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Vinyl records have made a notable comeback in recent years. But while you’re attracted by their distinctive charm, how can you be sure you’re getting the best sound quality? In many cases, subpar sound quality can be traced to the angle of your stylus rake. Poorly aligned elliptical styluses can ‘bump’ into the vertical modulations instead of properly tracking them, leaving you with an inferior audio experience. By using a handheld digital microscope such as the Dinolite AF3113T, you can see well enough to accurately measure the rake angle of your stylus and make adjustments as needed.

Microscope shopping can be overwhelming, especially for newcomers. But fear not! This short guide will shed light on the two main types of microscopes that you'll encounter – stereo and biological (also known as compound). Let’s take a quick look at the differences.

What is a smartphone adapter?
A smartphone adapter is an elegant little device that attaches your phone to the eyepiece of your microscope. The design is simple and easy to use. It comes with a bracket or cradle to hold your phone in place, along with a flexible clamp that connects to the eyepiece, aligning your camera lens with the eyepiece lens perfectly.

Before you can accurately measure an object under your microscope, you first need to calibrate it. To properly calibrate your microscope, you’ll need an eyepiece reticle and a stage micrometer.

Most optical microscopes you’ll be familiar with are known as ‘transmitted light’ microscopes. The ‘transmitted’ part of the name comes because light is shone or ‘transmitted’ through your sample to give you a better look at it. This contrasts with ‘reflected light’ that bounces off the sample instead of passing through it. They’re commonly used to reveal the cellular structures of microorganisms, tissue and crystalline minerals.

Countless occupations –­ from forensic science to engineering – use microscopes. However, they don’t all use microscopes in the same way. The difference lies in technique. Modern microscopes are able to use a range of special techniques and equipment to get a better look at hard-to-see samples and specimens. Let’s take a quick look into how some of the more common microscopy techniques work.

A compound microscope is easy to use once you have the hang of it. However, it can be a challenge when you first start out. To get you started, here’s a quick primer on how to use a basic compound microscope.

Preparing your own slides can be tricky and one of the more time-consuming aspects of microscopy.  On average, preparing a single slide can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the complexity of the preparation...