Compound
If you are viewing very small specimens like blood samples, bacteria, parasites, algae, tissue, and thin sections of organs, you will need a compound microscope. High power magnification allows you to see the detail accurately,
and a typical compound scope has 3-5 objective lenses ranging from 4x-100x. Assuming 10x eyepieces and 100x objective, the total magnification would be 1,000 times!
Stereo
A stereo microscope is ideal if you’re viewing larger specimens like insects, leaves, gemstones and rocks. Less magnification power is required here, with many stereo scopes offering ranges of 6.5x – 45x. With every stereo
microscope you essentially have two compound scopes side-by-side, meaning you have a natural offset from one another, ensuring excellent depth perception in opaque and 3D objects.
We're here to help!
Finding the right microscope can be difficult, especially if you’re investing in your first stereo or compound microscope, but we’re always on hand to answer your questions and make recommendations once we understand
your workflow, budget and needs.