Compound and dissecting microscopes are vital pieces of equipment to view objects too small to see with the naked eye. All types of microscopes — dissecting and compound — use a series of lenses to magnify minuscule objects or conduct biological investigations. However, there are significant differences between the two types of microscopes.
Are you considering purchasing a microscope and are unsure whether to buy a compound microscope or dissecting microscope? If so, this article is for you. You will learn about the two most popular kinds of microscopes and which best suits your needs.
What Is A Compound Microscope?
A compound microscope is an optical instrument that uses multiple lenses to magnify objects, usually up to 1,000 times. Compound microscopes work by using a visible light source under the object to view specimens at high magnifications. In addition, samples are stained to enhance observation.
A compound microscope usually consists of three or four objective lenses offering magnification of 4x to 100x. The user views the specimen through a 10x magnifying eyepiece. Therefore, this gives a total magnification of between 40x and 1000x. The microscope has a working distance of up to 4 mm.
Compound microscopes are typically used in biology or crime lab settings where powerful magnification is required to examine internal cell structures. Other places where compound microscopes are used include medical labs, clinics, museums, biology classrooms, and nature centers.
You May be interested in reading: How does a Compound Microscope Work
What Is A Dissecting Microscope?
A dissecting microscope — also known as a stereo microscope — uses a single objective lens and separate optical paths to give you a three-dimensional image. Dissecting microscopes allow you to observe a larger specimen like an insect, plant, or piece of jewelry. As the name suggests, these scopes are ideal for viewing dissection.
A dissecting optical microscope can magnify an object 6x to 70x. Unlike a compound scope, a dissecting microscope uses light above the specimen. The scope has a working distance of 150 mm, making it ideal for viewing insects, plants, and other tiny organisms.
Typically, dissecting microscopes are best for objects you can already see but require powerful magnification for closer inspection. Typical applications for a dissecting or stereo microscope include biological and industrial labs.
Compound Microscope — Advantages And Disadvantages
When should you choose a compound microscope to examine tiny objects? The higher magnification of a compound scope makes it ideal for viewing biological specimens. These include plant cells, animal cells, human cells, chromosomes, bacteria, or prepared tissue samples. However, these microscopes are not for viewing 3D objects.
Advantages Of A Compound Microscope:
- High magnification up to 1000x; however, more expensive models can be more powerful
- View objects that are invisible to the naked eye
- Switch objectives for varying magnification power
Disadvantages Of A Compound Microscope:
- Requires light to pass through the object
- Objects must be translucent
- Impossible to interact with the specimen
- Not as powerful as an electron microscope
Dissecting Microscope — Advantages And Disadvantages
When should you choose a dissecting microscope to examine tiny objects? The dual optical paths and longer working distances allow you to magnify objects on a larger working space. You can use a dissecting scope for studying plants, insects, electronic parts, and gemstones. However, you can’t use it for bacterial samples.
Advantages Of A Dissecting Microscope:
- A larger working area allows for dissection or manipulation
- It produces three-dimensional images
- View live specimen samples
- Wide field of vision, rather than just a few cells
- Usually has two eyepiece lenses
Disadvantages Of A Dissecting Microscope:
- Not suitable for examining microscopic objects
- Limited magnification to 70x
The Differences Compound Microscopes And Dissecting Microscopes
Choosing between a compound and dissecting microscope comes down to one thing — application.
Compound scopes are designed to examine objects in fine detail that are not visible to the naked eye. Typically, most entry-level compound scopes have magnification levels up to 400x, but some are as powerful as 2500x. Therefore, you can examine the cross-section of a human cell after the specimen has been prepared by staining it.
Dissecting microscopes are designed for viewing larger objects that light cannot shine through. Typically, dissecting scopes have magnification power up to 70x. The larger working space means you can also manipulate the specimen. For example, you would use this type of microscope to examine opaque specimens like insects, plants, and other small items in detail.
Why And How Are Microscopes Powerful Tools For Biological Investigations?
In biological investigations, powerful compound microscopes are vital when studying cells, genes, and organisms. The magnifying power of a compound scope lets scientists examine organisms too tiny for the naked eye to see. For example, powerful light microscopes and compound scopes allow scientists to study viruses, bacteria, and living cells.
According to the book The Cell: A Molecular Approach, microscopes opened up the field of cell biology. And thanks to investigating cell functions through a microscope, scientists could better understand diseases and infections and then develop cures.
Why Would You Use A Compound Microscope Over A Dissecting Microscope To Look At A Bacterial Smear?
The higher magnification ability of compound microscopes makes them better than dissecting microscopes for studying a bacterial smear sample. Most cells are between 1 and 100 μm in diameter. This means that only a compound scope with a high magnification level can reveal the fine details of cell structure.
When Would You Use A Compound Microscope?
You would use a compound microscope when viewing microscopic objects that the naked eye cannot see. For example, a compound scope is the best tool when studying individual cells or examining cell formation. The ocular lens and the objective lenses combine to provide high resolution with magnification ranging from 40x to over 1000x.
How Does The Illumination Differ Between Dissecting And Compound Microscopes?
One of the significant differences between a compound and dissecting scope is how objects are illuminated. The compound light microscope illuminates the specimen slide from below. Therefore, specimens on the microscope slide must be specially prepared and translucent. In contrast, a dissecting scope has a beam of light from above the object.
The illumination a dissecting microscope provides allows you to examine the specimen’s surface features in detail. In addition, you also get a three-dimensional view. Alternatively, the light a compound scope provides penetrates the sample on the glass slide and provides a two-dimensional image.
Are Images Inverted With The Dissecting Microscope?
Dissecting and binocular microscopes do not show an inverted image. Although the image passes through a series of ocular lenses, the image you see through the two eyepieces is the same orientation as on the slide. This contrasts with compound microscopes that show an inverted image
What Are The Limitations Of A Compound Microscope?
Compound microscopy has certain limitations with the size of the specimen you can observe. Typically, the level of magnification with a compound scope doesn’t allow you to view specimens such as atoms, viruses, and molecules. The type of microscope you need for this is an electron microscope.
Although high magnification makes compound scopes powerful tools, they have limits when studying larger samples. For example, suppose you want to examine pollen grains or part of an insect’s wing. In that case, the magnification power of the compound scope limits the viewing range.
Conclusion
Choosing between a compound microscope and dissecting microscope depends on the type of specimens you study. For example, if you want to view objects at a cellular level, then a compound scope is the best choice. But suppose you want to examine small insects, plants, skin structure, or tiny fibers. In that case, choose a dissecting microscope.