Compound microscopes are light illuminated. The images are 2D. It is the most common microscope. They cost between 150-10,000 dollars. The source of radiation for the image formation is visible light. The medium is air. The specimen are mounted on glass slides. The lenses are glass. The focusing are mechanical. The magnification is adjusted by changing objectives. The specimen contrast is provided by light absorption.

Dissection microscopes are light illuminated. The images are 3D. It is used to look at large specimen. They cost between 100-1500 dollars. The source of radiation for the image formation is visible light. The medium is air. The specimen are not mounted. The lenses are glass. The focusing are mechanical. There is only one objective. The specimen contrast is provided by light scattering or light reflection.

Confocal microscopes use laser light. They cost between 20,000-100,000 dollars. The source of radiation for the image formation is laser light. The medium is air. The specimen are mounted on glass slides with dyed samples. The lenses are glass with dichromatic mirrors. The focusing is a digital computer focusing mechanism. The magnification is adjusted digitally enhancing. The specimen contrast is provided by laser light with dichromatic mirror concentrated at pinhole.

Scanning Electron Microscope use electron illumination. The image is 3D. They cost more than 50,000 dollars. The source of radiation for the image formation is electrons. The medium is vacuum. The specimen are mounted on aluminum stubs and coated with gold. There is one electrostatic lens with a few electromagnetic lenses. The focusing are electrical. The magnification is adjusted electrically. The specimen contrast is provided by electron scattering.

Transmission Electron Microscope are electron illuminated. The image is 2D. They cost more than 50,000 dollars. The source of radiation for the image formation is electrons. The medium is vacuum. The specimen are mounted on films of collodion. There is one electrostatic lens with a few electromagnetic lenses. The focusing are electrical. The magnification is adjusted electrically. The specimen contrast is provided by electron scattering.