Monday, February 19, 2007

Monocular microscopes allow using one eye when viewing through the microscope, similar to looking through a telescope or a rifle scope. Monocular microscopes may have one or two eyepieces but only one objective lens in use at any one time. These microscopes are used to view specimens that have been cut very thinly and placed onto a glass slide. Light is passed through the specimen for viewing. You cannot view large three dimensional objects such as your finger using this type of microscope.Monocular microscopes are most popular for children and the beginners as they are the easiest to use and get comfortable with. In addition, monocular microscopes produce brighter images than similarly equipped binocular microscopes and trinocular microscopes. It is also possible to use some video and digital cameras with monocular microscopes. However, since using a camera on a monocular microscope does not allow the user to view through the microscope while the camera is attached, most microscopists opt for a trinocular head whenever picture taking through the microscope is desired.