There are four main types of microscopes: compound, stereo, Digital and Pocket or handheld microscopes.
Compound Microscope
A compound microscope is a single magnification optical system with two eyepieces and an objective lens. It has two eyepieces, and the objective lens forms a compound eye. Because of this, it can magnify objects more than ordinary microscopes. With this type of microscope, the minor thing that the microscope can see is 300 micrometers (0.3mm) in diameter.
Types of Compound Microscope
- Brightfield Microscopes
- Darkfield Microscopes
- Metallurgical Microscopes
- Inverted Microscopes
- Polarizing Microscopes
- Phase Contrast Microscopes
- EPI Fluorescence Microscopes
- Brightfield Microscopes
Brightfield microscopes are the most common type of microscope sold. They are affordable, portable, and easy to use. They are also easy to clean, have good resolution and have a wide field of view. However, brightfield microscopes require the user to acquire many types of images before one can conclude.
Darkfield Microscopes
Darkfield microscopes allow one to observe fluorescent objects on slides at very close range. The images produced by darkfield microscopes are not as straightforward as those produced by brightfield microscopes. Still, they are more accurate than those produced by stereo-microscopes, which rely on two live images somehow presented separately or even inverted.
Metallurgical Microscopes
A Metallurgical microscope aids in the study of metals. On a standard microscope, you have to put small pieces of metal to view them at a close distance. A metallurgical microscope is used to consider a broader range of metals at a closer range.
Inverted Microscopes
Inverted Microscopes have a sliding metal tube that connects the objective lens and the eyepiece. This connects them upside down and hence gives better quality images than ordinary microscopes.
Polarity Microscopes
Polarity Microscopes are used to see fluorescence in polarized light, which is essential for many objects like chromosomes and fluorescence microscopy.
Phase Contrast Microscopes
Phase contrast microscopes are used to see the internal structures of a fluorescent object by using a phase-contrast method. The phase-contrast method is used because it allows one to see the best quality images from both brightfield and darkfield microscopes.
EPI Fluorescence Microscopes
Epifluorescence microscopes are used to see and photograph objects and cell parts with great detail and accuracy. They are the best microscopes for observing microscopic organisms, plants, animals, and other things.
Stereo Microscope
Microscopes were invented many years ago, and the first ones only allowed the user to see one image at a time. Later on, microscope manufacturers developed a way of presenting two or more ideas at once. This is how the stereo microscope came about. It is also known as a comparator microscope. A stereo microscope can display two images of an object at once with different magnifications.
Types of Stereo Microscope
- Fixed Power Stereo Microscopes
- Zoom Power Stereo Microscopes
Fixed Power Stereo Microscopes
Fixed power stereoscopes are the oldest type of stereo microscope. They have a constant magnification, usually 10x or 15x, no matter what the slide’s topography. Their great advantage is that they are cheap and easy to use.
Zoom Power Stereo Microscopes
Zoom power stereo microscopes allow a powerful magnification of any object in a slide using a 12x zoom lens. A-Zoom power microscope is handy when the image on the slide cannot be adequately seen due to its size. When this happens, one can use higher magnification to get a clear view. However, that kind of microscope is more expensive than the fixed power stereoscope.
Digital Microscope
A digital microscope consists of hardware and software, also known as an electronic microscope, computerized microscope, or digital optical microscope. The hardware includes a low-power objective lens with an image sensor that captures high resolution or magnification levels. The software allows the hardware to be used.
The software used in a digital microscope enables the user to view the image of an object in three dimensions using a head-mounted display. This is similar to how one would consider an image in the real world if they were looking through a pair of binoculars, but it is done much more quickly. The clarity and detail of the images are much better than standard microscopes (except when used with stereo microscopes).
The image captured by this type of microscope can be analyzed in much greater detail than with electronic microscopes, which can only capture 2D images. Digital microscopes are also much easier to use than ordinary microscopes.
Types of Digital Microscope
- Fluorescence Digital Microscopes
- Electronic Zoom Digital Microscopes
Fluorescence Digital Microscopes
Fluorescence digital microscopes are used to study fluorescent objects. That is why they are also known as fluorescent microscopes. They use digital technology and a camera to record and process images captured by the microscope’s objective lens. These microscopes are more expensive than standard digital microscopes because of the higher quality of the images recorded.
Electronic Zoom Digital Microscopes
Electronic zoom digital microscopes are more accurate than standard ones because they use computer technology to manage data recorded by the microscope’s objective lens.
Pocket or Handheld Microscopes
Pocket Microscopes are known by many other names like Handheld Microscopes, Digital Pocket Microscopes, etc. They are portable microscopes that you can carry around quite easily because of their size and weight.
Pocket microscopes are easy to use because they do not require any special training. They are also very cheap, costing only about $50 for the most inexpensive.
Pocket microscopes use different types of technology like digital imaging to enhance the images that they produce. Most pocket microscopes have built-in batteries, so there is no need for external power sources or batteries when using them. This makes them ideal for fieldwork and other occasions where external power sources may not be available.
What Is the Best Microscope for Bacteria?
It is difficult to answer this question because there are many different microscopes, each with other features. To know which one is best for bacteria, it must be understood what the purpose of the microscope is.
One purpose is to identify different microscopic forms of bacteria; these can help diagnose and health care professionals. Another aim is to study, understand and compare how cells work and relate them to their functions in human bodies.
The best microscope for bacteria would be a stereoscopic microscope because they provide a clear image at a higher magnification level than other microscopes without the need for any extra cameras or computer assistance. When viewing bacteria, one should ensure that the slide has details that can be seen using the microscope. This will ensure that there is no information lost when using the microscope.
Conclusion
Microscopes are essential tools that help us learn more about our world by allowing us to see tiny things that we otherwise would not be able to see. They are also used in various fields of study, including medicine, biology, and chemistry.
When learning about microscopes, one should always refer to the different components to know which kind of microscope is best for them. Since there are so many different types of microscopes, one must learn how each microscope works for them to be able to properly analyze the sample that they are viewing.
FAQ’s
Q1. What is the best microscope for kids?
A1. The best microscope, in my opinion, is an electronic microscope. You can use them in educational institutions or your home.
Q2. What is the best microscope for students?
A2. The answer to this question depends on what type of students you are talking about. Still, one must understand that the most important thing is that microscopes are made with precision in mind because there are many different kinds of microscopes. Many specific features do not exist in others, causing some people to have more trouble when they use them.
Q3.What is the best microscope for jewelry?
A3. The best microscope for jewelry is a zoom pocket microscope.