Homeschool microscopes are a great aid for parents and students.  These are optical systems that offer some of the best and most innovative designs in basic microscopy and are also user-friendly.  Homeschool microscopes are designed to meet the requirements that accompany homeschooling, particularly in the subjects of geology, chemistry and biology.

Contrary to what most people think, homeschool microscopes do not feature low-end optical systems.  They are actually quite useful and can be used professionally.  They are excellent choices for homeschooling needs, offering numerous features and functionalities.

Features of a homeschool microscope
To determine the ideal profile of a homeschool microscope, it’s important to take a look at its features.  These include:

Microscopy technique
There are basically two microscopy techniques that are used for homeschool microscopes.  These are the compound light microscopy and the stereo microscopy.  The compound light microscopy is an ideal first microscope for homeschooling because it provides the basic functionality that will meet most requirements for academics.  Compound microscopes come with a range of magnification powers, starting at a low of 40X to a high of 1000X.  However, for a homeschool microscope, a 400X magnification is already an excellent feature.

The stereo microscope is so named because it is capable of producing images in true stereo – that is, three-dimensional.  The compound microscope is only capable of producing a flat, 2D image but the stereo can offer a much more life-like look at the specimen.  This is a microscopy feature that many homeschool students will appreciate, especially when they are viewing a whole or layered object.

The stereo microscope is actually made up of dual low-powered optics that are arranged to process light paths in two slightly different ways.  As these light paths converge upon the object, the microscope creates an image that stands out.  Magnification features on a stereo microscope are also standard and can meet most homeschooling needs.

Magnification
Magnification is a combination of the power of the objective lens and the eyepiece.  The eyepiece on majority of homeschool microscopes has a power magnification of 10X.  The objective lenses feature a 4X, 10X and a 40X.  This gives a total magnification power of 40X, 100X and 400X.  The eyepiece magnification can be increased by changing it with a higher power magnification.

Field of view or FOV and depth of field
The field of view of a homeschool microscope depends upon its magnification capability.  This feature is an important consideration because it refers to the surface area of the specimen that can be viewed through the eyepiece using a specific magnification.  As the magnification increases, the FOV decreases.

The depth of field of the microscope will also matter, particularly when specimens of several layers are viewed.  This is a feature in both microscopy and photography that refers to the total area being focused both behind and in front of the specimen.

Optical system
If there is one feature that defines the homeschool microscope, it’s the optical system.  This is the component that determines the quality of the instrument and anyone can rightly judge a microscope based on what it can offer in terms of its optics.

The optical system of the microscope is more than just its magnification capability.  It’s the quality of the optical material, its make and design that matter.

Focusing mechanism
There are basically two focus features in a basic homeschool microscope – the fine focus and the coarse focus.  It’s important for every beginner homeschooled student to understand how these knobs work on the microscope in order to optimize the use of their instruments.  For low power magnification, adjusting the coarse focus will often solve a blurry image.  For high power magnification, the fine focus can correct any vague impressions on the image.

Illumination
Most microscopes have a built-in substage mirror that is used to focus light on the specimen.  Although this will work fine in daylight or when there is sufficient lighting in the room, it is completely useless in dim light or bad weather.  A good feature would be a lamp as a source of lighting for the instrument.  The type of lighting source varies and which one you choose will depend on your needs and how you will be using the microscope.

Body
It may seem superfluous but the make of the homeschool microscope is actually part of its features.  Microscopes must be built solidly and offer stability.  This helps keep them safe and secure.  Furthermore, this also helps keep the specimen from spilling or breaking.  A good feature to have for homeschool microscope is a sturdy metal construction, making the instrument durable and rugged enough to last through all the years of grade school, middle school and high school. Read more on this subject