A pocket microscope is a small microscope that is intended to be carried around with you. The microscope may fit in a pocket in some cases, but it may be more comfortable to carry in a field bag or small carrying case in others. The microscope can be used in a variety of situations, from inspecting jewelry in a fabrication studio to conducting scientific fieldwork, in all cases.
Pocket microscopes are available at a variety of science stores. They range in quality from novelty items that are essentially glorified magnifying glasses to serious microscopes that can produce extremely precise, clear images at magnifications of 100x or higher. Some pocket microscopes have built-in cameras or camera attachments that can be used to photograph specimens viewed through the microscope. The cost of a good microscope, in particular, can be quite high, though given the microscope’s potential applications, this may be considered acceptable.
A typical pocket microscope has a light and a staging area on one end and an eyepiece on the other. The microscope’s focusing knobs can be adjusted, or the microscope can be moved around to get a good angle. The microscope may have an actual stage for small items in some cases, while in others, the staging area may be a clear plastic cone that is placed over the object of interest while the microscope’s lenses magnify it.
Depending on how a pocket microscope is designed, the image may be reversed. These microscopes use mirrors and lenses to magnify an object of interest, and there may not be enough room in the microscope to correct the image’s positioning, resulting in the user seeing an object backwards. Users should be aware of this because it can cause confusion, and getting used to seeing an image in reverse can take some time.
A pocket microscope can be very useful as a learning tool because it can pique children’s interest and involvement in their surroundings. Scientists of all ages can use pocket microscopes for fieldwork because they allow people to quickly examine specimens of interest in the field rather than having to bring them back to a lab for analysis. A pocket microscope may be useful in the practice of preparing specimens for analysis under a full-sized microscope, and they are also used in industries where microscopic components are used for quality inspections.