Polarizing Microscopes

Several types of microscopes are at hand for study of biological materials. Their classification is based on the types of light source used and consists of two main categories; optical microscopes utilizing visible light and microscopes that utilize sources other than visible light. 

Polarizing Microscope: Many natural objects including crystals & fibers exhibit special optical property known as double refraction or birefringence. Birefringence is caused by asymmetric particles, too small to be resolved even by best possible lenses. The polarizing microscope is a conventional microscope in which a nickel prism or Polaroid sheet is interposed in the light path below the condenser. This polarizer converts all the light passing through the instrument into plain polarized light. A similar second prism know as the analyzer is placed within the barrel of the microscope above the objective lens. When the analyzer is rotated until its axis is perpendicular to that of polarizer, no light can pass through the ocular lens, resulting in a dark field effect. The field will remain black if an isotropic or singly refractive object is placed on the stage. A birefringent object, however, will appear bright upon a dark background when examined in this manner.

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We recommend the 40x-1000x Trinocular Infinity Polarizing Microscope with 9.0 MP Camera

Shop: http://bit.ly/19tAQRO

Images Using OMAX Binocular Stereo Microscopes

Finding fun things to view with your stereo microscope is easier than you might think. If you simply walk around your house or outside in the back yard you can find an endless supply of interesting samples for microscope viewing. Below are some low powered magnifications taken with some of our binocular stereo microscopes, enjoy!


Taken with Model: G223B


Taken with Model: G225AL


Taken with Model: XV321HL54P


Taken with Model: XG327HL54P


Taken with Model: XG327HL54P

25 Amazing Images for an Electron Microscope

Check out the top 25 most amazing images taken with a high powered electron microscope.

(Via list25 Youtube Channel)

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.

More on Darkfield Microscopy

Darkfield microscopy requires a special stand containing a reflective mirror and light shielding plate at a specific angle. The inverted hollow cone is projective of the desired image at an oblique angle. This process is the same for both stereo microscopes and standard compound microscopes. 

Good specimens for darkfield microscopy are those close in value to their background images. Small aquatic organisms and cells are ideal for such microscopic lighting technique. Specimens preferred for use with brightfield lighting are not recommended. Other ideal specimens for darkfield microscopy under a stereo microscope include bones, fibers, yeast, and hairs.

Illumination from brightfield lighting involves blocking out central light rays along the central axis. Blocking these rays allows for only oblique angled rays to strike the specimen resulting in a hollowed cone illumination of the desired specimen.

In darkfield lighting, contrast is greatly enhanced by the lighting technique at hand. Highly oblique light rays, diffracted by the specimen and yielding first, second, and higher diffracted orders at the rear focal plane of the objective, proceed onto the image plane where they interfere with one another to produce an image of the specimen.

We recommend our 1600X Darkfield Compound 9MP Digital Siedentopf PLAN Microscope
with 4 PLAN objectives and darkfield condenser. 

Microscopes for Homeschoolers

Microscopes are beneficial for students who are homeschooled because it enables them to have the same type of exposure to science and experiments as those enrolled in public education institutions. 

 

The first thing you need to decide is what kind of observations your child/student will be expected to view and what kind of experiments he/she will partake in during the school year. Next you will need to decide if it is best to purchase a compound or stereo microscope. 

A compound microscope is only useful got looking at slides, which may get rather boring for students, slides must be purchased or made at home, which can be tedious and time consuming. A stereo microscope will enable your student to view live specimens, 3-D objects, and some slide use. 

For normal observations, you probably will not need a microscope with a magnification higher than 400X. 400X magnification is generally the highest level students use in most high school courses. 

Experiment Ideas:

If you decide to purchase a stereo microscope you can fill a small plastic tray with pond water and have them look through the side of the container with the microscope. If you decide to purchase a compound microscope you can purchase plain slides and cover slips and make your own slides out of vegetable peels, plants, and other transparent 3-D objects. 

Polarizing Microscopes Explained

A polarizing microscope is a microscope that is mainly used in geological studies to study geological specimens. For this reason, it is also known as a petrographic microscope. It is used in other scientific fields such as medicine and biology as well.

Polarizing microscopes are built like regular optical microscope, but are fitted with some extra features. Unlike regular microscopes which use normal light, a polarizing microscope uses polarized light to study specimens. In polarized light, the light waves vibrate in one direction; in normal light, the light waves vibrate in random directions.

Geological specimens ground into thin sections for study. The specimen to be studied is placed on a slide on a rotatable specimen stage. The specimen is then illuminated by a light source under the specimen stage.

We recommend our “Trinocular Infinity Polarizing Microscope with 1.3 MP Camera”

Product Features Include:

• Capable of bright field, and polarized light observation
• Infinity optical system, Kohler transmitted illumination
• 5 plan infinity strain free achromatic objectives
• Polarizer
• Analyzer
• Bertrand lens
• Compensator plates
• 1.3 MP digital camera  

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

Jewel Gem Microscopes

Jewel Gem microscopes are utilized by gemologists and gem enthusiasts alike. Although correct filters and a quality refractive index fluids will allow you to identify a gemstone by their internal characteristics and optic characteristics.

A microscope useful for gemology will need to have the following properties..

• 10X-80X Magnification
• Adjustable Illumination
• Darkfield Lighting Option
• Zooming Objective Lens
• Widefield Eyepieces

Other additional features that are useful to gem identification include LED lights and gooseneck lighting for maximum work space utilization. 

Our professional gem jewel darkfield stereo microscope is ideal for commercial gemologists.Click here to view product. 

Boom Stand Stereo Microscopes

A stereo microscope is a very practical microscope and certainly a great starter microscope for students and beginners. It is ideal for dissecting or low power magnification views of specimens. 

Stereo microscopes with a boom stand are ideal for industrial inspection. Boom stand microscopes include single and dual armed stands or articulating arms usually averaging 20-50 pounds in weight. The benefits of having a microscope with an articulating arm are that you can move the microscope to just about any area of your work space for technical projects that require a larger work surface.

The main benefits of a boom stand microscope are:

• Extra work space
• Simple to use
• Increased working distance
• Increased field of view

Check out our Boom Stand 3.5-9.0X Binocular Zoom Microscope with 54 LED Light

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

Inspection Microscopes

Inspection Microscopes

Inspection microscopes offer a wide field system. Our model comes with a USB digital camera that can be used with a TV and/or computer. These microscopes are good for labs, gemologists, and engravers. They are also useful in semiconductor and manufacturing industries.

OMAX 3D Rotary Inspection Microscope

This microscope has many useful features including:

• ·         A bright LED ring light
• ·         A 360 degree panoramic view with 3-D inspection
• ·         A wide field view of specimen
• ·         A view of live and still images
• ·         A built in camera; no computer and/or TV hookup is needed

With this microscope you have many options for views and settings. You can slide the attachments in and out for a 2-D and 3-D view.  It also allows you to have live or still slide viewings of organisms.  You can also have side by side comparisons on one screen, which is ideal for lab research and observation purposes. 

Check out our 3 dimensional rotary inspection microscope with 7:1 Zoom capability

Model No: PD512VGA

Shop Now: http://bit.ly/12ZvGZn

Microscope 101:

Microscopy..whether it be for educational purposes, research, or just plain curiosity..we all have to learn the basics. After this tutorial you will be able to identify the various aspects of a basic microscope and be able to know how to adjust the settings and magnification accordingly.

Microscope Component Overview:

• Binocular Eyepieces: Looking lens for your microscope
• Objectives: Usually consisting of 3 magnification settings 
• Stage: Hold your slides in place
• Light source: Illuminate image at hand
• Fine focus control: fine focus adjustments
• Rough focus control: rough focus adjustments
• Stage control Adjustments: adjusts stage closer and farther and from side to side
• Dimmer switch: Controls light source level and intensity

Adjusting Your Microscope:

• Turn on light source
• Adjust stage and light settings
• Start off on lowest magnification setting
• Adjust focus on image under slide

Now that you have a better understanding about the basics of a compound and stereo microscope you can browse our inventory to find out which microscope suits your personal and educational needs.

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