What is a Pocket Microscope?
A pocket microscope is a small microscope which is designed to be easily portable. In some cases, the microscope may literally fit in a pocket, while in other cases it may be more comfortably carried in a field bag or small carrying case. In all instances, the microscope can be used in a wide variety of situations, from inspecting jewelry in a fabrication studio to conducting scientific fieldwork. Many science stores sell pocket microscopes. They can vary in quality from novelty items which are essentially glorified magnifying glasses to serious microscopes which can yield very precise, clear images at 100x magnification or more. Some include integrated cameras or camera attachments which can be used to photograph the specimens viewed through the pocket microscope. Especially good microscopes can be quite costly, although people may view the cost as acceptable, given the potential applications of the microscope. In a typical pocket microscope, one end has a light and a staging area, an
