Every microscope gets a score from 0 to 100% built from six factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Microscopes are grouped into digital and stereo. Both groups use the same six factors and weights, but some factors measure different things for each type, as described below.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Price | price at the cheapest linked store, against a scale for each type | 10% |
| Optics | digital: live/video resolution; stereo: optical magnification range and top magnification (never digital zoom) | 25% |
| Working distance | room between the lens and the subject | 15% |
| Viewing | digital: screen size, HDMI and PC output; stereo: continuous zoom, trinocular camera port and an included camera | 20% |
| Features | digital: measurement software, autofocus, remote, battery, arm stand, under-stage light; stereo: ring light, top and under-stage lights, boom stand | 20% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 10% |
Where the numbers come from
Resolution, magnification, working distance, outputs, lights, stand and warranty come from the maker’s spec page or manual, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where the maker’s own figures conflict (for example a title that lists a light the description leaves out), the figure is left out rather than guessed. Prices are checked at the stores each page links to, and the lowest is used.
The factors
Price is the current price on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. Digital microscopes score zero at $500 and full marks at $80. Stereo microscopes score zero at $1,000 and full marks at $100.
Optics is measured differently for each type.
- Digital: the live and video resolution. 720p scores zero and 4K (2160p) full marks. For a USB scope that gives its sensor resolution, the vertical pixel count is used. The 1,000x to 2,000x magnification figures printed for screen microscopes count digital zoom and monitor size, so they are shown on product pages but never scored. Stated photo resolutions are often interpolated, so they aren’t scored either.
- Stereo: the optical magnification with the eyepieces and auxiliary lenses in the box. Half is the range from lowest to highest power on a log scale (a single fixed power scores zero; 3.5x to 90x scores full marks), and half is the top power (20x scores zero; 90x full marks).
Working distance is the largest stated room between the lens and the subject with the lenses in the box. Digital: 20 mm scores zero and 160 mm full marks. Stereo: 50 mm scores zero and 200 mm full marks. For screen microscopes, a stated lens-to-base distance is used.
Viewing is measured differently for each type.
- Digital: half for the built-in screen (5 in scores zero, 10.1 in full marks; a scope with no screen gets nothing here), 30% for HDMI output and 20% for PC output.
- Stereo: 60% for a continuous zoom (fixed steps get none), 30% for a trinocular head with a camera port and 10% for a camera in the box.
Features is a set of weighted yes-or-no items.
- Digital: 25% for PC measurement software, 20% for autofocus, 15% for a remote or controller, 15% for a built-in battery, 15% for a boom or flex-arm stand and 10% for an under-stage light for slides.
- Stereo: 30% for an LED ring light, 20% for a top light, 20% for an under-stage light and 30% for a boom stand.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Stated photo resolution, magnification claims, field of view, eyepiece type, stand height, light type, Wi-Fi, number of lenses and release date are listed but not scored.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Features score neutral only when none of them is published; a feature the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as a one-year warranty, and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.