Microscopes

A digital microscope shows a document at a magnification no handheld magnifier can reach, on a screen, and saves the image for the file. That makes it the tool for second and third-line examination: the structure of microprint and nano-print, the printing technique of a background, the edges of a laser-engraved portrait, and any detail that has to be recorded as part of a finding.

Magnification range and screen

The microscopes in this category cover a range from 10x to 1200x, depending on the model. The 40x to 200x USB Microscope and the 10x to 300x Optical Camera Microscope connect to a computer; the 50x to 1000x WiFi Mobile Microscope streams to a phone or tablet; the Digital Microscope LCD Basic, Expert and Advanced and the 20x to 200x Optical LCD Digital Microscope have their own screen. The 300x to 350x Phone-to-Microscope works with a smartphone. Most models capture photos and video.
For document work, the optical magnification counts more than the digital zoom: optical magnification adds detail, while digital zoom only enlarges the captured image. A lower, sharp magnification is usually more useful than a very high setting with a narrow field of view.

When a microscope, when a magnifier

A handheld magnifier is faster for first-line checks and for reading microprint at 10x to 15x. A microscope comes in when the detail is finer than a magnifier can show, or when you need an image for the file or for a colleague. The choice is explained in manual magnifiers vs digital microscopes, and what to look for in fine print in microprinting: how to inspect micro- and nano-print. For first-line work, see the handheld magnifiers.
Prices are available on request, and you receive a quote within one business day: request a quote for a microscope.