Microscope Buyer's Guide

10 Considerations When Buying A Microscope

1. Make a list of your needs, including any specific/unique requirements to direct your search.                                                                                 
2. Establish a comfortable budget range to help identify a group of realistic microscope options.
3. Determine which type of microscope (compound or stereo) you need. 
4. There are many microscope brands. Make sure the brand you choose supports its products and offers replacement parts.
5. Pay attention to the details. Microscopes are highly configurable. When comparing microscopes, make sure you are comparing apples to apples.
6. Almost all microscopes are now manufactured in China. Find out which brands just slap their name on mass produced products.                           
7. Take all reviews with a grain of salt. Most of the time, reviews are written by hobbyists with little experience using an instrument.
8. Never justify purchasing a low quality microscope based on a warranty.  
9. Beware of the tricks. We have seen all the tactics other companies use to deceive customers - quoting lower quality objectives without the customer’s knowledge,etc.  
10. Beware of knock-offs! You can have two scopes that appear to be identical in a picture, but they are not.

Keep in mind that most microscopes are highly configurable.  It’s always best to speak with an expert to make sure you get exactly what you need for the best price.  Call us at 800-219-1451 or email sales@microscopecentral.com with any questions.