Simple Ways To Guide You In Buying A Fluorescence Microscope

Most of the people who have worked in studying microscopic organisms are able to use a fluorescence microscope. It has become a widely used tool in many areas of science due to its capability to provide images of tiny living organisms as well as organ tissues, cells and other miniature specimens which are unlikely to be seen in other microscopes. Once you start to notice that it is time for you to purchase one, whether you would like to use it as an additional tool to help you in your studies, as an extra tool to provide you with an edge over the others on your profession, or you simply want to purchase one because you want to explore the miniature things around you because this specific tool could provide excellent images. Whichever situation you may be in, you should be guided in your hunt for getting one that is able to satisfy your needs. Basically, you should have a fundamental background about this microscope and learn tips to help you guide in finding the right one without the usual hassles. Although it can be overwhelming sometimes when learning mounds of information about this microscope, choosing a lot of options, features and finally getting to know new terms which are related to this tool, it may become an enjoyable process once you are finally equipped with the right information, tips and advices.

What a fluorescence microscope is

So, what’s so special about this microscope anyway? How come many people have depended on this tool during their research and studies on different specimens? What is the difference between this microscope among any other microscopes? How does it work? This microscope is different from the others because of the way the user may be able to view a specimen. Instead of viewing a specimen being produced by this tool’s light bulb, a user views the light directly which is being released by the specimen.

Oftentimes, to be able to get an illumination of the specimen, a high pressured mercury light bulb is applied. The light emitted by the specimen goes through a lot passages before it can be viewed under this microscope. In other cases, if the user wants to view a certain component of a specimen, this component shall be particularly labeled with a fluorescent molecule also known as a fluorophore. The specimen is irradiated with a light of a precise wavelength. The light is then absorbed by the fluorophores making them release light of longer wavelengths. An illumination light is detached from the weaker light through an emission filter.

The basic components of a fluorescence microscope

A typical fluorescence microscope generally has a number of components. Each component has its specified work in creating an illumination light that would make the specimen appear to glow against a dark background. The following are the components:

• Light source. This component is an arc-discharge lamp with the presence of either mercury or xenon.


• Excitation filters. Are optical glass filter which select light of fairly short wavelengths from a light source.


• Dichroic mirror. It functions like a beam splitter which separates the longer wavelengths from the short and weaker ones.


• Emission filter. This filter cuts out everything except a thin bandwidth of light wavelength. This is one of the most important components of this microscope therefore it should be the one of the main concerns when buying.


• Barrier filters. These components divide the unabsorbed light from the emitted light.

The must-have features of a fluorescence microscope


• Have wide field eyepieces and objectives that are capable of allowing a user to view at a longer distance.


• Has a fine focus system and is easy to adjust.


• A moving mechanical stage which could easily be taken out.


• Includes a phase contrast unit, a condenser, and a centering telescope


• Is equipped with a fluorescence unit including a group of fluorescence filters.


• Includes a halogen lamp for transmission illumination in which brightness of light may be controlled and a lamp either with mercury or xenon with an outside power supply unit.

Now that you are basically equipped with the general information and readily guided with the features, components and new terms about the fluorescence microscope, buying the right one may become easy for you. Make your browsing of the different brands of this microscope an interesting adventure you will never forget. Once you have purchased the one that suits you perfectly, you can immediately use it and explore the small things around you.