Monocular Microscopes

Monocular microscopes allow the microscopist to use one eye when viewing through the microscope, similar to looking through a telescope/spotting scope or a rifle scope. Monocular microscopes are most popular for children and the beginning microscopist as they are the easiest to use and get comfortable with. In addition, since a monocular head does not contain a beam-splitter to send the microscope image to a second eye and/or a camera, monocular microscopes produce brighter images than similarly equipped binocular and trinocular microscopes. Monocular heads are available as standard with the multiscope microscope series. However, monocular heads are available as an option for the laboroscope microscopes as well. Through the use of special camera adapters it is possible to use some video and digital cameras with monocular microscopes. However, since using a camera on a monocular microscope does not allow the user to view through the microscope while the camera is attached, most microscopists opt for a trinocular head whenever picture taking through the microscope is desired.