Expert: Walter Hintz - 5/20/2009

Question
Hi

I don't know much about microscopes, what kind of microscope should i buy (and what magnification they work with )if want to examine skin tissues, hairs , also to examine home flies, ants , small plants and their roots etc.

Also, is a slide necessary for these?

Thanks

Answer
Most scopes come with magnifications of 40x 100x and 440x.  To examine tissues you need 440x.  For the other things you mention you would do best with a dissecting microscope or you could  use the 40x. I would suggest the standard scope. I do not know the cost of these but if you are going to use it a lot do not get one of these cheap scopes they sell for kids.Look for a used one. Try a pawn shop
 You need slides with microscopes