Choosing A First Microscope
One good thing to know is that the quality of a student's first microscope does not always correlate with its price tag, and if you know what to look for, you can get a quite decent student microscope for an equally decent price.
When choosing a student microscope from many reasonably priced options, you just have to ensure that the microscope you are considering possess some indispensable attributes that will make them perfect for any academic undertaking.
Desirable Features Of A Student's First Microscope
The first feature you should look for in a student microscope is its focus capability. A good microscope will have both fine and coarse focus settings; both are essential if your student is to use the microscope for all kinds of viewing.
The entire reason for buying a student microscope is, of course, to let your student magnify objects so that their surfaces can be studied in detail. You should not settle for a microscope with less than 400X magnification, and 1000X would be much better. But the greater the magnification, the darker the surface of the object will appear. So your choice of microscopes will also have to include a light source capable of illuminating even the most highly magnified specimens. Both fluorescent and halogen bulbs are capable of doing the job.
The “stage" of the student microscope, on which the specimens will be placed for viewing, should operate mechanically so that your student will not have to look away from the microscope’s eyepiece while adjusting it. Stages are available with flat contours for liquid specimens, and with holes to hold solid ones. Look for a student microscope with both.
Your student microscope will come with a set of glass or plastic slides and slide covers with which to mount specimens for viewing; and you can find additional slides with no difficulty.
The purchase of a student microscope is a great investment in your children’s future; it will open up worlds of scientific mystery to them and give them an edge if they are leaning toward careers in medicine, geology, chemistry, or the pharmaceutical industry. And a well-equipped, high quality student microscope can be found at a reasonable price with a simple Internet search!
Selecting and buying your first microscope can be fun, if you follow this advice. Good luck!
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