Interactive figures

How a microscope works

Move the cursor over each figure (or use the arrow keys) to move its parts. The numbers come from the spec sheets of instruments in our shop.

Nosepiece with four objectives: 4×, 10×, 40× and 100× oilData from the BlueScope BL.1151: 10× eyepiece with a 20 mm field number. The light comes from the base, the condenser focuses it and it passes through the sample; the objective forms the image and the eyepiece magnifies it. Total magnification = eyepiece × objective; field of view = 20 mm ÷ objective magnification.
View product: BL.1151View all →
The two optical paths, one for each eyeData from the StereoBlue SB.1702-P: zoom from 5× to 55× total, 10× eyepieces with a 21 mm field number and 100 mm working distance. Each eye looks at the sample through its own path, from a slightly different angle, and the brain combines the two images in 3D. As you zoom in, the circle you see on the stage plate gets smaller.
View product: SB.1702-PView all →
Condenser turret: open, darkfield disc, phase ringShown without the stage, so you can see the light path. In brightfield the whole cone enters the objective. In darkfield a disc blocks the centre and the hollow cone passes outside the objective. In phase contrast, the condenser ring lines up with another ring inside the objective. In polarisation, the polariser and the analyser slide in. In fluorescence the light comes down from the lamp at the top, through the objective itself. Each instrument's spec sheet tells you which techniques it has.
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The image through the cable: 30 frames per second over USB, 60 over HDMIData from the Letscopes spec sheets. The CMEX-5 WiFi-4 USB camera (4 MP Sony sensor) sends the image to the computer at 30 fps and works with the ImageFocus Alpha software; it also works over WiFi and a network. The HD-Mini VC.3023 (2 MP Sony sensor) sends 1080p at 60 fps over HDMI to a screen or a projector, and with a mouse connected to the camera you can take photos, record video and make measurements on the SD card, with no computer.
View product: CMEX-5 WiFi-4View product: HD-Mini VC.3023View all →

See also what you see under the microscope, magnification by magnification →