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Should I buy a monocular or binocular microscope?

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Francis Chan

I am a hobbyist looking for a microscope to view prepared slides. I'm wondering if you could tell me about the features and differences between a monocular and binocular microscope. Thank you. 

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Mark Henderson
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Hi Francis, it's wonderful to hear you're diving into the world of microscopy!
In terms of choosing between a monocular or binocular microscope, age and budget are the two main factors to consider. 
Monocular microscopes are cheaper and better suited to younger children whose eyes are not far enough apart to be able to use a binocular microscope. The monocular microscope has a single eyepiece, sort of like a telescope, so you can look at your subject with just one eye. 
Binocular microscopes do give a much better viewing experience so we recommend binocular microscopes for anybody over the age of 8 or so.  
You can definitely look at your prepared slides with either type of microscope, but I'm pretty sure you'll be much more comfortable with the binocular microscope. 

If you need help narrowing your search down to a few specific models, I suggest reaching out to our friendly team of experts over the chat, email or by phone. They'd be happy to assist you in choosing the right microscope for your hobby and budget. Good luck!
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