Digital high power microscopes are quite a catch these days. These microscopes are high-end microscopes that are packed with outstanding features and complex elements. Almost all high power microscopes are sold for at least $500 in the market, although a few of them can be bought below that price, especially if the manufacturer or distributor is giving out some discounts.

When the features of a high power microscope are talked about, here are the ones that you will most likely see on the microscope’s specification sheet:

1. Multiple nosepieces capable of 100x max magnification

Most high power microscopes have a maximum magnification limit of 1000x to 1500x. This is made possible by the objective lenses working with the microscope’s eyepiece lenses. Regular microscopes usually come with a fixed 10x eyepiece. But a high power microscope can be used alternately with a 15x eyepiece, which allows for higher magnification abilities. When the 15x eyepiece is used with the 100x objective, the result is an astounding 1500x magnification power. And this is the most salient feature of a high power microscope. Aside from the 100x objective, high power microscopes also come with a 4x, 10x, and 40x objective lenses. There are also optional 20x eyepieces that could possibly increase the magnification level to as much as 2000x.

2. Digital Camera System Interface
Almost all of the high power microscopes being manufactured today are digital. This means it can easily be interfaced to a computer system or similar digital devices. This one is made possible by the trinocular port that it is manufactured with. The trinocular port is actually a third port wherein digital cameras can be attached easily into the microscope. A high power microscope usually has a binocular port for easy viewing. The camera, on the other hand, is equipped with a USB cable, which connects it easily to a computer system. As such, it becomes easier for the observer to view the specimen on wide screen, capture and store digital still and moving image of the specimen being observed, and send those images directly to a still or video printer.

3. Advanced illumination system
Nowadays, there are different ways of illuminating the sample. There are different types of lights used so that good images are produced. It all depends upon the make and the manufacturer of the high power microscope. For high power microscope, tungsten halogen light is the one most commonly used. This type of light has variable intensity making it quite easy to control. It usually requires a 12 watt power for it to work. Most often than not, this power is provided by a battery cell. Or in some cases, the microscope needs to be plugged into a live power source. Halogen lights are easier to focus compared to the regular incandescent bulb used by regular microscopes.

4. Fully Movable Stage
It is a given that most high power microscopes are used for complex applications. And a number of these applications require measurements and sample manipulation. In response to this, high power microscopes are usually built with a mechanical movable stage. And most of the time, it is also graduated or scaled for the purpose of measuring the sample at hand. Being movable, the stage’s model can be made to go up or down, to the right or left, depending upon the need of the observer. Longitudinal Y direction is usually found only on high-end high power microscopes. Coaxial X-Y slide is commonly seen in regular high power microscope models. The movable stage is a big help for observers because they do not have to move the specimen itself if they need to view some parts of the sample that are not visible under the field of the microscope. This way, the movement of the specimen is more controlled and the observer won’t lose their place.

5. Image adjusting knobs
This feature must be basic to all types of microscopes. But none the less, they are worth describing. High power microscopes have these as well. High power microscopes are also equipped with fine focusing knobs and coarse adjustment knobs. These knobs are usually placed on each side of the microscope, to accommodate both-left handed and right-handed users. Aside from these two, there are also tension adjustable focus knobs and adjustable screw-stop knobs. Adjustable screw-stop knobs are used to protect the slides.

These are the five major features of a high power microscope. These are what make them different from the rest of the devices that are being sold in the market today. So if you need to buy these types of microscopes, specifically look for these features and you would never go wrong.