The Best Microscopes for Microphotography

There is a fascinating world that is invisible to the human eye. We are getting to know a new thing about this world every passing day, all thanks to microphotography, using the Best Microscopes.

Microphotography is the type of photography that requires a microscope to photograph objects with a magnification more significant than a standard lens used with cameras.

Microphotography played a considerable role in development and progress in the scientific, medical, technological, and other fields. Today, science and technology know the phenomena behind the working of physical and mechanical processes. Science couldn’t have made it this far if microphotography did not exist in the first place.

What is microphotography?

Microphotography is also the process through which the size of a photograph is lessened and diminished. This reduction of the format is to the extent that it can only be viewed using a microscope.

The introduction must have cleared that microphotography requires a microscope; regular lenses and cameras cannot accomplish the desired results on their own because this type of photography involves capturing objects that can only be viewed when magnified.

Camera knowledge is essential for photography, but adequate knowledge about microscopes is also necessary for this domain.

Types of microfilms

It all might seem very technical and challenging, but all you need is little practice to be a master in the subtle art of microphotography. The process is straightforward. The photographer uses a particular negative known as microfilm to save the pictures to preserve the specimen’s images.

Microfilm is a photographic record used in microphotography. Different microfilms are Silver Halide Film, Polarity reversing film, Direct duplicating film, Vesicular Film, Diazo Film, and Microform. After that, he has to decide how to photograph the subject, i.e., using Linear Array or a Two Dimensional Array.

When shooting microscopic images, other crucial pieces of gear besides microscopes are a fiber optic light to supply light and brighten up the micro object, a DSLR camera, a macro lens, extension tubes, and a tripod.

Science and other related aspects could not be possible without this form of photography. It turned out the source, which allowed scientists to produce a hard copy for research records and publication.

Not only that, but it also has a part in the reprints and development of the libraries. Rapid expansion in research is also the reason the microphotography industry is growing. If you are a beginner in this field or looking forward to being a part of it, this article is for you. We will cover five not very costly but efficient microscopes for microphotography.

The Best Microscopes for Microphotography

Spending a fraction of the cost is necessary to buy a microscope. If you also believe in this statement, you might start thinking differently as you proceed with this article. It is impossible to permanently record an image for artistic and scientific purposes without a good microscope.

In the market, there is a variety of microscopes available in different price ranges ranging from 200$ to as much as 200,000$. Today, we selected five of the best microscopes for microphotography, which are low priced but can help you produce incredible results.

If you are a beginner, you should buy one of these instead of spending a bundle of bucks on expensive options.

The five microscopes we are going to cover are:

1. The Apex Researcher Microscope
2. Bresser Microscope Biolux
3. Swift SW350B
4. Andonstar 5 inch Screen 1080P
5. Solomark Biological Microscope

The following sections will cover these microscopes separately with their specifications, details, pros, and cons. Let’s begin with it:

The Apex Researcher Microscope

The first microscope made into our list of the best microscopes for microphotography is The Apex Researcher Microscope. If you go through its reviews available on the internet or the market, the probability of finding a negative one is very low.

It is equipment for people looking for high-quality, reasonably priced tools. It is made using high-quality metal, and its physical dimensions are round, about 46.2 cm x 29.8 cm x 20.8 cm (L x W x H).

Talking about the main thing, i.e., objective, The Apex Researcher Microscope <-Affiliate link 🙂 comes with the x4, x10, x40, and x100 RMS DIN standard objectives. The manufacturer didn’t compromise on the quality of these objectives, and the optics stay pretty sharp no matter at which resolution you are operating.

The two available eyepieces of x10 and x20 can give a magnification range of x40 to x2000. Built of these eyepieces is also great, and lenses are of excellent quality. The maximum magnification provided by this microscope is the most you can get from any microscope in this price range.

As magnification increases, the working distance decreases, yet results stay outstanding and bright. Overall, as we noticed, you can get the most exceptional results between the magnification levels of 100x to 1000x.

The binocular head (head with two eyepiece lenses) is effortless to use, even for kids in their school laboratories. The eyepieces in the head have a diopter. The diopter adjustment allows you to make minor corrections to the image and eliminate differences in observation because of the difference of vision between the observer’s eyes.

It is a great help for people who wear glasses because of their vision impairment.

There are drop-down stage coaxial controls on the Mechanical stage to move slides back and forth on two horizontal planes. It also has vernier scales (for slide position reference) to identify and observe the relative physical position of a specimen under observation.

 

To enlighten the object, there is an LED illumination. It ensures the flicker-free supply of light during your recording. These lights also do not emit any heat means there is no shift in temperature.

When working at the micro-level, the slightest shift in temperature can cause a big difference. Suppose you are shooting a micro-organism, and all of the temperatures are shifted to higher or lower. In that case, the chances are that tiny organisms will also show the difference in their properties. It can invalidate your overall observation.

Immersion oil is provided to ensure a sharp impression while utilizing the 100x aim. A microscope is all about its resolution; Oil immersion is used to increase the microscope’s resolving power.

In this process, both the objective lens and the specimen are immersed in a transparent oil of a high refractive index. Engaging in this oil increases the numerical aperture of the objective lens. To work correctly as per physics laws, all microscopes require this magnification amount, so Apex gave importance to this feature.

There are some other features in this microscope. It has an internal rechargeable battery. Also, there is a focusing Abbe condenser with iris diaphragm and filter carrier. You can attach several accessories to these microscopes to perform several functions, such as a Photography adapter, Digital camera adapter, and measuring equipment.

These accessories do not come with the package, but the manufacturer does send a free starters pack of slides, including blank slides and cover-free slides. An aluminum case for the device is also delivered with a package to dust-free.

In short, it is a microscope with a 50% price but 100% features.

Specifications:

• Brand Name: Apex Microscopes
• Part Number: Apex
• Item Package Dimensions L x W x H: 46.2 cm x 29.8 cm x 20.8 cm
• Package Weight: 4.26 Kilograms
• Eyepieces: x10 and x20.
• Magnification range: x40 to x2000
• Stage: mechanical stage with vernier scales
• Lighting: LED
• Head: Binocular
• Diaphragm: Abbe condenser with iris diaphragm
• Available extras: Photography adapter – Digital camera adapter – Measuring equipment and an excellent specially designed aluminum case to keep your microscope clean and safe

Pros:

• The x4, x10, x40, x100 RMS DIN standard objectives are excellent.
• Inbuilt LED lighting for illuminating
• Easy to use
• Easily rotatable head
• Focus control is excellent.
• Abbe condenser
• Iris diaphragm
• It comes with starter prepared slides, including blank slides and coverslip slides.
• Optics are very sharp.

Cons:

• Lack of ability to align the iris diaphragm and condenser

Bresser Microscope Biolux

BRESSER BIOLUX NV 20X-1280X microscope with HD USB camera, zoom system, magnification of 20x-1280x, two eyepieces, three objectives, 2x Barlow lens, five prepared slides, five blank slides, microscope cutlery, PC-Ocular, dust cover, and a hard case is our second microscope in the list of best microscopes for microphotography.

Using this microscope, you can dive into the micro world hidden from the human eye. The optical magnification offered by Biolux ranges from 20x to an impressive 1280x. Most of the body of this monocular microscope is made up of Aluminum, and some parts are made up of high-quality plastic.

It weighs only 1.1 kg making it one of the lightest ones on our list. Not only light-weight, but it is also convenient to shift it from one place to another because of its physical dimensions; 10.63” x 5.91” x 4.13″.

There are two eyepieces with 5x and 16x magnification on the top of the body about the eyepieces. These are interchangeable. The one with 5x works well with the slightly larger specimen and the tiny but visible objects, whereas the 16x magnification objective is ideal for the small sample.

The Barlow lens enhances the magnification of the eyepiece. This Barlow lens is the most common 2x one; a concave lens is directly placed between an objective lens and the device’s eyepiece, which doubles up the magnification.

At the topmost, there sits a three-position nosepiece. These hold the 4x, 10x, and 40x objectives. As it is monocular, its only head sits at the ergonomic position of 45 degrees.

The thing which makes Bresser Microscope Biolux <-Affiliate link 🙂 different from others is its HD USB eyepiece camera. You can view your results and observations directly on the PC screen using a USB cable (comes with the package) that connects to a Windows computer running the included software suite.

The software is compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 10. You can also record your observation and easily share them via wired connectivity between microscope and PC. The maximum resolution offered is 1280 x 720p, and the supported file format is JPEG.

Though this model does not support wireless connectivity, Bresser can consider it in its upcoming models.

An illumination source of a variable LED light is included for efficient and effective results. It gives incident and cool light without raising the temperature. A filter wheel is also attached to control the light’s intensity to provide the ideal light for samples.

Light from above is essential to observe non-transparent samples. To work correctly, it needs power from the batteries. 3AA batteries come with the package for this purpose. A tiny particle of dust can ruin the overall magnification if it somehow manages to reach the objective lens.

To avoid this issue, a dust case is also sent by manufacturers. The device perfectly fits in this case.

Specifications:

This section has information about every aspect of this microscope.

• Dimensions: 10.63 x 5.91 x 4.13″ or 27 x 15 x 10.5 cm
• Weight: 2.4 lbs. or 1.1 kg
• Material: Aluminum and Plastic
• Power Source: Battery
• Battery: 3 x AA
• Display: No
• Interpupillary Adjustment: None
• Microscope Type: Compound
• Head: 45° Inclined Monocular
• Nosepiece: 3-Position Nosepiece
• Optical Magnification: 20x to 1280x
• Objective: 4x to 40x
• Eyepiece: 5x and 16x Wide Field
• Max Resolution: 1280 x 720
• Image File Format: JPEG
• Focusing: Coarse
• File Format: AVI
• Illumination Type: -Top: 1 x LED, -Bottom: 1 x LED
• Dimmer: Yes
• Wired Connectivity: USB
• Wireless Connectivity: None
• Memory Card Type: not supported
• Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 7, 8, 10

Pros:

• Good optical quality
• The eyepiece can be rotated to 360 degrees.
• Complete value for money
• Illumination can be adjusted from dim to high.
• Pictures can be screenshot and filed using the disk which comes with them.
• It comes with several useful accessories.

Cons:

• Lack of magnification and illumination at the highest magnification target of 40x
• The absence of a complete manual is felt.
• Impossibility of using the two eyepieces available (wide-field 5x and 10x) without the Barlow lens
• Higher magnifications are very dark. The camera produces a chromatic aberration on higher magnifications.

SWIFT SW350B

Swift is one of the well-known producers in the microscope manufacturing sector. Their most popular series of microscopes, SW350, is available in Trinocular (350T) and binocular (350). In this part of the article, we are reviewing 350B.

350B is built with all-metal, and its physical dimensions are around 33 cm x 23 cm x 46 cm. The 360 degree rotatable binocular Siedentopf head consists of two eyepieces in its nose piece, with 10x magnification and 25x magnification. 10x eyepiece is commonly found in all microscopes, but 25x one is excellent for viewing micro-objects.

The space between these two eyepieces can easily be adjusted without the use of any accessory or tool. Adjusting this space allows for eye spacing from 48 mm to 75 mm. The observer can also adjust eyepieces according to his vision.

These two eyepieces come up with four objective lenses to provide different magnifications. These lenses’ power is 4X, 10X, 40X (Spring), 100X (Spring, Oil). These are parfocal; you can switch the lens, but you won’t lose focus on the object.

The magnification range offered is also better than competitors. It has 6 levels: 40X, 100X, 250X, 400X, 1000X, 2500X. The first five levels give out precise and perfect results. Beyond the limit of 1000x, everything keeps getting blurred as you increase the magnification.

 

The image quality offered is also very high. Different tests showed that the image results by 350B and some other expensive microscopes have very little notable difference. For microphotography, the camera can easily be attached to the Swift SW350B <-Affiliate link 🙂 by removing one of the eyepieces and sticking a camera with it.

A 1 watt LED bulb is attached below the headpiece to illuminate the object or specimen. On the side of the microscope base, there is a brightness control knob so the user can adjust the amount of light as per requirement. Using an LED bulb in microscopes instead of a Halogen bulb is very useful.

Those bulbs emit heat, which raises the temperature and can destroy your object. In the micro-world, slight temperature variation can cause significant differences.

The mechanical stage is 130x130mm wide with a rack stop. The stage has knobs that safely yet firmly hold the slides. Slides can be moved in the horizontal x and y range. Stage x-y travel range is 70x30mm. There is an elegant and coarse focusing knob placed on each side of the microscope.

The knobs also operate smoothly and allow you to adjust the focus precisely without putting in any extra effort.

This easy-to-use microscope comes with a few accessories to make your experience more fun and easy. These accessories include one pair of WF10X eyepieces, one pair of WF25X eyepieces, 1 sample immersion oil (working mechanism of immersion oil is explained prior), one blue filter (useful in imaging), dust cover, the spare fuse of an LED bulb, and a User manual in English.

Specifications:

• Microscope Type: Compound
• Item Dimensions L x W x H: 33 cm x 23 cm x 46 cm
• Brand name: SWIFT
• Manufacturer Part Number: SW350B
• Eyepiece: two. 10X and 25X
• Objective lenses: 4: 4X, 10X, 40X (Spring), 100X (Spring, Oil)
• Magnification levels: 40X, 100X, 250X, 400X, 1000X, 2500X
• Head: 360-degree rotatable binocular Siedentopf
• Interpupillary distance: 48-75mm
• Adjustable ocular diopter: +/- 5dp
• Mechanical stage: 130x130mm, with rack stop
• Stage x-y travel range: 70x30mm
• Abbe condenser: NA 1.25 with iris diaphragm
• Base: coaxial coarse and fine focus knobs
• Transmitted illumination: with 1W LED bulb, adjustable brightness
• Power supply: 110-240V power input

Pros:

• Ergonomic design with durable metal built. Parts assemble at angles which help to avoid neck and body strains.
• Six magnification levels up to 2500x
• LED light is good and manually adjustable
• Lightweight. It can be transported easily. Handle at the side to hold it
• Comfortable to use, robust, and well-made

Cons:

• Illumination gets dim when you increase magnification.
• Slide holder swings in some positions

ANDONSTAR 5 INCHES SCREEN 1080P

If you are looking for a digital microscope with its screen display, that too without breaking your bank, then this one is for you. From the magnification up to 560 times to 12MP photo resolution, 5 inches display to real-time video play via HDMI, 1080P full HD video output to 3 megapixels HD sensor, there are a lot of brilliant features in it to make it a perfect partner for microphotography.

One of the imposing features of this microscope is that it is ready to use when delivering to the user, and the user doesn’t have to spend any effort in setting it up. It is light-weight and its physical dimensions are 20 cm x 12 cm x 26.5 cm.

It has smartly designed and has solidly built as per its specifications. Upon the first look, it is very different from the regular microscope. An LCD screen at the top of the head downwards follows an objective lens that ends a little above the microscope’s base with two bright LCD lights at left and right tilted towards the bottom to illuminate the specimen.

The prime feature of this digital microscope is its 5 inches LCD screen. The screen shows pretty vibrant colors and is very clear. You can directly observe the subject and your image or video results. Working with ADSM302, there’s no need for a big TV screen or PC and their software to view the micro but relatively more significant objects.

The screen turns bright blue with the words “PC Camera” at the center when connecting to a PC. Maximum magnification offered is 560x (actual magnification is 200x. 200x goes to 560x upon digital zoom). Some competitors are offering a better magnification range, but it’s your personal choice whether you like their other features better or not.

 

As the name shows, it works with the full HD mode of 1080P. A unique infrared remote controller comes with it to control several settings, such as sharpness adjustment. You can enjoy this 1080p resolution only when connecting it to a big-screen LCD.

In the case of connecting the Andonstar microscope <-Affiliate link 🙂 with your PC, you can get a maximum resolution of 720p. Talking about resolutions and quality, its video and image quality is something to talk about. 3MP HD image sensor ensures quality.

The Video format is a real-time play via HDMI w/o recording and MJPEG recording via computer Software. Windows software is supported, whereas Mac and Linux aren’t. The image format is JPEG, with a maximum photo resolution of 12MP.

The focus range of the objective lens is 5cm to 22cm. Focus works very smoothly and gives superb image quality and max distance too. Besides that, the maximum working distance is slightly above 4.5”. This working distance is considered very good in microphotography and is enough to do all SMD-related work.

To store your images and file, you have to insert an SD card (not included in the package). SD card up to 32GB storage capability is supported.

To brighten up the objective, there are two goose-neck LED lights. These two adjustable LED illumination sources shine from both the left and right sides of your viewing object or specimen. For operation, the microscope needs 5V of DC.

Specifications:

• Brand: Andonstar
• Model: ADSM302
• Microscope Type: Digital Microscope
• Screen size: 5 inch
• Image sensor: 3 Mega Pixels HD Sensor
• Video output: 1080P Full HD (via HDMI) ;720P (via PC)
• Video format; real-time play via HDMI w/o recording; MJPEG recording via PC Software
• Magnification: Up to 560 times (HDMI monitor 22 inches)
• Photo resolution: 12M
• Photo format: JPEG
• Focus range: 5cm to 22cm
• Frame rate Max: 30f/s under 600 Lux Brightness
• Video-output interface: HDMI/AV
• Storage: Micro-SD card, up to 32G
• Power source: 5 volts direct current
• Light source: 2 LED attached with the stand
• USB cable: Included
• HDMI cable: Included
• PC support: Windows XP/7/8/10; PC software with measurement, MacOS successfully tested under OSX with OBS.
• Stand size: 20 cm x 12 cm x 26.5 cm
• Certification: CE/FCC/ROHS/HDMI

Pros:

• Very crisp images on HDMI display
• High-resolution video and images quality in the price range
• Smooth adjustment wheels for focus and height
• Up to 560 times magnification
• The heavy base plate keeps the specimen stable.
• Worth the money
• Two Flexible LED Illumination Arms with Brightness Control

Cons:

• Software Does not Support Mac and Linux.
• Video Resolution is very limited. It only works at 640 x 480

SOLOMARK BIOLOGICAL MICROSCOPE

The last microscope on our list is by Solomark. Solomark’s website is not on the technical complexity side, but their microdevices have one or other brand-new features that make them stand out.

Solomark biological microscope is a Trinocular Compound Microscope having a 40 x to 1600 X magnification level for Professional Biological Lab and field use with 3D Mechanical scene offering double thickness than standard microscopes.

To view the content, there are two eyepieces. The first is WF 10x (23mm), and the other is a 16x smartphone eyepiece. The second objective is different from the previously explained four microscopes. Using a 16x smartphone eyepiece, you can directly observe the specimen on your mobile or tablet screen. It supports both iOS and Android devices.

There are four objectives with two eyepieces: DIN 4x,10x, 40x, 100x(Oil), which provide the magnification in-between the range of 40x-1600x. Same as Syma’s one, the magnification isn’t impressive above 1000x.

 

The eyepieces are attached to the Trinocular head. Achieving precise focus is very easy with it. The focusing system of this microscope is separated coarse. There are fine focusing knobs attached to the sides of the base to control the focus. They are very ergonomic, and you don’t have to move your head from the device to operate them.

On the base, there is a large 3-D double layer mechanical stage. It supports specimens, slides, and objects. On the stage, the slide is controlled by turning two knobs instead of moving it manually or touching the slide. One knob moves the slide left and right or vertical. The other moves it forward and backward or horizontal.

Like regular microscopes, the Solomark biological microscope <-Affiliate link 🙂 has a standard NA 1.25 ABBE condenser and an iris diaphragm. It enables the photographer/observer to continuously select the different diameters of the diaphragm. All he needs to do is turn the diaphragm’s disc around the axis to see maximum lighting for each objective.

Though this microscope is not as good as others, it is the right choice if you are a beginner and want a microscope with the least manual settings.

Specifications:

• Brand name: SOLOMARK
• Manufacturer Part Number: Parent-MC003
• Size: 40x-1600x
• Type: Trinocular Microscope
• Pair of eyepieces: WF 10x (23mm) and a 16x smartphone eyepiece
• Objectives: DIN 4x,10x, 40x, 100x(Oil)
• Magnification: 40x-1600x.
• Condenser: 1.25 ABBE Condenser and an iris diaphragm
• Mechanical Tube Length: 160mm;
• Conjugated Distance Between Object and Image: 195mm
• Coarse Focusing Adjustment Range: 20mm
• Fine Focusing Adjustment Range: 2mm
• Stage: Double Layers Mechanical Stage
• Lighting: LED bulb

Pros:

• Optimum performance
• Novel design
• Beneficial lens for smartphone
• The eyepiece can show images directly on your smartphone or tablet.

Cons:

• Instructions are complicated to follow.
• Some other options are available in the same price range.
• No LED light

Conclusion:

We hope that this list will be a great help for you if you’re thinking of beginning with microphotography. All of the microscopes have their qualities different from others. After going through the details and specifications of each product, we are sure you can easily decide which option suits you the best!