Microscopes

Purpose of scopes•Magnification – make objects

appear larger• Resolution – keep the image

clear

Types of Scopes• Compound Light Microscope• Stereoscope or Stereoscopic

Microscope• Electron Microscopes (Scanning –

SEM and Transmission – TEM)

Compound Light Microscope

• Advantages– 100X – 400X– Specimen can be living– Can see color– Affordable– Reasonable size

• Disadvantages– 2D image– Specimen must be thin– Specimen must be

translucent

Stereoscopic Microscope

• Advantages– 3D image (2 eyepieces)– Can view larger

specimens– Used for surgery and

dissection– Specimen can be opaque

(light can’t pass through)

• Disadvantages– Only magnifies 10X –

60X

Electron Microscope

• Advantages– Magnifies up to

500,000X– 2D or 3D image– Can view surfaces of

cells

• Disadvantages– HUGE– Expensive– In some cases, specimen

must be frozen and sliced (not living)