Students, home owners, and hobbyists may need microscopes for simple to advanced uses. But most of the time, their budget is restricted. That should not be a problem at all. There are a lot of cheap microscopes that are available in the market today. It is just a matter of finding the best one.

If you want to buy cheap microscopes, you should know what you are actually getting. Here are eight tips on what you should consider when buying cheap microscopes so you will get value for your money.

1. Know what the microscope’s body is made out of. To cut out on price, cheap microscopes are usually made out of low quality materials. The most common ones are wood and plastic. If ever you encounter a microscope that is made of fine metal and yet it is priced cheap, then you are faced with a good bargain. If you can’t find one like that, just make sure that the microscope is sturdy and heavy enough so it will not topple over easily.

2. Check the microscope’s resolution. Most cheap microscopes have low resolution. This means that the image produced can be grainy at times. If you can, try the microscope out. You can use a strand of your hair or any small object as a specimen. Just make sure that the microscope is calibrated properly when you try it. If you can’t possibly try the microscope because you are buying one from an online store, always ask about the estimated resolution of the device you are planning to buy.

3. Check the clarity of the image. Clarity and resolution are not the same. Resolution refers to the sharpness of the image produced. Clarity, on the other hand, refers to the brightness and dimness of the image. A high resolution microscope with optimum clarity is going to be the best buy. If that can’t be achieved, you should make sure at least that the device is capable of viewing the specimen you would primarily use the microscope for.

4. Know the number of objectives. A compound microscope has three or more objectives. If what is being sold to you is a simple device with a single objective, then there is not much to do with it. Generally, those microscopes are good for kids. But if you want to use it for more advanced applications other than viewing bugs, try to get a microscope that has two or more objectives. The standard is three. Some compound microscopes like these are for sale for as low as only $150.

5. Learn the parts of the microscope. To sell a fairly cheap microscope, manufacturers may remove some special features and parts of the microscopes. That’s fine, if you are not going to use them for advanced applications. What you should be concerned more about would be the basic parts. These would be the diaphragm, reflective mirror, stage, condenser, lens, objectives, and eye piece. If you can, inspect these parts individually. See if they are durable enough to withstand the conditions involving your personal use.

6. Look for the focusing knobs. A good microscope should have a fine and course focusing knob. These adjustments would allow you to fine-tune the focus of the image that you are viewing. If the cheap microscope you’d like to buy lacks these features, then it is a ‘touch and go’ type of a device. All you have to do is to put the specimen and view it. Basically that’s how it works. You do not want these types of a microscope.

7. Does it have sufficient lighting system? There are microscopes that have to be connected to a power outlet, supplied with batteries, or be recharged every time it is to be used. Choose the one that’s most convenient for you or matches the actual use of the microscope. But the more important point of concern would be whether the specimen is lighted properly for viewing purposes.

8. Check the microscope’s overall quality. When you say overall quality, you are concerned with the microscope’s general performance as far as how you will use it is concerned. Can it magnify your specimens as much as you wanted it? Are its mechanisms stable and reliable? Is it made by a trusted manufacturer? These are the three most important questions you need to answer when buying cheap microscopes.

Follow these eight tips and you should be able to spot the best cheap microscope that fits both your budget and your specifications. It won’t matter how frequent you’ll use the microscope. You should still get the best product your money can buy.