Protozoans under the Microscope

The protozoan shown below is Actinosphaerium sp. This protozoan adjusted itself on the surface of a shell of a freshwater gastropod. The Actinosphaerium sp. is a kind of Amoeba with a needle like pseudopodia used for catching food.

Actinosphaerium sp. at 10x magnification. Image courtesy: Ravindra Bakare.

Actinosphaerium sp. at 45x magnification. Image courtesy: Ravindra Bakare.

Images were captured by Ravindra Bakare, Associate Professor of Zoology at Kisan Veer Mahavidyalaya in Wai Dist Satara, Maharashtra, India. Stagnant pond water was collected near the University and placed under a biological microscope. Bakare works for the fresh water protozoan diversity around Wai and captured this Actinosphaerium sp. under the microscope by using a 2 megapixel eyepiece camera at 10x and 45x magnification. Microscope World is grateful for Ravindra Bakare's work in capturing these images and for sharing them with microscopy enthusiasts!

Diadema Larvae Under the Microscope

The microscope image below is of a 13-day-old Diadema larvae. Diadema larvae are an interesting sea urchin larvae. Two of the spines that are typical of other sea urchin larvae actually grow into centimeter long "wings" and they glide through the ocean currents for possibly months before finding a place to settle and metamorphose into tiny juvenile Diadema sea urchins.

Diadema Larvae, Day 13. Image courtesy: Martin Moe

A big thanks to Martin Moe for capturing this image (with the Meiji MT4000 series biological microscope) and sharing it with Microscope World!

Geology Microscope Images

The thin sections of rock shown below were captured using the Fein Optic RB40 polarizing microscope. All images on this page were captured using the DCM3.1 microscope camera (3 megapixels).

Geology thin section using the 1/4 wave plate under the R40POL polarizing microscope.

Geology thin section using the full wave plate and full polarization under the R40POL polarizing microscope.

Geology thin section using the full wave plate and full polarization under the R40POL polarizing microscope.

Geology thin section using the full wave plate under the R40POL polarizing microscope.

Geology thin section using polarization with the R40POL polarizing microscope.

Geology thin section using polarization with the R40POL polarizing microscope.

You can learn more about polarizing microscopes here.

Earth Day under the Microscope

Today in honor of Earth Day, we have decided to share some of our favorite "earth" microscopy images. Enjoy!

Tremolite under a polarizing microscope.

Tremolite is a mineral that forms from metamorphism of sediments rich in quarts and dolomite.

Monocot and Dicot (flower) captured under a biological microscope at 40x.

Moss captured under a biological microscope at 400x.

Zebrafish (day 3) under a stereo fluorescence microscope.

Butterfly wing captured at 100x magnification under a biological microscope.

Happy Earth Day!

Best Cordless Field Microscopes

We reviewed many cordless microscopes and below have listed the best cordless field microscope options.

Best Cordless Kids Microscope

The Richter Optica F1 kids microscope is hands down the best option for a cordless kids microscope. This microscope uses a cool LED light - this is important in order to keep live specimens from getting killed by the heat of the microscope light! The microscope has coarse AND fine focusing - very important in order to view a clear image at 400x. Glass optics = clear images. Magnification of 40x, 100x, 400x - high enough to view bacteria, blood cells and Protozoans in pond water. Lightweight at only 3 lbs. and easy to carry. The Richter Optica F1 sells for $99.

Best Stereo Zoom Dissecting Cordless Microscope

The Swift Optical SM105 stereo zoom microscope provides continuous magnification of 10x - 30x, which is
perfect for viewing flowers, rocks, insects and any other item that might be found out in the field and held in the palm of your hand. Cool LED light won't heat up. Top light and bottom light can be operated independently of each other. Carrying handle makes this dissecting microscope easy to transport. The Swift SM105 stereo microscope sells for $489.

Best Plan Achromat Compound Binocular Cordless Microscope

The Richter Optica UX-1 is a great advanced high school microscope. With Plan Achromat objective lenses the full field of view is completely flat, crisp and clear. Binocular viewing makes it easier to view specimens through the microscope and the mechanical stage makes maneuvering these samples even easier. Magnification of 40x, 100x, 400x and 1000x provides standard lab magnifications for viewing everything from bacteria and cells to pond life creatures. Without any cords to worry about, the UX-1 is also quite popular among veterinarians. The UX-1 compound microscope sells for $699.

Best Tablet LCD Cordless Microscope

The UX1-LCD tablet microscope has all the great features of the UX-1 shown above, but it also
includes a 10" LCD Tablet camera. The camera has a 5 mega pixel camera and an SD card slot, as well as HDMI output. The Android tablet provides a touch screen and measurements can be made as well. The UX1-LCD tablet microscope sells for $1989.

Comparator Reticles

Microscope comparator reticles for use in a biological or stereo microscope are available in full 360°, half comparators (180°), and comparators for specific objectives (1x, 2x, 3x). The microscope comparator reticles are available in diameters of 16mm - 28mm.

360 Degree Comparator Microscope Reticle

The standard comparator reticle is available in 26mm - 28mm diameters and contains rulers, circles of varying diameters and comparator protractors with different angles.

Standard Comparator Reticle

You can view all the microscopy comparator reticles here. Information on how to install microscope eyepiece reticles can be found here.

Arcella Vulgaris under the Microscope

Arcella Vulgaris is a Testate Amoeba that has loose pseudopodia protruding out of the pseudochitin shell. This video shows the Arcella Vulgaris producing Carbon Dioxide vesicles to create buoyancy.  The test (or shell on sea urchins and microorganisms) is for protection and secreted by the animal itself. Testate amoeba are amoeba that have an umbrella shaped hard covering.

Arcella Vulgaris lives among water weeds and feeds on bacteria. The video also shows another variety of Arcella sp. which is transparent and the Amoeba inside can clearly be seen.

In the video captured by Ravindra Bakare, Associate Professor of Zoology at Kisan Veer Mahavidyalaya in Wai Dist Satara, Maharashtra, India, stagnant pond water was collected near the University and placed under a biological microscope. Bakare works for the fresh water protozoan diversity around Wai and captured this Arcella Vulgaris video under the microscope by using a 2 megapixel eyepiece camera at 45x magnification. Microscope World is grateful for Ravindra Bakare's hard work in capturing this video and for sharing it with microscopy enthusiasts!

ASTM E112 Standard for Grain Sizing

The ASTM E112 standard is commonly practiced in the United States when determining the quality of an alloy. This standard is routinely performed by inspecting a polished sample under a metallurgical microscope to determine grains distribution within a specific area. Typically an inverted metallurgical microscope such as the Fein Optic Mi40 shown below is used.

Fein Optic Mi40 Inverted Metallurgical Microscope

Using this standard, a "G-Number" is derived, which directly relates to the quality of the alloy. The ASTM E112 standard can be performed in one of two ways. Image Analysis software, such as the Infinity Analyze Software included with the Lumenera cameras can be used, or a simple grain sizing reticle can be used.

Grain Sizing Reticle

When using the grain sizing reticle, a polished sample is placed under the microscope and then when looking through the microscope eyepieces the grain sizing reticle is imposed on the image. This reticle allows the technician to estimate the G-Number based on the grain size and how it matches up with the microscope reticle.

Learn more about the ASTM E112 test for grain counting here.

Vorticella Under the Microscope

Vorticella Campanula is a fresh water stalked ciliate and usually remains attached to water weeds, other large suspended particles and sometimes to the body of a large zooplankton.

In the video below captured by Ravindra Bakare, Associate Professor of Zoology at Kisan Veer Mahavidyalaya in Wai Dist Satara, Maharashtra, India, stagnant pond water was collected near the University and placed under a biological microscope. Bakare works for the fresh water protozoan diversity around Wai and captured this Vorticella video under the microscope by using a 2 megapixel eyepiece camera at 45x magnification.

Notice that the Vorticella has a ciliary tuft around its peristome and is shown producing a water current for feeding purposes. The unidirectional water current produced by cilia can be clearly seen in the video. The myoneme or stalk is highly contractile when it is attached and covers the area around the radius. 

Thanks to Professor Bakare for sharing this beautiful microscopy work!

Art under the Microscope

Linden Gledhill is an artist who has used his education in science and passion for photography to create beautiful microscopy images. Gledhill utilizes a compound biological microscope to capture his images. The microscopy images were captured with a Canon EOS 5D camera mounted on an Olympus BH-2 microscope using 4x, 10x, 20x, 40x and 100x S-Plan Achromat objectives. DIC was used when capturing some of the images.

Microscope setup used to captured images.

Closterium (Photo © Linden Gledhill)

Soap Film (Photo © Linden Gledhill)

Food Coloring Crystals (Photo © Linden Gledhill)

Diatom Frustule (Photo © Linden Gledhill)

Motile Algae, Pandorina Morum (Photo © Linden Gledhill)

Surirella Robusta (Photo © Linden Gledhill)

Monarch Butterfly Wing (Photo © Linden Gledhill)

Snowflake (Photo © Linden Gledhill)

Freshwater Algae under the microscope (Photo © Linden Gledhill)

What is a Microscope Reticule?

A microscope reticule (also known as a reticle), is a small piece of glass inserted into the microscope eyepiece for counting or making measurements. This small circular glass disc has an image imprinted on it such as a grid, protractor or ruler. There are a number of different types of microscopy reticules, and each is explained briefly below. Click on the link in order to view a wide variety of reticules in each category.

Ruler Reticules

Microscope ruler reticles are the most popular type of reticule used and are ideal for making basic measurements. Available in both mm and inches, the ruler reticules can be NIST certified for precise measuring that meets certifiable standards.

Grid Reticules

Microscope grid reticles are frequently used for counting or measuring cells or particles. Measuring particles and cells is made easier, especially if the required task is a pass/fail task. By knowing the size of the grid and whether a particle or cell fits within that grid can make the job of viewing multiple samples at one time more efficient and timely.

Comparator Reticules

Microscope comparator reticles are typically used for measuring angles. Similar to a protractor, the comparator reticle is available with or without a ruler printed beneath it.

Crossed Scale Reticules

Microscope crossed scale reticles are similar to ruler reticles, but have rulers on each of the four axis points. These reticles are useful when needed to measure in several directions from a center point.

Cross Line Reticules

Microscope cross line reticles typically do not have measuring features on them. These microscopy reticles are cross lines, or cross lines with multiple angles, such as a pie.

Concentric Circle Reticules

Microscope concentric circle reticles are used to measure tolerances from a central point. By using concentric circles, the distance between each circle on the point is a known distance and making measurements of tolerances is much easier.

Grain Sizing Reticules

Microscope grain sizing reticles are used for measuring twine, austenite, carbide, brass, and copper. Additionally grain sizing reticles that meet ASTM E112 grain counting standards, Methods ASTM E-45 A, D and E method, and ASTM C method are reticles that meet specific industry standards.

Whipple Reticules

Microscope whipple reticles have a grid system that usually contains a grid within the main grid. Whipple reticles are intended to enable the measurement of smaller specimen features such as pigment dispersions, colloidal particles, dust, and bacteria.

Point Array Reticules

Microscope point dot array and point cross array reticles are used for counting.

Merz Reticules

Microscope Merz Reticles are used to estimate the three dimensional surface areas or the surface density of a component in a given volume, when the component does not have a random orientation. It comprises a test system with parallel curved lines used for measuring the intersection of points.

Pinwheel Reticules

Microscope pinwheel reticles are much like the name - a pinwheel with a measuring ruler on each leg of the pinwheel.

Specialized Counting Chamber Reticules

Microscope counting reticles include everything from Birnell Scale, Dargie reticle, dirt estimation reticle, Fairs Analysis reticle, Howard mold counting reticle, hole gage reticles, milk smear, Reticulyte counting reticles, Walton & Beckett reticles, Patterson globe reticles, IMA/USP counting reticles, Miller Disc square reticles, Weibel reticles and Porton Counting reticles.

Square Reticules

Microscope square reticles and concentric square reticles are commonly used to measure set dimensions.








Once you have your microscope reticle, read this page to find information about how to accurately measure with your reticle.

If you are looking for a particular type of microscope reticle and don't see mention of it on this page, please contact Microscope World, as we carry a number of reticles that are not listed here, as well as custom microscopy reticles.