Stereo microscopes, stereographic microscopes, stereomicroscopes & dissection microscopes

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About Stereo Microscopes

Stereo microscopes, also called low-power microscopes, dissection microscopes, or inspection microscopes, are designed for viewing "large" objects at low magnifications. Unlike a compound microscope which provides an inverted 2-dimensional image, stereo microscopes provide an erect (upright and unreversed) stereoscopic (3-dimensional) image.

Stereo microscopes have two separate optical paths and wide-field eyepieces that allow both eyes to see a 3-dimensional images. A typical magnification range for a stereo microscope would be 5X to 50X zoom. Lighting is usually from the top and is reflected off a thick, opaque specimen that is against a dark background (called darkfield illumination).

Stereomicroscopes are often used by hobbyists for viewing insects, coins and stamps. Stereo microscopes are also used in various industrial applications such as in electronics manufacturing for viewing circuit boards, in manufacturing for viewing metal parts and in gemology for viewing gemstones.