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 Shop for Microscopes |
First of all, invest in cast alloy and metal microscopes. While plastic scopes do provide magnification and can stand up to rugged conditions, these cheaper scopes generally have bad reputations among industry aficionados. Moreover, cast iron scopes aren’t typically that much more expensive. Look for rust guard protection, particularly if you plan to examine marine or pond specimens in the field.
If you're looking to examine insects, leaves, or other sample materials on relatively low power, you can opt for a stereomicroscope. Typically, you'll get a range of magnifications (from 10 times to 40 times). Remember that a rating of “10 times” actually provides 100 X magnification (your eyepiece lens automatically provides a “base” magnification of 10X).
If you want a deeper magnification, you can check out compound monocular scopes. These scopes typically have both course and fine adjustments. You may be able to find compound monoculars with 100X magnification, although you typically must prepare such slides for fine-grained examination by immersing them in oil. If you're looking to see the natural world as it “really is,” you can invest in so called achromatic lenses, which do not use automatic color correction. These special lenses are slightly more expensive, but they can enhance home science projects significantly.
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