So you are planning to have your first ever microscope. Although you are a pro, you wanted to purchase one for business or science class purposes. With the numerous choices flooding your mind, you cannot exactly identify which microscope you really need. There you are, left hanging in the store picking your choice, but the question is: Is this what you really need?

The fundamental question will always be “What do I want to observe?” There are different types that can suit every individual’s needs. Aspects such as magnification, light, lens, and prism are essential and go hand in hand with the subject to be observed. For preliminaries, you must be knowledgeable of the certain types of microscopes. Basically, there are two types of microscopes, the high power and the low power. Here are some of the specific types of microscopes:

A.    Compound Microscope is the most common type of high powered microscope. When the word “microscope” is mentioned, a compound microscope is probably the picture which comes to anybody’s mind. It provides an inverted image of the subject to be observed. It is much useful in observing small objects because the distance between the side and lens is very small.

B.     Stereo Microscopes are useful since they provide fine details of objects and specimens. Unlike the compound microscopes, they provide the right view of the subjects to be observed. These microscopes are very spacious thus they are very helpful when observing large objects such as leaves, industrial parts, rocks, gems, twigs and many others.

C.     High Power Professional Microscopes include metallurgical microscope, inverted biological microscope and compound microscopes. These types provide superior performance and optics which are needed by demanding purposes.

There are other things to consider aside from the microscope classifications and features. As a beginner, these can be your basis when choosing for your microscope. Here are some things to consider before buying:

1.    Lighting. Microscopes that contain built in light source utilize halogen bulb, tungsten or fluorescent. Tungsten systems, although cheaper, cannot produce brighter light and more heat compared to fluorescent bulbs. You may want to settle for expensive but good quality lighting for your microscope.

2.    Construction. One of the most important factors to consider when investing for a microscope is its sturdiness. Plastic microscope is not a good choice under this category since it cannot last long. Be sure that the one you’re purchasing is constructed solidly and is made up of durable metal alloy.

3.    Magnification. Be wary because magnification can be achieved through combination of right objective and right eyepiece but this will not always mean a correct and quality magnification. Effective magnification coincides with optical quality. Many microscopes are inexpensive but do not carry optical quality. As a beginner, you can purchase a microscope that can give you 200x magnification which is enough for viewing pond water microorganisms and different cells.

4.    Price. As a beginner, you must be cautious in buying for high range models. You will not need the high power objectives and sophisticated features since you are just beginning in this endeavor. If you are just planning to start with a hobby, an advice with a microscope seller will be beneficial to ensure that what you’re purchasing is apt for your need. The basic model can be upgraded later on with extra optics and accessories.

5.    Second hand or new? Dealers will usually sell varieties of second hand microscopes. If you are not yet sure on what to buy, it will be best to settle on slightly used microscopes. Just be sure where the used microscope came from and that it is issued with a guarantee.

6.    Where to buy? There are certain options such as online auctions, mail orders and direct buy from manufacturers. Online auctions are popular nowadays; many good microscopes and their accessories are offered at fair prices.

You can also acquire your microscope through mail orders. In this process, the dealer issues an illustrated catalogue. Comprehensively, you will be offered with the information on each model; thus you can make a good choice in reference to your budget and requirement. It will always be advisable to test the microscope before you buy but if traveling or distance will be a problem, mail orders can be a solution. Just purchase from a reputable dealer and ask for a money back guarantee if you are still unsatisfied

There are manufacturers who are directly offering microscopes and are giving services and regular checking on the instrument. They are definitely confident on what they are selling thus you can openly ask questions to them before purchasing. There are numerous manufacturers to choose from, their models can look identical but be wary about the difference on the quality they are offering.

Being a beginner in the field of microscopy is quite exciting and having to buy one for a hobby or other purposes can lead to a whole new captivating experience. A basic microscope for a beginner should be user friendly and before buying one, information must be gathered. A good advice from an expert will also be beneficial so as not to make a wrong move.