Magnifying Glasses & Loupes

Lower 3x to 5x magnification suits general specimen viewing over a wider area, while 10x to 40x loupes suit close, detailed inspection of a small area.

A larger lens shows more of the specimen at once, while a smaller loupe lens trades field of view for higher magnification.

Folding magnifiers protect the lens from scratches when not in use, making them better suited to bags and field kits than fixed-frame magnifiers.

If you need both hands free while magnifying, a stand-mounted or headband magnifier suits the task better than a handheld model.

A 5x to 10x magnifying glass suits most classroom specimen viewing, giving enough detail to see external features without losing the wider field of view.

A magnifying glass has a larger lens and lower magnification for viewing a wider area, while a jewelers loupe is a compact, higher-powered lens designed for close, detailed inspection held right up to the eye.

No, a loupe is useful for quick external inspection at up to about 40x magnification, but a microscope is needed for viewing internal structures, cells, or anything requiring higher magnification.

Use a soft lens cloth or lens tissue with a little lens cleaning solution, and avoid wiping a dry lens with a rough cloth, which can scratch the coating.

Yes, metal-framed folding magnifiers are built to withstand daily classroom handling, and folding the lens away when not in use protects it from scratches and knocks.