Category: News & Events

Today’s microscopy cameras offer a wide variety of options for connecting to the camera and transferring data including camera control, image viewing and acquisition.  Traditionally, cameras would feature one option for data transfer (e.g., USB port), but there is greater demand for flexibility in the way we connect to and control our cameras.

USB remains the standard for connectivity.  Using software on a PC (Windows and sometimes Mac), the camera settings can be managed to view and acquire images, and typically offers very good flexibility for image processing, measurement and analysis.  USB may also offer the convenience of providing power to the camera through the USB cable, thereby eliminating a separate power cord and adapter, while reducing clutter on the lab bench.  Sometimes, however, data transfer via USB can be slower than other options we discuss below – the exception is today’s USB 3.0 connections with direct data transfer to the PC’s motherboard.  To get the best and fastest performance from your USB camera when using a desktop PC, be sure to use a USB port on the back of the computer and not the ports in the front.

HDMI is a popular option for transferring a live stream of the image directly to a monitor (or TV) without the need for a PC.  Frame rates are typically 30-60fps, and some newer cameras produce 4K images.  Cameras require some form of control, and this comes in the form of built-in software (discussed in greater detail in our next episode).  Some of these cameras will also have SD card slots or USB ports for storage of captured images onto SD cards or USB flash drives, respectively. WiFi connectivity is increasingly popular as it allows students and scientists to connect to and control the camera with their ever-present mobile phones – simply download the app to the mobile device, connect to the camera, and you are ready to start imaging.  The mobile apps are relatively easy to use and navigate.  These apps offer a streamlined selection of features compared to the computer apps, yet are quite sufficient for basic camera control and image acquisition.  The one hiccup with WiFi cameras is that speed of live image viewing can be impacted by the resolution of the camera (more megapixels require more bandwidth to push the data over the WiFi), and this is compounded by the number of mobile devices simultaneously connected to that camera (the more devices connected, the slower the performance).

Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) ports are finding their way into some microscopy cameras.  Where Ethernet runs at up to 100Mbps, GigE transfers data 10X faster (1Gbps).  The most common application here is to connect the camera to a local area network (LAN), thus allowing multiple remote PCs to access and control the camera provided they are all connected to the same LAN and are running the camera’s imaging software.  Another advantage is that the massive bandwidth allows multiple cameras to connect to a centralized imaging computer.  Depending on the imaging software, you could consider running multiple imaging experiments at the same time.

Multiple Connectivity

Today we are finding more cameras offering combinations of connectivity forms.  A camera with HDMI is commonly available with a USB connection. 

• Teledyne Lumenera Infinity 5 cameras feature HDMI and USB
  • Watch live HD video on a monitor via HDMI. 
  • To ensure accurate color in the image, a white balance button is located on the camera housing.
  • Snap an image to on-board storage.
  • Connect to PC via USB and get all the benefits of camera control, image processing and analysis with INFINITY Analyze software (available at no cost).
• ACCU-SCOPE Excelis HD camera has HDMI, USB and removable storage.
  • The Excelis HD will stream live HD video to a monitor, and also includes built-in software for better camera control and some basic measurement capabilities.  ACCU-SCOPE also offers a model with an attachable HD monitor for the ultimate in a stand-alone imaging system.
  • Connect the Excelis HD to a PC and control it using CaptaVision+ software.
  • Snap an image (or video) and save it directly to the removable SD card.  A convenient option to transfer those images to a PC at a later time.
• ACCU-SCOPE Excelis 4K features both USB and HDMI connections and adds a GigE Ethernet port.
  • Live stream directly to a monitor via HDMI without a computer.  Use a 4K monitor for the best viewing.
  • Use the GigE port to connect to a local network.  Any computer on the same network and with CaptaVision+ installed can view live images and even control the camera.
  • The USB 3.0 port connects to your Windows or Mac PC for camera control and advanced imaging capabilities using CaptaVision+.
• The ACCU-SCOPE SKYE WiFi 2 camera provides both WiFi and USB connection options.
  • The 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi bands are ideal for connecting to an Apple iOS or Android mobile device with the SKYE View 2 mobile app.
  • PC users can connect to the SKYE WiFi 2 camera by WiFi or USB and control the camera with the SKYE View 2 for Windows app.  Mac support is not yet available.
  • SKYE WiFi 2 supports up to 13 connected devices without appreciable loss in frame rate.

The take-home message:  Choose a camera that offers the best type of connection for your type of work.  Students love to use their cell phones, so a WiFi camera may be attractive for classroom settings (NOTE: Due to traffic on WiFi bands, only a few WiFi cameras may be able to operate simultaneously in a classroom environment).  A USB camera may be optimal for situations where you have a dedicated imaging station with a microscope and computer.  A GigE connection may be ideal for high bandwidth and access to live images across a facility’s computer network.  You have plenty of options!

Stop back later for our next issue where we’ll discuss controlling your camera.

With microscopy cameras, the term shutter refers to the way the camera sensor transfers the data off the chip.  Global shutters read out the data from the entire sensor at the same time and this provides a snapshot of the sample at a single point in time (refer to Figure 13).  A rolling shutter reads off the data row by row, or by alternating rows.  Since each row takes time to read off, the image may show the effect of the slight time delay, resulting in a smearing of the image (refer to Figure 14).  It is important to note that the shutter type is built into the sensor by the sensor manufacturer and not an accessory.

The difference between rolling and global shutter is visualized in captured images.  The caveat is that when viewing live images, framerate is more important than the type of shutter.

Here is our recommendation:

• Static, non-living or dead samples (basically, not moving), you can choose a camera with either a rolling or global shutter, in which case base your purchase decision on other camera parameters. 
• Moving (this includes scanning or stitching) or living samples, a camera with a global shutter camera will serve you better.
• If live image viewing is your goal (e.g., instruction, inspection, etc.) or if your sample has a high degree of motion (e.g., flagella, swimming, etc.), choose a camera with a fast framerate.

Tune in next time for our next post in the series when we discuss connectivity to your camera (i.e., how you interface with the camera) and data transfer.

All cameras have it – noise that is – and it finds its way into your images.  The nature of electronics and signal amplification contribute to noise in your images, and heat on the camera sensor compounds the issue.  Not only does thermal noise degrade your image, but the warmer the sensor gets in the camera, the more noise that develops.

To correct for this, manufacturers integrate various cooling methods to remove the heat from the sensor, thereby reducing noise.

Most cameras contain heat sinks to passively pull heat away from the sensor, but they only go so far.  Add a fan to help dissipate the heat from the heatsink and there is significant reduction in thermal noise.  Other cameras use Peltier thermoelectric cooling, liquid cooling, and combinations of these.  The cooler the sensor is kept, the lower the noise in your image.  The caveat is that the more technology built into the camera, the cost of the camera goes up.

The take-home message here is to choose the amount of cooling you expect to need – less cooling is needed for brightfield color imaging and more cooling for very low light fluorescence or luminescence imaging where exposures tend to be longer.  For basic brightfield imaging regardless of magnification, we recommend an uncooled camera.  For low light imaging where sensitivity really matters (e.g., fluorescence), you should consider a cooled camera.  The following cooled cameras available from ACCU-SCOPE should be on your list to consider for low light and fluorescence imaging where longer exposures are more common:

BEST: Teledyne Lumenera INFINITY3-1, available in monochrome or color.

GOOD: ACCU-SCOPE MPX-20RC.

Our next part in this series will review the different types of electronic camera shutters and when you may choose a certain type.

The discussion of whether to choose a camera with a CCD or CMOS sensor is practically moot at this point.  CCDs (Charge-Coupled Device) were the norm up until a little more than a decade ago.  They offered better sensitivity and generated less noise in the signal (think of it as static) than their CMOS counterparts – this was all the result of the sensor architecture and how the data was transferred.  For even greater sensitivity, CCDs could be intensified (called ICCDs) to further amplify the signal.  ICCDs are still in use today and are suitable for very low light applications such as fluorescence and luminescence.  One last note about CCDs is that Sony discontinued production of CCDs in 2017, focusing their development efforts on CMOS technologies.  Other companies still manufacture CCDs, but attention has definitely shifted towards CMOS.

CMOS sensors are generally less expensive to manufacture and rapidly found popularity in consumer cameras, cell phones and security cameras.  Due to their physical architecture, CMOS sensors lacked the sensitivity of CCDs.  More recently, manufacturers found that by flipping the architecture upside-down and putting the circuitry below the photodiode, sensitivity was dramatically improved, and electronic noise reduced as a result.  This CMOS sensor architecture is referred to as back-illuminated CMOS (Figure 9).

Although both CCD and CMOS sensor types are suitable for most imaging applications, the recent trend is toward CMOS.  The latest advancements in CMOS technology also makes it difficult to recommend a camera based solely on the camera sensor architecture (CCD vs. CMOS), and we suggest you consider other camera features that may be relevant for your individual application.

The next part this series will review noise control in cameras through cooling, and how much you need in your microscopy camera.

By now you understand if you need a color or monochrome camera, and you’ve determined how you will attach the camera to your microscope. But what about the “megapixels”?  More is better, right?  If you are using a microscope as your camera lens, our recommendation is not to follow the general consumer hype that more megapixels are better.  Although this may be true for your cell phone, the logic doesn’t transfer to your microscope.  Let’s look at resolution more closely from the perspective of microscopy imaging. Warning: This may get a little geeky.

Unfortunately, choosing the optimal camera resolution isn’t as easy as picking color or monochrome.  This will involve a little bit of math and in the end, you will have a general idea of when more resolution is better and when it’s not.

Optimal camera resolution (pixel size and # of pixels) depends on the resolution of the microscope and the magnification that is used for imaging.  In a microscope two objects are said to be “resolved” when they can be clearly distinguished from each other.  This is referred to as the Rayleigh Criterion – it defines the optical resolution of the microscope and is illustrated below.  When viewing objects in a microscope that are below the limit of resolution (we refer to them as point sources of light), each creates a pattern called an Airy disk, appearing somewhat like concentric ripples in water with a much taller peak in the middle.  Figure 6 below illustrates a sideview of the Airy disk pattern of two objects that are fully resolved, just resolved, and not resolved, respectively.

Mathematically, the Rayleigh Criterion (d) is described as:

d = 0.61λ/NA

where λ is the wavelength of light and NA is the Numerical Aperture of the objective (this assumes that your microscope has been correctly adjusted for Köhler illumination, so the condenser has the same NA as the objective). Why does the wavelength of light matter? Simply stated, resolution improves with shorter wavelengths — better resolution with blue light than red.

In microscopy, Rayleigh’s criterion is typically expressed in nm (nanometers) or µm (microns, micrometers).  So how does this fit with the number of pixels in a camera?  The Nyquist-Shannon theorem requires a sampling interval (in our case the pixels of the camera) that is at least twice the optical resolution.  You can also think of the Airy disk of each object being covered by at least 2 pixels.  Consider that each of the two objects mentioned above are so small that they are only detected by one pixel each – their size is at or below the optical resolution of the microscope.  If the objects are detected by adjacent pixels, we couldn’t tell if it were two objects or one slightly larger object.  But if there is an empty pixel between them thereby satisfying the Nyquist-Shannon criterion, then we can say that the two objects are resolved on the camera.

Below is a figure adapted from the Cell Sciences Imaging Facility at Stanford University.  It illustrates two objects (point sources) that are separated by the resolution of the microscope according to Rayleigh’s Criterion.  The Airy disks for each cover approximately 3 pixels wide on the camera sensor.  Therefore you can see that the bright peaks of each Airy disk can be clearly identified by single pixels that are well separated by two other pixels.  If we move the objects closer together, you can see that we would not be able to definitely say that our camera can detect two separate objects or just one that may span two pixels.

Magnification adds an additional more variable to the calculation for camera resolution.  Higher magnifications project larger images onto the camera sensor, so the pixels can be larger and still satisfy the Nyquist-Shannon criterion.  Larger pixels collect more light and, therefore, are more sensitive.

So here is the quick takeaway message about camera resolution.  If you are using lower magnifications (e.g., stereo microscopes at lower zoom levels), then you will want smaller pixels and more of them.  If you are imaging at higher magnifications (e.g., 40X objective and higher), then you will want larger pixels.

Below are our recommendations for cameras depending on your microscope and magnification. Although they may not exactly fit the criteria discussed above, they are reasonably close and will perform adequately.

Stereo Microscopes:

• BEST:
  • Teledyne Lumenera INFINITY8-20.  20MP with USB connection to PC.
• BETTER:
  • Teledyne Lumenera INFINITY8-8.  8MP, available in color or monochrome.
  • ACCU-SCOPE Excelis 20RC.  20MP with cooling for increased sensitivity and lower noise.
• GOOD:
  • ACCU-SCOPE Excelis 20C.  20MP color camera with USB connection to PC.
  • ACCU-SCOPE Excelis MPX-6C.  2.4µm pixels.

Upright and Inverted Microscopes (40X objective or higher):

• BEST:
  • Teledyne Lumenera INFINITY3 series cameras (4.54µm – 6.45µm pixels, depending on model; color or monochrome)
  • Teledyne Photometrics Moment camera (4.5µm, monochrome only)
• BETTER:
  • Teledyne Lumenera INFINITY5 series.  3.45µm pixels, available in color or monochrome.
  • ACCU-SCOPE Excelis MPX-5C Pro.  3.45µm pixels.
• GOOD:
  • ACCU-SCOPE Excelis HD.  8MP color camera with built-in software for stand-alone operation or USB connection to PC.

Upright and Inverted Microscopes (lower than 40X objective):

• BEST:
  • Teledyne Lumenera INFINITY5 series.  3.45µm pixels, available in color or monochrome.
  • Teledyne Lumenera INFINITY8-8 cameras.  4.5µm pixels, available in color or monochrome.
  • ACCU-SCOPE Excelis MPX-5C Pro.  3.45µm pixels.
• BETTER:
  • ACCU-SCOPE Excelis HD.  8MP color camera with built-in software for stand-alone operation or USB connection to PC.
  • ACCU-SCOPE Excelis MPX-6C.  2.4µm pixels.
• GOOD:
  • ACCU-SCOPE SKYE WiFi 2 camera.  WiFi camera (uses an app on your mobile device), or USB connection to a Windows PC).
  • Excelis HD Lite. Similar to Excelis HD, smaller pixels, no measurement capability with built-in software.

For a deeper dive into resolution with some examples using different objectives, please read this blog on the Teledyne Lumenera website.  More information on microscope resolution, Nyquist and Shannon sampling theorems and camera selection can be readily found on the internet.

In the next part of this series, we will discuss the different types of camera sensors and how they may impact your imaging.

This may seem too obvious, but a major consideration when adding a camera to your microscope is how to make that connection between the camera and its lens — your microscope.  If your microscope has a camera port or a trinocular viewing head, then it is easy to find an adapter that will couple a camera to the microscope.  The most common adapters (a.k.a. couplers) for microscopy cameras is the c-mount adapter.  It features an industry-standard 1” diameter thread with 32 threads per inch.  The flange of the c-mount is 17.526mm from the camera sensor plane.  The c-mount can accommodate cameras with sensors up to 18mm diagonal, beyond which cameras will use other types of mounts such as T or F.

If your microscope does not have a camera port or trinocular head, you may be able to add a camera port as an accessory on some styles of microscopes.  For some upright (compound) microscopes, ACCU-SCOPE offers an intermediate accessory that is installed between the microscope frame and the viewing head.  The camera port on the accessory accepts standard c-mount adapters – you can contact ACCU-SCOPE for our recommendation of the best adapters to use.

One important note about camera adapters.  They are available in a variety of magnifications, which are intended to match the image size coming from the microscope to the size of the camera sensor.  Too low a magnification and you will see shading in the corners called vignetting.  Too high a magnification and you only see a small portion of the field of view see through the eyepieces.  To determine an appropriate adapter magnification for your camera, match the adapter magnification with the diagonal measurement (in inches) of the camera sensor.  For example, a 2/3” camera sensor (2 ÷ 3 = 0.667) would use a 0.667X camera adapter.  This is just an estimate, so consult with your microscope sales representative for options.  Sometimes a lower magnification adapter will give excellent results while still avoiding vignetting.  For more information on selecting a camera coupler, you can refer to this application note from our friends at Teledyne Lumenera.

In the absence of any specific camera port, you can use the eyetube as the camera port.  The ACCU-SCOPE ACCU-CAM eyepiece camera is designed to fit into the eyetube of your microscope without the need of an adapter – just remove the eyepiece first.  The ACCU-CAM has a USB connection to a Windows PC for controlling the camera and snapping images.  Eyepiece cameras can turn any microscope into a digital microscope, even monocular microscopes!

In the next installment of this series, we’ll explore the relationship of microscope resolution, camera resolution and pixel size and how these may impact your quest for a microscopy camera.

Microscopes are found in laboratories and science classrooms around the globe.  With the advent of digital cameras, it is now even easier to upgrade a microscope to view the live image on a screen or monitor, capture images for documentation and analysis, and even stream live images with remote colleagues.

But not all cameras are alike, so how do you know which camera is best for you?  Over the course of this multi-part series, we’ll try to explain the key specifications of cameras and why they matter.  By the end, you should have a good idea of the best camera for your microscope type and application.

PART 1:  Color or Monochrome

Let’s start with an easy question: Do you need a color or monochrome camera?  If you are snapping photos of specimens with many different colors and you need to capture your specimens in all their colorful glory, then a color camera would be best.

But say your specimen is fluorescent, and it doesn’t appear very bright when viewed through the eyepieces.  Even if you may want to view your specimen with different fluorescent channels (different excitation wavelengths and different emission wavelengths, therefore different colors), then a monochrome camera may be your best option.  Let’s explore why. To create a color image, most color cameras use color filters in a distinctive pattern overlayered onto the pixels of the camera sensor.  The Bayer mosaic mask is the most common color filter pattern (see Figure 1).  The tiny filters are arranged in a 2×2 pattern with position 1 being blue, positions 2 and 3 are green, and position 4 is red.  Firmware on the camera itself “fills in the gaps” so that every pixel is interpreted by a computer or monitor as having all three color components – red, blue and green.

By definition, a filter only allows some things to pass through it.  In the case of a color camera, the pixels only “see” a little bit of the light that emanates from the sample.  Monochrome cameras do not have these filters.  For this reason, monochrome cameras are more sensitive than their color counterparts by allowing more light to reach the pixels on the sensor.

Just because monochrome cameras are “color blind” doesn’t mean that you can’t view the image in color.  To make it more appealing to the human eye, most camera software allows the user to apply a color to the monochromatic image, often referred to as pseudocoloring.  Most people will pseudocolor a monochrome image using a color similar to what they would see through the eyepieces (e.g., DAPI has peak emission at 461nm, so a blue of ~461nm is generally used).  In Figure 2, the nuclei were stained with DAPI.  The mitochondria were labeled with a red-emitting fluorophore, and the cytoskeleton was labeled with a green-fluorescing fluorophore.  Each of those channels was pseudocolored according to the emission color of the fluorophore.  Monochrome images, however, allow the user to choose any color to differentiate one stained structure in the sample from another.

ACCU-SCOPE is proud to carry microscopy cameras from Teledyne Lumenera.  Lumenera Infinity cameras are available in both color and monochrome versions.  View the selection of Infinity cameras HERE.  ACCU-SCOPE also offers color cameras for a wide variety of applications.  View them HERE.

In the next part of our series, we’ll explore how your microscope configuration may impact your camera selection.

It is believed that compound microscopes (also known as upright microscopes) have been around since 1590, when Dutch spectacle-maker Zacharias Janssen invented this incredible piece of technology. Since then, scientists and students alike have used upright microscopes to examine specimens that are too small to be visible with the naked eye. What sets them apart from other microscopes is their use of multiple lenses for magnification, flatness correction and color correction. Typical upright microscopes have objective lenses and an eyepiece lens to obtain magnifications between 40x and 1000x. These microscopes are often the go-to choice thanks to their incredible power and simplicity in operation.

To determine if an upright microscope is right for you, let’s look at how it works and in which applications it is best used.

Parts of an Upright Microscope

The components of your particular upright microscope may vary based on the configuration of the instrument, but most uprights have the following features:

• Eyepiece (ocular): This is the lens through which the observer will look. It typically provides 10x or 15x power.
• Viewing head: This is the connector piece between the eyepiece and the objective lenses.
• Arm: This piece connects the head to the base of the microscope.
• Base: This is the bottom of the microscope.
• Revolving nosepiece: This part of the microscope holds the objective lenses. Rotate the nosepiece to change to another objective..
• Objective lens: Typically, an upright microscope will have three or four objective lenses. The shortest lens has the lowest power, while the longest objective usually has the highest power.
• Stage: This is the platform where the observer places their slides. The stage usually has clips to hold the slides in place. If the stage is mechanical, two knobs on the side will allow the stage to move left and right.
• Condenser: This component is located under the stage (between the sample and illuminator) and concentrates the light delivery to the specimen.
• Rack stop: This component determines how close the objective lens can get to the slide. It is typically set in the factory to prevent the lens from coming down on the slide and breaking it.
• Focus knobs: This component moves the specimen to be in focus through the eyepieces by moving the stage up or down. A coarse focus knob moves the stage faster, while a fine focus knob allows for precise focus of the sample.
• Illuminator: This is the steady light source shining up through the stage.

How an Upright Microscope Works

Unlike a stereo microscope where the light source usually shines from above onto the specimen, an upright microscope’s light source is transmitted from below the stage and upwards through the sample. The observer then looks down upon the specimen through an ocular lens. The focus knobs adjust the object up or down to be in focus to the eyes. The power of the eyepiece and objective lenses are multiplied together thereby creating greater magnification than a single lens alone. Because the working distance between the objective and the sample is so small, upright microscopes are ideal for thin or flat subjects like bacteria on a slide rather than something that is thicker (e.g., a housefly) or that needs to be dissected.

When to Use an Upright Microscope

Upright microscopes are used to observe small samples or details that are generally too small to be seen with the naked eye. They are ideal for life science and cell biology applications because they can utilize basic observation methods including brightfield, phase contrast, darkfield, and fluorescence microscopy of samples (see examples below).

To reveal greater detail, an upright microscope is often used to view thin slices of larger tissue samples from animals. Brightfield observation uses the inherent color in a sample or samples that are stained to add color to and enhance certain features. Phase contrast uses an optical technique to enhance contrast to usually unstained samples, and some existing color may be lost in this process. In darkfield microscopy, light that strikes a sample is scattered and some is captured by the objective for observation, whereas unscattered light never gets captured, resulting in a dark background. Fluorescence microscopy uses fluorescent molecules to tag particular structures in a sample, making them visible to the eye. Differing from the other observation methods above, the light source for fluorescence microscopy shines from above the sample. Because of their ease of use and powerful magnification, upright microscopes can be readily found in various clinical, educational, pharmaceutical, research, and veterinary laboratories.

Trust ACCU-SCOPE to Meet Your Upright Microscopy Needs

Since its invention over 400 years ago, the upright microscope has been used to make amazing scientific discoveries, and is still the most recognized and popular choice of microscope for viewing specimens on a slide. If you’re shopping for quality microscopes for your lab, turn to ACCU-SCOPE for all your microscopy needs. We have an array of microscopes and accessories, including upright microscopes and microscope heads. If you need low magnification for basic observation and dissection, we also have information on stereo microscopes. Don’t hesitate to contact our team to determine which type of microscope is best for your application.

Stereo microscopes have been in use for a little over a century, but it’s not uncommon for those who routinely use them not to know how they differ from other models. Why are stereo microscopes so special?

With two optical paths and eyepieces, stereo microscopes provide a three-dimensional view of the specimen. Like our eyes, the optical paths converge onto the sample, coming to the focus point from different angles, providing a sense of depth that makes stereo microscopes so beneficial for dissecting applications. They also have a long working distance which allows easy access to the sample with tools. For this reason, stereo microscopes are also referred to as dissecting microscopes.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at stereo microscopes, how they work, and in which applications they should be used.

Parts of a Stereo Microscope

Every component of the stereo microscope is important to its unique function. Its parts may vary depending on the configuration and use of the microscope, but an average classroom stereo microscope will have the following components:

• Eyepieces: The microscope’s eyepieces are also called ocular lenses and are the part the viewer looks through to examine the specimen. The eyepieces are normally set at 10x magnification, but some models can reach up to 75x magnification.
• Diopter setting: This microscope component helps prevent eye strain by making up for the differences between the image seen through the left and right eyes.
• Objective lens: Each eyepiece of the stereo microscope is connected to its own objective lens. The microscope’s magnification level can be determined by a single fixed objective, a rotating multiple lens turret, or a zoom.
• Stereo head: This component holds the two eyepieces. In one optical design (Greenough), the objective lenses and stereo head are housed together in a single body.  In the second major optical design (Common main objective or Galilean), the head mounts to the top of the optical zoom body.
• Focus knob: Stereo microscopes are commonly equipped with at least one focus knob. This knob is used to move the stereo head up and down to sharpen the image of the sample.
• Top lighting: Many microscopes only have one source of lighting, but the stereo microscope has a top and bottom light. The top light illuminates the object from above. Top lighting can be built into the microscope stand, or can be delivered by an external source either attached to the bottom of the microscope (like a ring light) or by fiber-optic bundles that direct light where the user needs it (refer to the feature image for this article).
• Bottom lighting: The bottom light of the microscope shines light through the stage and improves the visibility of translucent objects.
• Stage plate: The stage plate is the spot where the specimen is placed. It is directly underneath the objective lens. The plate is often reversible with one black side and one white side to contrast the specimen.
• Stage clips: These clips are designed to hold any slides in place on the stage.

 

How Does a Stereo Microscope Work?

The stereo microscope is an optical light microscope that uses the light reflected off the specimen to create a clear image of the objects’ individual details. It magnifies things at low power and is commonly used with solid or thick samples.

As the light reflects off the object, the viewer’s left and right eyes see different angles of the same sample, creating a three-dimensional image that is more informative for viewing detail and surface structure than a microscope with a single objective.

When Should a Stereo Microscope Be Used?

Because a stereo microscope allows the examination of three-dimensional specimens with its two separate optical paths and long working distance, it can be used in a variety of applications. For example, biologists and students can use these microscopes to perform dissections, while botanists use them to examine plants. They can also aid in repairing circuit boards and watches, cleaning and analyzing fossils, and dermatological examinations.

With additional microscope accessories, the stereo microscope can be configured to match a variety of applications. Boom stands, flex arms, track stands, and table mounts can improve the microscope’s ease of use, and microscope illuminators can enhance the specimen’s image and provide needed contrast.

Looking for Stereo Microscopes? Turn to ACCU-SCOPE

If you’re looking for high-quality stereo microscopes for your research, medical, or instructional purposes, trust ACCU-SCOPE to meet your needs. We have some of the best microscopes in the industry! If you need higher magnifications, we also offer compound microscopes. Contact us today to receive a quote.