Friday, March 16, 2007

Research microscopes are big. A modern research microscope will weigh in the range of 66 lb to 110 lb. This mass is composed of big optical systems, big mechanical systems and lots of electronics. These microscopes can also use multiple cameras, large specimens and the widest range of simultaneous techniques. Most have built in computers to control digital microscope cameras and other functions including focus. If you are doing particularly demanding work or if you do a lot of documentation then you definitely need one of them. While they are expensive they can do what no other microscope can do.