Digital Microscopes
Light Microscope
What Is a Light Microscope?
Light microscopes are also called optical microscopes. They use light to perform magnified observation of microscopic targets such as bacteria and blood cells.
Light Microscope Structure
Visual light from the light source is condensed by the condenser lens and projected onto the microscopic, transparent sample. The light transmitted through the sample is once more condensed by a glass lens (the objective lens) for magnified observation.
There are two types of light microscopes: simple light microscopes, which use a single lens, and compound light microscopes, which use multiple sets of lenses.
Simple light microscopes are designed for low magnification. Compound light microscopes are designed for high magnification.
A : Brightfield B : Objective C : Specimen D : Condenser lens E : Light source
Light Microscope Structure
Light Microscope Applications
The main observation targets are transparent samples such as bacteria and blood cells. Light microscopes are also known as biological microscopes. They are used to observe organisms.
Limitations of Light Microscopes
- Short observation distance
- Requires thin samples secured on glass slides
- Normally use transmitted illumination, requiring separate lighting for observation of opaque targets
- Shallow depth of field makes it difficult to observe targets with uneven surfaces
- Capturing images requires an optional camera, but capturing high-resolution images is difficult
- Not equipped with measurement functions because the main purpose is observation
Reasons for Using VHX Series Digital Microscopes
The large depth of field allows the depth composition function to provide observation with the entire image on the screen in focus even at high magnifications
There is no need to cut or polish the target. (Non-destructive observation is possible.)
Tilted observation of a connector (header)
Macro image, 5x
Magnified image, 40x
Being able to select from multiple lighting conditions such as observation with transmitted illumination, ring illumination, coaxial illumination, polarized illumination, and differential interference contrast allows for various applications from biological microscopes to industrial microscopes.
Plankton in fluid, 700x, observation with transmitted illumination
Painted surface of car, 1000x, observation with coaxial illumination
Sugar crystals, 300x, observation with ring illumination
Bacteria, 200x, observation with transmitted polarized illumination
The standard-equipped camera and monitor allow photographs to be captured with the same quality as monitored images
The standard-equipped measuring microscope functions allow for measurement of planes and 3D profiles
Automatic area measurement of halftone dots, 200x
3D profile of casted product pinholes, 200x
