are so many variations of microscopes out on the market today. It is important to be mindful of your intended use and level of expertise before purchasing a student microscope. 

You don't have to be an expert to select an adequate microscope suitable for classroom and homework use. The following feature list will help you narrow down your search and give you an idea of what to look for when purchasing a student microscope.

1. Dual Focusing- Look for coarse and fine focus for a precise focal point
2. A Built in Light- Optimizes viewing of the specimen under the microscope
3. A Mechanical Stage- Allows you to move the slide horizontally and vertically to have a better look at the specimen
4. Binocular Eyepieces- to ensure you are not straining one eye trying to focus on a specimen. 

We recommend starting out with a compound microscope which can be used at higher magnifications and observe small transparent specimens. This is ideal for lab work and science courses. 

Product Recommendation:
Lab Binocular Biological Compound Microscope 40X-1600X w Halogen Light $229.99

Compound Microscopes

What's the difference between a compound and stereo microscope? Many beginners are unsure of which model to purchase due to their lack of knowledge about both types of microscopes. This article will touch on the differences between a compound microscope and a stereo microscope and discuss the main purposes of a compound microscope.

The main difference between a compound and stereo microscope are that a compound microscope is ideal for transparent specimens and a stereo microscope is ideal for denser specimens such as gems, rocks, and minerals. Compound microscopes are higher in power than a stereo microscope and have higher magnification power. Compound microscopes are suitable for use in laboratories, hospitals, and schools. 

Compound microscopes are traditional microscopes that are designed with a compound lens system. A compound microscope typically has a rotatable lens system with various objective powers. Compound microscopes are ideal for high powered specimens due to their bottom light source and need for the specimen to be on a slide. Visual observations with a compound microscope are typically two dimensional and can be observed in a number of microscopy techniques depending on the lighting method used. 

For more information visit our website at www.microscopenet.com

Advantages of Purchasing a Digital Microscope

Digital microscopes have helped simplify scientific observation and research in modern times. A digital microscope is generally a compound or stereo microscope with a built in digital camera that is compatible with a PC or TV. The images are projected onto the monitor and can even be saved as JPEG and video files on a computer. These data saving options are great for extensive research and referencing. 

The main advantage of a digital microscope, is that is is suitable for educational purposes. Many students in various fields such as biology, chemistry, and medicine can view specimens from a digital camera hooked up to their home computer. This is a great time saver and also ensures that research results are more accurate because they can cross-reference their research findings with live and still images.  Students can recall the image later to describe it in greater detail for an observation report. 

Another advantage to using a digital microscope, is that it allows for researchers and students to print images from their microscope and use them for projects and research both in the lab and in the classroom. 

For students we recommend our Digital Compound Microscope with 1.3 MP Camera. This a great starter microscope for students at a freshman and sophomore level. 

For professionals, we recommend our Trinocular Metallurgic Microscope with 2.0 MP Camera. This microscope is ideal for metallurgical and electronic industries. 

7 Tips for Purchasing a Microscope

1. Avoid Purchasing from a Chain Retailer: It is not advised you purchase a microscope from a nature store and/or toy store. These are almost always poor quality and are not intended for actual professional grade use and observations. Try to get a microscope at a student or professional level. 
2. Try to Avoid Plastic Parts : It is ok if some digital microscopes have plastic screens and attachments but do try to refrain from purchasing a microscope with mainly plastic parts. Especially a plastic frame, eyepiece, and stage. 
3. Try to Keep your budget above $200.00 USD: Generally speaking, $200-$400 USD is a fair price for a student microscope or beginner microscope. Look for frames, focusing systems, and stands to be made of quality materials.
4. Look for Separate Course and Fine Focus Features: Look for a microscope with both coarse and fine focus settings, this will provide better clarity and image quality when using an attachable USB digital camera hooked up to a PC or TV.
5. Look for Halogen Lighting: Halogen lighting is ideal for its clarity and noticeable brightness. 

6. Look for Glass Lenses: Glass plan optics are of greater quality and are suitable for professional and lab use. Semi-plan lenses are idea for schools, students, and hobbyists.
7. Consider a Mechanical Stage: A mechanical stage allows for easier movability and can handle a larger project and/or specimen. Mechanical stages are essential for medical and laboratory microscope work. 

A great beginner microscope at a reasonable price is our Industrial Inspection Monocular Microscope Zoom 7x-90x.


Product Features Include:

• Height adjustable holder ready for attaching ring light
• High definition images
• High quality eyepieces
• Ready to connect to USB digital camera
• Zoom lenses 7x~90x, crystal clear at any point
• Long working distance allow enough lighting options
• Sharp images over a wide field view
• Metal stand and framework
• Product GS and CE approved
• Manufacturer in business 30+ years

Darkfield Microscopes

A darkfield microscope is when the background is dark and/or blacked out and the viewed image or specimen appears brighter in color and intensity. This type of microscopy is ideal for viewing live specimens, such as bacteria and blood cell samples. We have microscopes to suit your darkfield needs in microscopy. If you already have a microscope with us we also offer microscope accessories and supplies that can be incorporated into your existing compound microscope for darkfield capabilities. You can upgrade with a higher intensity light and illuminator. 

The way a darkfield microscope works is the light from the bottom of the microscope is blocked in between the condensing lens below the stage. This blockage of light allows for light to enter from the sides of the stage. The viewer will only see the scattered fragments of light illuminating the specimen; The background will appear dark. Advantages of darkfield microscopy are that you will get quality, high contrast images using cost effective equipment.

Suggested Microscope:
40X-1600X Compound Darkfield 2MP Digital Microscope
Model No: M824-A191-C20C

This model offers binocular viewing with both darkfield and brightfield system options. It comes with a 2.0 megapixel digital camera system that allows for still and live image capturing via USB connection to a computer. This microscope also offers eight magnification settings and is idea for students, laboratory purposes, and experiments.

For more information and product features check out our selection of darkfield microscopes
Shop now: http://bit.ly/11Rl53n