The simple microscope has one lens and is used for basic microscopy, including in industries such as jewelry. Its design dates back to the 1600s and modern versions are handheld. It can produce surprisingly good image quality and is affordable for basic applications.
A simple microscope is a microscope that has only one lens, as opposed to the compound lenses used in more complex microscope designs. Magnifiers and loupes are two well-known examples of the simple microscope. This design is classically used for basic microscopes used to introduce children to science and microscopy, and can also be used in some industries. Jewelers, for example, use loupes to examine specimens for grading and quality determinations.
The basic science behind the simple microscope is quite ancient, but it wasn’t until the 1600s that the design started to be refined enough for people to actually see objects at the microscopic level. The development of advanced techniques for grinding and shaping lenses allowed practitioners such as Hans Janssen and Anton van Leeuwenhoek to develop simple microscopes that significantly advanced the study of biology.
Modern simple microscopes are usually hand-held, designed for field work or for quick viewing of objects that require magnification. Historic designs included mounts resembling those used with modern microscopes, although instead of viewing the object through a series of lenses, the user only had one lens to use. The simple microscope also lacks the condenser lens which is used to focus and intensify the light for the purpose of achieving better image clarity.
Many science stores sell simple microscopes, sometimes as part of discovery kits for young scientists who want to explore the world around them. You can also order them through microscopy companies and suppliers who handle equipment for jewelry, sewing, and a wide variety of other businesses. Some companies make simple microscopes for specific applications, such as linen testers for the garment industry or jeweler’s loupes that can be worn on the head for ease of use.
Image quality with a simple microscope can be surprisingly good, as researchers learned when they used replicas of 17th-century simple microscopes to see what exactly it was that biologists found in water supplies in the early days of microscopy. If the objective is of very high quality and the user knows how to manipulate the microscope to achieve the best focus, contrast and clarity, the image can be quite excellent, although it is obviously impossible to achieve very high magnification levels with a simple microscope. For basic applications, however, this design can be very useful, as well as affordable for people who may not want to shell out for a more advanced microscope design.
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