Stereo microscope or microscope: which one you need for what you will observe
It is the most common question before buying: stereo microscope or microscope? The answer does not depend on your budget or how much magnification you want, but on a single question: what will you put under it?
The difference in one sentence
A stereo microscope (also called a binocular magnifier or dissecting microscope) is for viewing whole, solid and opaque objects in 3D at low magnification. A biological microscope is for viewing thin, transparent samples prepared on a slide at high magnification.
When you need a stereo microscope
- Insects, seeds, leaves, flowers or minerals.
- Mechanical parts, solder joints, circuit boards or jewellery.
- Dissection, precision work or handling the sample while you look at it.
A stereo microscope gives a three-dimensional image, because each eye looks at the sample from a slightly different angle. It works at low magnification and leaves plenty of room between the objective and the sample, so you can use tweezers or tools. It usually lights the sample from above, which is what an opaque object needs.
When you need a biological microscope
- Cells, tissues, bacteria, yeasts or protozoa.
- Pond water, smears or thin sections.
- Any sample prepared on a slide.
A microscope lights the sample from below and the light passes through it, so the sample must be thin. In return, it reaches the magnification needed to see structures a stereo microscope cannot show: usually 40x to 400x in education and up to 1000x in the laboratory.
Decision table
| What you will look at | Instrument |
|---|---|
| A whole insect | Stereo microscope |
| An insect wing prepared on a slide | Microscope |
| A coin, a stone or a part | Stereo microscope |
| Onion cells or cheek cells | Microscope |
| A solder joint or an electronic component | Stereo microscope |
| Bacteria or yeasts | Microscope with an immersion objective |
What if I need both?
This is common in schools and quality control laboratories. In that case it is worth having both instruments: a microscope does not replace a stereo microscope, nor the other way round. If you can only start with one, choose the one for the sample you will look at most often.
Our recommended models
Stereo microscopes
- To get started or for the classroom: the EduBlue ED.1302-P.
- For frequent use: the StereoBlue SB.1902.
- For professional work with continuous zoom: the NexiusZoom NZ.1902-M.
Biological microscopes
- For education: the EcoBlue EC.1152.
- For the teaching laboratory: the BioBlue BB.4260.
Not sure? Tell us what you want to observe and we will recommend the right instrument.
