Compound microscopes are incredible tools for looking at the small details of our world and the living and non-living things in it. With these microscopes, you can visualize organisms that are so small, as small as bacteria, that you can’t see them with the naked eye. For high school students, these tools are valuable for their understanding of biology because of the hands-on experience they gain. In your biology, cell biology, and zoology classes, your students can use compound microscopes to explore various samples, such as microorganisms in pond water, tardigrades, bacteria, nematodes, plant cells, and prepared tissue slides.
But with all of the compound microscope options for sale, it can be difficult to know what type of microscope would be best for a classroom setting at the high school level. So, this article will guide you in finding the best compound microscopes for high school students and what features to consider when deciding on the right one for your classroom.
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What’s the best compound microscope for high school students?
If you’re researching which compound microscope will be best for your high school classes but need some guidance, keep on reading.
What is a compound microscope?
A compound microscope is a microscope with higher magnification than a simple microscope. It can be used to investigate small objects not visible with the unaided eye, such as cells and bacteria, and even see some details of certain organisms. Compound microscopes can be used in the classroom, in scientific research labs, or even at home.
Compound microscopes use two lenses to enhance image resolution compared to a single lens. The eyepiece or ocular lens magnifies to 10X, and the objective lenses can magnify to 4X (scanning), 10X (low power), 40X (high power), and 100X (oil immersion), so combined, they magnify an image to 40X, 100X, 400X, and 1000X.
Some microscopes include a second eyepiece with a magnification of 25X, claiming to provide a total magnification of 100X, 250X, 1000X, and 2500X. But in reality, 2500X on a compound microscope does not work well and actually produces a lower quality image (I’ve seen it firsthand) than 1000X using a 10X eyepiece. Eyepieces can also be 5X or 15X.
Compound microscopes collect and focus visible light through the objective lens, which is located above the stage holding the sample to be observed. The light source is located below the specimen and passes through it before the objective lens. With more than one objective lens, you can look at an object at different magnification levels. That way, you can use the same microscope for both low- and high-magnification views.
Compound Microscope Features To Consider
Monocular vs. Binocular vs. Trinocular
One of the first features to consider is the eyepiece. Do you want to use one eye or both eyes to look through the microscope? If you prefer to use both eyes to avoid potential headaches or single eye strain, you will want to opt for binocular or trinocular microscopes, which are the ones I recommend here, rather than single eyepiece monocular microscopes.
The difference between binocular and trinocular microscopes is that trinocular microscopes are a binocular microscope with an extra eyepiece specifically for attaching a camera. Having the ability to connect the microscope to a computer or phone allows your students to save high-quality images from the microscope instead of trying to take a shaky image using a phone held up to the ocular lens. Also, some cameras can be displayed on a computer, which would be beneficial for demonstrating microscope use in front of the classroom.
Click here if you want recommendations on cameras for microscopes.
Abbe Condenser
If you want crisp images and to be able to see organisms as small as bacteria, you’ll need an Abbe condenser. It becomes the most important at 400X and above.
The Abbe condenser is the large black circular object located below the stage that you can use to adjust the light as you increase the objective lenses you’re looking through, going from the 4X objective up to the 40X and 1000X.
Mechanical Stage
The mechanical stage is a must-have for a microscope, in my opinion, because it allows you to use knobs to control the movement of the slide while you’re finding your sample. If you don’t have a mechanical stage, you have to manipulate the slide with your fingers, which becomes tedious. Plus, it’s difficult to make the fine adjustments you’ll need when you are at high magnification.
Siedentopf Head
A Siedentopf head allows you to change the interpupillary distance without affecting the focus. Everyone’s eyes are different distances apart, so you’ll need to adjust the interpupillary distance to fit your face.
Without a Siedentopf head — and using a sliding head instead — you would have to refocus the eyepiece each time you adjust the interpupillary distance, which would be problematic in the classroom if you have more than one student sharing the same microscope. So, a sliding head is okay if only one student uses the microscope. But if more than one student will be sharing it, you’ll want a microscope with a Siedentopf head.
Light Source
Pay attention to the light source. An LED light source will produce let heat than halogen, so it’s something to consider.
With that background info, you are now ready to move on to finding the best compound microscope for your high school classroom.
Best Compound Microscopes
| Rank | Microscope | Type of Microscope Head | Camera Options | Magnification | Light Source | Price |
| 1 | Swift SW380T | Siedentopf Trinocular Head | can attach high-quality microscope camera to trinocular head, c-mount adapter included | 40X-2000X | LED | check price |
| 2 | Swift SW380B | Siedentopf Binocular Head | phone adapter or 1.3 or 5MP eyepiece camera | 40X-2500X | LED | check price |
| 3 | AmScope B120C | Siedentopf Binocular Head | 0.3 – 5MP camera add on | 40X-2500X | LED | check price |
| 4 | AmScope T490B | Siedentopf Trinocular Head | can attach high-quality microscope camera to trinocular head, c-mount adapter included | 40X-2000X | halogen | check price |
| 5 | OMAX MD82ES10 | Sliding Binocular Head | 1.3MP camera included | 40X-2000X | LED | check price |
| 6 | OMAX M82ES-SC100-LP100 | Sliding Binocular Head | phone adapter or eyepiece camera | 40X-2000X | LED | check price |
The Swift SW380T provides 40X-2000X magnification and an LED light source. It has an Abbe condenser and a mechanical stage, so it has two features that will make looking at bacteria simple and larger samples even better. Another feature that helps with looking at small samples is the ultra-precise focusing knob that allows you to zoom in and out in small increments when you are at higher magnifications, so you can easily focus on exactly what you want. The trinocular head lets you attach a high-quality microscope camera, and a c-mount adapter is included.
The Swift SW380B is very similar to the Swift SW380T but has a binocular head instead of a trinocular head. It provides 40X-2500X magnification, an LED light source, an Abbe condenser, and a mechanical stage. So, it’s also great for looking at bacteria and larger samples. The ultra-precise focusing knob lets you easily and smoothly zoom in and out when you are at higher magnifications. You can attach a phone adapter or eyepiece camera for taking photos.
The AmScope B120C has the necessary features for viewing bacteria and larger samples, including 40X-2500X magnification, an Abbe condenser, and a mechanical stage. And it has an LED light source. However, it lacks the ultra-precise focusing knob and has a standard fine focus knob, but that shouldn’t be a significant problem if this microscope’s price point works better for you. You have the option to add on an eyepiece camera, which can range from 0.3 to 5MP. But you can also attach a phone adapter.
The AmScope T490B is an upgraded version of the AmScope B120C, so it has the features necessary to look at bacteria and larger samples: 40X-2000X magnification, an Abbe condenser, and a mechanical stage. The upgraded part is the head, being trinocular rather than binocular, so you can easily attach a high-quality microscope camera, and the c-mount adapter is included. The only drawback of this microscope is the halogen light source because it will generate more heat, which is why many people prefer microscopes with an LED light source.
The OMAX MD82ES10 includes the features you’ll need for viewing bacteria and larger samples: 40X-2000X magnification, an Abbe condenser, and a mechanical stage. The best part of this microscope is that it has a built-in 1.3MP camera, so you never have to fuss with adding a camera or attaching one to a phone mount or eyepiece. The drawback with this microscope is that it has a sliding binocular head, making it more difficult for students to share (see the section about why a Siedentopf head is preferred for multiple users.)
The OMAX M82ES-SC100-LP100 is a good microscope for a single user and for looking at all types of microbes as small as bacteria. It provides 40X-2000X magnification, an Abbe condenser, and a mechanical stage and has an LED light source. Like the OMAX MD82ES10, it has a sliding binocular head, so it’s not a favorable option for students that have to share microscopes, as explained in the section above about the Siedentopf head (which microscopes 1-4 have). You can attach a phone adapter or eyepiece camera for taking photos.
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Are you ready to choose a compound microscope for your classroom?
For high school science classrooms, a compound microscope provides a fascinating learning tool for visualizing the unseen world. Selecting the best compound microscope for your high school students will largely hinge on your budget, your camera needs, and if your students will share microscopes or not. Each model has different features that may or may not suit your needs and preferences. So, using this information is sure to help you as you decide which microscope best accommodates your high school science classes.
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