What to know before you buy
An optical microscope for a research lab usually falls into one of four groups, and this collection carries all of them: stereo zoom microscopes, biological microscopes, metallurgical microscopes and digital microscopes. Models come from MSE PRO and Kern, along with cameras, adapters, stages and slides.
Stereo microscopes give a low-magnification 3D view of solid parts, so they suit inspection, dissection and sorting. Options include the MSE PRO binocular stereo zoom microscope and Kern stereo models. Biological microscopes use transmitted light for slides and cultures, and the MSE PRO trinocular fluorescence biological microscope adds fluorescence imaging. Metallurgical microscopes use reflected light for opaque samples such as polished metals, ceramics and wafers.
If you plan to record images, choose a trinocular head and add a camera, for example the Kern camera adapter OBB-A1515 with a C-mount CMOS camera. For sample prep, the MSE PRO quartz microscope slides and Platypus metal-coated slides are listed here too. Our guide to the different types of microscopes covers the wider range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which optical microscope should I choose for my samples?
Match the light path to the sample. Thin, transparent samples on slides need a biological microscope with transmitted light. Opaque samples such as metals, coatings and wafers need a metallurgical microscope with reflected light. Larger 3D objects that you handle under the lens suit a stereo zoom microscope, such as the MSE PRO SMK-1048 zoom stereo microscope.
When is an inverted microscope the right choice?
An inverted design puts the objectives below the stage. For metallography, a polished sample sits face down on the stage, so samples of different heights need no re-leveling. For biology, it lets you view cells through the bottom of flasks and dishes. See the MSE PRO trinocular inverted biological microscope and the inverted metallurgical models.
Can I attach a camera to these microscopes?
Yes, on trinocular models. The third port takes a camera through an adapter. This collection lists the Kern camera adapter OBB-A1142 and a cooled C-mount CMOS camera from MSE PRO. Digital microscopes, such as the MSE PRO 10 inch LCD digital microscope, have a built-in camera and screen instead.
What slides and accessories go with an optical microscope?
Standard work needs glass slides, which the MSE PRO microscope slides and dispenser covers. Quartz slides suit UV work. Platypus gold, nickel, aluminum and titanium coated slides give a conductive or reflective surface. Kern also offers accessory stages, such as the Kern microscope stage OZB-A4605.
How do I order several microscopes for a teaching or shared lab?
Send the models and quantities through the bulk order request form. If you need a specific objective set, camera or accessory bundle with each unit, describe it in a quote request and we will confirm what can be supplied together.
