What is a Field Microscope?
A field microscope is a small compound light microscope with a long focal length objective. Its purpose is to do microscopy in a variety of locations, so portability, small size, and light weight are primary considerations for a field or portable microscope. Many are small enough to be hand-held. A compound microscope has two lenses: the eyepiece lens and the objective lens. The objective lens is the most important part of a microscope, as it is the lens closest to the object. The focal length is the distance between the objective and the sample, and field microscopes have a long focal length in order to accommodate larger samples like a whole leaf or rock, and for ease of use in switching between slides. All field microscopes are light microscopes, and can be configured for brightfield, dark field, and phase contrast microscopy. Inexpensive ones use ambient light, but this light is not sufficient for good resolution in some situations, so some field microscopes have a battery-powered
Clearly, the first prerequisite is that it be small enough and compact enough and light enough to carry in a backpack. There have been various attempts to manufacture and sell such field microscopes. Rather than describe other portable microscopes, either antique or still available, I will direct you to the Microscopy-UK Full Menu [where you select Micscape Article Library, then scroll down to Microscopes]; and, to Tony Saunders-Davies description of a home-modified Meopta portable microscope kit. Recently, I ran across a web site advertising the Micromet Microscope, promising looking by the pictures and specifications. MY OWN FIELD MICROSCOPE is a Swift FM-31 Field Microscope modified with an LED light source and equipped with a Nikon 995 digital camera: The Swift field microscope is a compact inverted microscope with long focal length objectives. It is available in bright field, dark field, and phase contrast configurations. I started with a bright field configuration about 12-years
And what does it do? Our site will give you the most compelling and highly logical information about field microscopes and other microscopy applications. As we all know that a field microscope comes with a bright field, dark field and phase contrast configurations. A field microscope is a compact inverted microscope with long focal length objectives. It all started with a bright field configuration about ten years ago and these microscopy instruments evolve to one of the best microscopy equipment in the science of microscopy. What makes field microscope different from any other microscope is the fact that it can be used as a digital view finder for a conventional microscope. Light field microscope can separate image acquisition from the selection of viewpoint and focus, and thats why it is very unique in nature. We have featured leading microscope makers to help you decide on what kind of field microscope you like. All field microscopes that are featured here are portable and compact a
