Compound Microscope

Compound Microscopes or Light Microscopes are optical microscopes that have two or more convex lenses.  This allows for a detailed study of your specimen in a two dimensional image. Compound Microscopes are available in Monocular, Binocular and Trinocular configurations. They have a number of objectives of varying magnifications that are mounted in a rotating nosepiece. Typically, the range of magnification on a Compound Microscope is between 40x and 1000x. For higher magnification (for example, 10x eyepiece x 40x objective = 400x or total magnification) a mechanical stage is recommended. Some Compound Microscopes are capable of lower or higher magnifications. Because only one objective is used at a time, the viewer will see a two-dimensional image of the specimen. Common uses for Compound Microscopes are for biological applications that include high magnification of internal cell structures such as plant, animal and human tissue or blood. For entry level student microscope use, refer to the Monocular Microscopes; also, for biological applications for medical, laboratory and research, refer to Binocular Microscopes; included in the Compound Microscopes are Inverted Microscopes, Phase Contrast Microscopes, Polarizing Microscopes and Fluorescent Microscopes; for Metallurgical Microscopes, Gemological Microscopes, Live Blood Cell Microscopes and Hair Transplant Microscopes , Asbestos Microscopes, Dental Microscopes, Mohs Microscopes & Gout Microscopes refer to the Specialty Microscopes Section. Please view our Microscope Accessories section in order to see our selection of Botany, Zoology or Human Prepared Slides, which includes blood.