Optics

Lasers were once the stuff of science fiction, but today it is possible to build a laser that, while functioning on a much lesser scale, works exactly like the one NASA used to bounce a beam off...

A laser pointer uses a small lens to focus the laser light as it exits the barrel of the pointer. A dirty or cracked lens inhibits the laser light and renders the laser pointer useless. Replacing...

Compound microscopes use two lenses to magnify a specimen, whereas light microscopes use only one lens. Another major difference between compound microscopes and light microscopes is their power...

Light microscopes, also known as optical microscopes, are fundamental magnification devices that have been used by the scientific community for over four centuries. The ultimate limit for a light...

Canon and Nikon are both optical companies first. Canon formed in the United States in 1965, while Nikon formed as the merger of three optical companies in Japan, in 1917. Both companies make...

The first cameras allowed people to take limited views of the local landscape. The panoramic camera, with lenses that can rotate from 110 to 360 degrees, solved this problem in the 19th century....

Cleaning a microscope objective is integral to good lab practice. Even lenses which look clean are often not. Specks of dirt can grind and scratch a microscopes optics, while use of caustic agents...

From middle school students in science class to the biologist who studies cells, the microscope is an important tool in seeing a small object more clearly. A compound microscope, which is the most...

A Lens Pen Cleaning Pen System is a great accessory for any optics user. It can be used for maintaining your digital or film camera, binoculars, telescopes, or any other spotting scope. The...

An optical microscope relies on light in order to produce an image, so the amount of light has great influence on the image produced. Two terms used to describe the way this image is viewed are...

This article provides an overview of microscopic resolution, from the definition of resolution to recent advances within the field.

The only time you should clean a microscope lens is when it is visibly dirty. The lens does not require a maintenance schedule for cleaning. If you see a spot on all powers of the microscope, it...

Whether you are a kid trying to set leaves on fire with the sun or a person looking for clues, you have most likely encountered a magnifying glass in some shape or form. In the modern world, it's...

Microscopes are invaluable tools for biologists, engineers, doctors and other science professionals. Of these vital science tools, the stereo microscope using specially crafted series of lenses,...

A laser pen is composed of a laser diode, a battery, and possibly a lens. Many laser pointers are red or green lasers, depending on the quality. Red lasers are less powerful than green lasers in...

Microscopes are used by scientists, students and hobbyists to see things that are too small to see with the naked eye. Proper care for a microscope requires that the equipment be put away properly...

Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632 to 1723) was a Dutch cloth merchant who made literally hundreds of microscopes. Although compound lenses were invented at that time, they were not yet perfected, and so...

There are two main types of telescopes: refractor telescopes and reflector telescopes. Refractor telescopes work by using a glass lens, while reflector telescopes use several mirrors. In spite...

Caring for a microscope can help it last longer and work with more efficiency. Because a microscope is such a delicate instrument, it should be cleaned carefully with specific types of cleaners....

The main component of an overhead projector is the base. This base contains a clear glass top with an interior light. A small fan on the back of the unit removes heat that is produced by the...

A slide projector uses a light source to shine light through a photographic slide and focus the image through lenses to project it onto a wall or screen. It uses the same principle as a movie...

The lens is one of the most important parts of your camera, so you need to keep it clean. Dirt and dust on your lens can produce a poor-quality photo, so proper care and storage is important, as...

A monocular is a low powered telescope similar to a binocular, only without two lenses or two eyepieces. Monoculars are great for hiking trips or bird watching trips when one doesn't want to deal...

If anyone's ever handed you a pair of binoculars and said, "Look at that!" and you've held them to your eyes and have seen an unclear image, it's because you need to calibrate the binoculars for...

Get ready for deer hunting season by buying the right rifle scope. You can hunt without one, but you'll want to know for certain what it is you are shooting at. Get that young buck in sight and...

A microscope is an investment. Even student models come at a price tag that will make you take your microscope seriously. Microscopes vary in quality and function, but their lifespan will be...

The video microscope is a relatively new addition to the microscope family. By displaying images on a video screen rather than restricting the view to the eyepiece of the microscope, video...

A USB microscope is similar to a digital microscope. You can send images from both types of microscope to your computer for viewing, saving and printing. The big difference between the two is that...

Whether you're using it for school, work or a hobby, a microscope is a significant investment. It is important to find a microscope that will deliver exceptional performance, be easy to use and...

You're on an Audubon chapter outing to nab some new birds, and your viewfinder captures a thumb print. Perhaps you're at a desert star party for some astronomical imaging, and sand has marred your...

Telescope eyepieces form the magnified images that you see when you look through the telescope's optical tube. An eyepiece consists of lens components in a moisture- and dust-resistant housing....

Birders, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts who want to check out the terrain consider their binoculars a necessity. Nature watchers rely on them for quick species identification. Rafters or...

The world of high-tech optics is continually evolving, and along with new, feature-rich cameras, binoculars, telescopes and other optics come some interesting accessories. Enhance the quality of...

A rifle scope, which is a telescopic sight designed to improve your aim when firing a weapon, may come in many different sizes and magnification ratings, as well as crosshair types. When you shop...

While the majority of rifle scopes these days are very robust instruments that are very difficult to damage, you will still need to perform some basic maintenance on them. By keeping your rifle...

You can change the ATN Night Patriot Night Vision Monocular's eyepiece to alter the magnification. Here's how.

The eyepiece is the part of the telescope that you look into when viewing objects. It is located at the back of the optic lens and is usually bent 90 degrees up for easy viewing. Here's how to...

A Barlow lens can be attached to your telescope to increase the magnification power. It was named after Peter Barlow (1776-1862), professor of mathematics at the Royal Military Academy of...

The Barlow Lens, named after Peter Barlow, professor of mathematics at the Royal Military Academy of Woolwich, is a device that enhances the focal length of the Sky-Watcher telescope. The main...

The Smartfinder or LNT Module makes it easier to sight the objects you want. No longer do you have to rely upon the narrower field of view of the main telescope eyepiece. Just blink the red dot...

The eyepiece is the part of the telescope that you look into when viewing objects. It is located at the back of the optic lens and is usually bent 90 degrees up for easy viewing.

The Barlow Lens, named after Peter Barlow (1776-1862), a professor of mathematics at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, England, is an additional device that enhances the focal length of a...

A Barlow lens is used when you intend to increase the magnification power of your telescope. Named after Peter Barlow (1776-1862), a professor of mathematics at the Royal Military Academy at...

A Barlow lens is a negative lens that is used to enhance the focal length of the Sky-Watcher SK705AZ3 Short Tube Refractor Telescope. Greater focal length reduces the area and ensures higher...

You can use the ATN Night Storm Night Vision Monocular for several activities such as hunting, camping, boating or even surveillance. There are several versions of Night Storm Night Vision...

To make sure you are looking at the right stars, align the viewfinder on your Meade LX90 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. If you have fully assembled the telescope correctly before starting, it will...

A Barlow lens is an additional lens that can be attached to the Sky-Watcher SK1206 Short Tube Refractor Telescope to enhance the telescope’s focal length. The greater the focal length, the higher...

The Meade Travel View range was designed with the frequent traveler in mind. As such, it is an extremely lightweight and portable model, which allows you to carry it wherever you roam. Furthermore...

If you are dedicated to maintaining your telescope yourself, it should rarely need professional maintenance. Follow these steps to keep your telescope in top condition.

You should be able to maintain your Celestron Firstscope without any professional assistance. Follow these steps to keep the device in top condition.