Flatfield Microscopes

•This type of scope uses a single objective lens to look straight down on a specimen. It may use a single eyepiece or binocular viewer but still only has a single optical path.

•The focus Depth of Field is extremely limited to very flat specimens. This makes the flatfield scope virtually useless for anything except biological applications.

•The only real advantage to the flatfield scope is in its very high resolution and magnification capabilities.

• This scope is also known as a Compound microscope. A typical flatfield looks like the instrument shown below.

Stereo and Stereo Zoom

•This type of scope utilizes two separate optical paths.

•This is to say that there is a separate “microscope” for each eye. These are inclined at a six degree angle towards each other so that the user can see a portion of the sides of the specimen as well as the top.

•This separation of views allows us to perceive depth and see in true 3D, unlike with the flatfield.

•Stereo microscopes come in many different forms. Below is a common high quality stereo microscope. For the best and worst of this breed, please refer to our  “Stereo Microscopes to Buy and to Avoid” publication.