Re: Help Request - Best scope for $300

On Nov 17, 8:13 am, cpiel <cp...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

For future readers, here is what I found:

There are basically 2 types of microscopes: Compound and Inspection.

Compound are for looking at slides (which need to be meticulously
prepared with paper thin slices of the sample you are trying to view
unless you buy prepared ones). They can go up to about 1600X which is
considered high power although there are low power compound scopes
available as well. To look at skin cells for example, you would need
a compound microscope.

Inspection scopes are for looking at 3 dimensional objects such as
insects (even tiny ones), gemstones, etc. They typically go up to
about 90X which is considered low power

Both types come in Monocular, Binocular, Trinocular. Monocular is
less expensive but can be harder on the eyes, Binocular is easier on
the eyes and Trinocular just gives you an “extra” view for either a
second person or a camera attachment if you want to add one later on.

For either type, be careful to look at the power (90X, 1600X etc.)
because this number is obtained by multiplying the objective lens
power by the eyepiece lens power. The objective lens is the one
closest to the object you are viewing and determines the resolution/
detail of the image. The eyepiece lens simply magnifies the image
presented to it from the objective lens and does not help resolution
whatsoever. Therefore, 2 scopes with 90X power could give very
different quality of images. For instance, one with a 9X objective
and 10X eyepiece would show much better detail than one with a 4.5X
objective and a 20X eyepiece.

Since this scope is for my son for Christmas to view little creatures,
I chose a Trinocular Stereo Zoom Inspection Scope. I purchased it
from www.amscope.com

The reason I chose Trinocular (instead of Binocular) is so we can
eventually buy him a camera attachment for it.
.

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