A Practical Buying Guide For Mini Field-Microscopes

Mini Field-Microscopes are often used by many researchers and scientists in a wide range of industries and applications. These instruments are commonly found used during field work involving natural and geological scientists, biologists, medical and health science researchers and even crime scene investigators. More recently, mini Field-Microscopes have also begun to grow in popularity with many students and hobbyists, primarily because they are more flexible and sturdier than standard laboratory microscopes. If you’re planning on purchasing a mini field microscope any time soon, here is a short guide on what to look for and why:

Choose a mini field microscope for its purpose.
Standard Field-Microscopes are designed to be more compact and smaller than standard optical microscopes. This is because the main purpose of this instrument is for use during field studies, which means it has to be smaller, lighter and more portable. A mini field microscope is even smaller and squatter, designed to be carried around comfortably, stored in a small carrying case or backpack. In spite of its tiny size, a quality mini field microscope is more than capable of performing its purpose.

Probably the most important consideration you will have to make when buying a mini field microscope is its use. Not all Field-Microscopes are designed for use with all sorts of applications, because certain types of microscopy techniques will just not work for certain requirements.

If you’ll be using the microscope for examining rock samples, for example, you will need a petrographic mini field microscope. This type of optical microscope uses polarized light to produce an image of the specimen. If you will be viewing mostly live biological specimens, you will need a dark field mini field microscope. This uses concentrated light to produce a bright contrast image of the specimen against a dark background.

Decide for which application your mini field microscope will be used and then narrow your choices from there. If you will be viewing mostly opaque, solid objects, for example, a field microscope that lights up the specimen from underneath will not work.

Choosing the view
Optics is probably the most important component of a mini field microscope, which means if you will have to buy one, buy it for the image it is capable of producing and not for the way it looks. It could have the most outstanding features and connectivity but if the optics is second rate, it will not perform as expected.

Decide on the magnification power that will fit your field work requirement best. Mini Field-Microscopes come with objective lens that can magnify from about 10x to about 1000x. Generally, the higher the magnification and the more features the instrument has, the more expensive it is. However, it’s best to spend your money on the optics, especially if you will be using your field microscope as part of your study or work or if it’s a serious hobby. The better quality of optics you have, the more likely your mini field microscope will have a long service life.

Check the unit’s focusing mechanism. It should have a coarse focus and a fine focus. Oftentimes, magnification is not enough for detailed viewing so you will need to refine the image using the focusing mechanism. Cheaper microscopes usually have coarse focus only – enough to do the job for general field microscopy but usually insufficient for more serious image viewing.

Connectivity
Field microscopy is often linked to photomicrography, a process involving the capture of microscopic images usually through digital photography. If part of your work involving mini Field-Microscopes is taking pictures of specimens, you might want to consider the connectivity of your field microscope unit. Look for ports that may be used to connect devices such as computers or computer monitors if you prefer to use the images directly for presentation or storage. You can also ask if the microscope is designed to be used with digital cameras and video cameras. If not, inquire if it will work with an adapter.

Look for a warranty.
If you will be buying brand new, you definitely must ask for a warranty. Most warranties on mini Field-Microscopes are good for at least 10 years, which should cover both parts and labor. Most of these warranties are limited warranties, not full warranties. This means that if the microscope breaks down on its own due to a manufacturing or design defect or because of normal use, you do not have to pay for anything. If you break or damage the instrument on purpose, you most probably will have to spend for parts. If you’re buying a mini field microscope as used, secondhand, refurbished or reconditioned, expect a very short warranty period of about a year.