Microscopes

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Microscopes

• Karen J. Dalton
• Community College of Baltimore County
• Catonsville Campus

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Qualities

• Magnification
• Make specimen appear larger
• Increase magnification, decrease field of view
• Resolution
• Clarity and detail
• Do 2 close objects appear as 2 or 1?
• Contrast
• Increase or decrease amount of light striking the
  specimen

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Compound Brightfield

• Illumination light
• Magnification glass lenses
• Cost cheap (under 2000)
• Specimens
• Can be living (external internal movement)
• Color (natural stains)
• Disadvantage
• Resolution

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Typical Images
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Phase Contrast

• Type of Light Microscope
• Enhances contrasts of transparent and colorless
  objects by influencing the optical path of light
• Light passing trough a transparent part of the
  specimen travels slower
• Advantages
• Better resolution and contrast of unstained
  specimens

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Typical Images
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Transmission Electron

• Illumination electrons
• Magnification magnets
• Specimens
• High resolution
• Disadvantage
• Cost over 10,000
• Technical Training
• Thin sections
• Special stains
• Only black and white
• No movement

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Typical Images
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Scanning Electron

• Electron Microscope
• Shows surface details

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Typical Images
Birds Feather