Microscopes from £100 to £250

Families, GCSE and A-level students and adult hobbyists tend to land in this band, because it's where metal bodies, mains power and achromatic glass become standard. Compound models include the Levenhuk Rainbow 2L PLUS, the Rainbow 50L PLUS, the Levenhuk 400M, the Bresser Biorit SE, the Bresser Erudit Basic with two eyepieces and the Bresser Erudit DLX, which reaches 1000x with oil immersion. Stereo models for insects, coins and circuit boards are the Levenhuk 2ST, 3ST and 5ST, the Bresser Erudit ICD and Researcher ICD and the Analyth STR. With a screen there's the Levenhuk DTX 350, the DTX 500, the DTX RC1 and RC2 and the Bresser LCD 50-2000x, while the DTX 90 and DST-1028 plug into a computer.

Free UK delivery on orders over £100, otherwise £6.90

35 products

What changes above £100

Metal bodies and rack-and-pinion focusing that holds its position. Achromatic objectives, which are lenses corrected so colours focus in the same plane and the edge of a cell isn't fringed with purple. Mains power on nearly everything, a mechanical stage on the Erudit DLX, and 5 MP sensors on the DTX 500, DTX 90 and DST-1028 with stands steady enough for 300x.

Which type at this price

For school biology and pond water, a compound microscope. For anything you can hold, a stereo. For sharing with a group, repairing electronics or keeping photos, a digital model with a screen. The types guide settles it in five minutes.

£100 to £250 FAQs

Should I stretch to the next band?

Only for a trinocular port or magnification to 2000x, both of which start in the £250 to £500 band.