Stereo Microscopes

A stereo microscope is a dual optical path system designed to provide a 3D image to the user allowing for depth perception of a sample/object. Ideal for visualising larger or opaque samples, for example for inspection and manipulation rather than high resolution imaging (a upright/inverted microscope is ideal for this application).

A Greenough based stereo microscope features dual optics in a symmetrical design. This design allows for each objective to have its own optical path leading to the 3D effect.

Greenough design stereos allow for high numerical apertures, while a single objective stereo is designed for infinity correction which permits the use of beam splitters, camera ports etc with greater ease.

For routine viewing of samples such as dissection and observation the Greenough design offers an economical design. While more advanced applications that require a camera port may benefit from a common objective system.

Magnifications are purely model dependent but are often delivered via a zoom wheel. A common range is between 6.5x – 50x but you can expect up to 200x.

If your system has a trinocular/camera port an image can be captured. Some Zeiss stereos come integrated with a camera in the head of the microscope for wireless capture, while others allow for multiple models of microscope camera.

For help on configuration of a stereo microscope please contact us.

You can view a wide range of samples with a stereo microscope, such as insects, plants, rocks, fossils, circuit boards, silicon chips, and more. It's also great for medical dissection, microsurgery (like mice and zebrafish embryos), and quality control in industrial inspections.

Stereo microscopes have two main types of illumination category:

• Top (reflected) light for solid objects

  • Ring lights

  • Goosenecks

• Bottom (transmitted) for visualisation of transparent or opaque samples