This article, however, will only focus on the lenses system – the whole group responsible in forming the image.

The Eyepiece

Without this part, you cannot see the specimen being examined. This is by far, among the most important parts of the microscope. This is a cylindrical tube which contains a lens. Stereo microscopes have two eyepieces, while a compound microscope only has one.

The Objective Lenses

The primary role of the objective lenses is to gather light from the object or specimen being observed. There are several objective lenses in a microscope. Each lens varies according to magnification to provide you with more options for better specimen examination.

Sometimes, special objectives are used for certain examination techniques. The phase contrast – developed by Frits Zernike – is by far the most sophisticated. The phase contrast technique is basically about enhancing contrast. As a general rule, you can easily differentiate two specimens or even objects if they have high contrast – white is better seen when set against a black background.

Books and even Internet articles that explain the phase contrast method seems too technical for this kind of article – one that’s focused in explaining the lenses system of the microscope. Still, to give you an idea on the concept of the phase contrast microscopy, this simple explanation would do:

It’s a bit hard to have a microscopic view of living tissues (such as blood) because most of them are transparent. These kinds of specimen are usually called phase objects because they do not absorb light – instead, they diffract (to cause the bending of the waves) them. As a result of the bending, the light becomes less visible (by 1/4 wavelength). Let’s not discuss what 1/4 wavelength really means but simply put, it suggests that such a reduced property of light cannot be seen by your naked eye, not even by a camera.

It is in this context that the phase contrast technique becomes very useful. Somehow, this technique – using special objectives and a condenser – is able to solve such a problem. It is able to yield an image that is darker than its light background.

Other special objectives are the infinity-corrected optical systems – where the image distance is set at infinity. These lenses are great for biomedical and industrial microscopes.

The Nosepiece

As mentioned, most microscopes have more than one objective lenses. As such, these objectives need something to hold them together – and this is where the nosepiece comes in handy.

The Tube

This is the very thing that holds the eyepiece and the objective lenses – but at an appropriate distance. This is responsible for keeping away stray light. While the lenses are already powerful enough, some still prefer to use accessories such as a fluorescent filter. This is done in order to get optimum lighting and for special viewing techniques.

Once again, these parts only refer to the lenses system of a microscope. These are the ones responsible in forming the image of the specimen. You still need to acquaint yourself with the other parts – such as the illumination system and specimen control to better understand how the microscope works.

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Contact: 1-877-56SCOPE(72673) or info@CanScope.ca

Learn more about infinity corrected optical systems, phase contrast microscopy and fluorescent filter kits. Make use of a microscope. Visit CanScope.ca now.

Today, you can already encounter terms such as the digital microscope, the fluorescent microscope and the atomic force microscope. Sounds fascinating? Scary perhaps. Then, you can also hear terms such as the inverted and the upright microscope – add to that the research microscope.

If you are not a man of science – and I mean a true-blue man of science – it would be particularly hard for you to differentiate one from another. For you, all you need to know is that the microscope helps you see things that are not visible to the unaided eye – that’s it! No more, no less.

But it doesn’t hurt to update your “scientific knowledge,” right? Thus, this article, will try to explain – using simple words – one of the terms in microscopy (the field of microscopes and of viewing small objects): the research microscope.

What is a research microscope then? For starters, the term is primarily associated with size. Size can be classified according to routine or research (for inverted microscopes) or student, bench-top, and research (for upright microscopes). An upright microscope is one where the lenses are above the illumination system. An inverted microscope, on the other hand, is the type in where the lenses are below the illumination system. This type is mostly used in studying cells that are in suspension.

Back to topic on the research microscope.

Basically, inverted or upright, a research microscope is big: it is the biggest, in fact. A typical research microscope weighs between 30kg and 50kg. Why is it big? Primarily because it is capable of a lot of things.

It can accommodate cameras and several other documentation accessories. It also has a versatile stage (the part where your sample plate is placed). Also, it is capable of Kohler Illumination (the ideal lighting). Some research microscopes even have built-in computers and monitors. In summary, the research microscope is capable of doing anything. This basically explains why it is so big, not to mention expensive.

If you are simply curious of the world around you, you don’t need an extravagant kind such as a research microscope. This type is ideal for scientists and researchers whose only job day in and day out is to study the very essence of cells and other minute objects. What you need is the ordinary compound microscope or a student’s microscope perhaps.

The microscope indeed has helped scientists discover a lot of things. Now, with the research microscope out and proud, it would not be long before they will be able to discover a few more things – things that will help commoners understand the world better.

CanScope – complete solution for all your microscopy needs.
Contact: 1-877-56SCOPE(72673) or info@CanScope.ca

Whatever the type of microscope you need, you can find it at CanScope.ca. Visit their site and discover loads about student’s microscopes and about the more sophisticated kinds: the research microscope and the digital microscope.