All you need in a microscope is a great magnification and the best view on the live-cell?

Luckily for you, there is a special microscope for that, an inverted microscope!

Learn all about what an inverted microscope is, how to use it and why is it best for the live-cell specimen. Also, five of the best-inverted models on the market will be reviewed and all of their main features listed. 

Why Should You Get An Inverted Microscope

How Is Inverted Microscope Different From The Upright?

The inverted microscope works opposite of the upright microscope. The source of light is placed at the top of the stage, and the objectives are below the stage, and they are facing up. Also, the bottom of the vessel has to have certain features. 

For What Do We Use The Inverted Microscope?

Inverted microscopes are used for live-cell imaging. Most cells sink to the bottom they can only truly be seen in the special vessels made for the inverted microscopes. Also, there is no contact between the vessels and the sample so they ensure a sterile environment.

Is Inverted Microscopes Expensive?

It’s true, an inverted microscope is more expensive than a usual, upright microscope. Because of it’s professional, high-end features and the facts it’s usually only used in labs, this type of microscope can be high-priced. 

5 Best Inverted Microscopes For Sale 

Best Inverted Microscope For Cell Culture

Motic AE2000 Inverted Microscope

Comfortable and user-friendly

For the Motic AE2000 inverted microscope you could say it’s easy to use from the beginning. It easily sets up and it’s very intuitive to use. For the ultimate comfort, the binocular tubes are 360° rotatable, and the head is 45° inclined.

Interchangeable light system

One of the convenient features of the Motic AE2000 is the modular interchangeable illumination system. With this system, you can switch from halogen to LED within seconds. You can also control the intensity of the halogen light.

Superior image 

When a microscope is this powerful, it has to have powerful objectives. Plan achromatic phase objectives together with the plan achromatic objectives provide a clean and sharp image of the cells. 

Saves energy

When it’s not in the function, the Motic AE2000 has an intelligent way of saving energy, auto on/off power supply function. This way, you can save the energy and the light and prolong the life of a sample.

Buy On Amazon

Best Trinocular Inverted Microscope

AmScope Trinocular Microscope

Choose between 11 magnification levels

The AmScope Inverted Tissue trinocular microscope offers up to 11 magnifications levels! You can magnify the sample from 40x to 800x, and everything in between. Just adjust the focusing know and enjoy the clear image.

Powerful illumination

Thanks to the 12V built-in halogen light-bulb the AmScope trinocular microscope has a very powerful illumination. Not only powerful but also adjustable in brightness level so you can get the best look on your specimen.

High-quality glass optics

All the optics on the trinocular head is made out of premium glass optics. This makes the lenses more precise and easier to focus on. Of course, because of the four achromatic objectives, all images of the specimens are in colors.

Reliable and strong construction

It’s important to mention that all the components on the AmScope trinocular microscope are made strictly out of metal. In addition to that, the stain-resistant finish is also included, along with the 5-year warranty.

Best Inverted Phase Contrast Microscope

Leica Microsystems DMi1 Microscope

Intuitive design

Everything about the design of the Leica phase contrast microscope is meant to be simple and intuitive to use. Features like adjustable working distance or low energy LED light are meant to ease the usage and save energy.

Simply switch the phase contrast

Leica Microsystems DMi1 has three-phase contrast, 10x, 20x and 40x. It also has a very convenient feature of switching the lightly swiveling the nosepiece. One light ring fits all three objectives so you don’t have to change it.

Automatically adjusted intensity

The LED light provides constant color temperature and nice, cool light that’s perfect for the live specimen. The LED light can work up to 20 years. In addition to that, the microscope self regulates the light intensity.

HD quality images

With the Leica DMi1 microscope, you can take one of the most high-quality images in the microscope world. You can use the 2.5 or 5.0MP colored camera. Oh, you can also directly store all the data on the microscope SD card. 

Best Inverted USB Microscope

Plugable USB Microscope

View all kinds of samples

With this Plugable inverted USB microscope, like with other inverted microscopes, you can view more than a regular sample, things like the metallurgical sample and sample from the Petri dish.

Dual LED light

Plugable USB microscope offers both top and bottom illumination. You can set one or the other, and you can even have something in between. It’s recommended to use the top light for transparent objects, and the bottom for opaque objects.

Adjust the specimen

It can be hard to put the stage in just the right space, but luckily, with Plugable you can use the position adjustment knob to make this easier. Slowly set the stage in the right position and you’re good to go.

Use it without software

Feel free to analyze your bacteria without worrying about the double view. You don’t need a bulky screen to get a good view of the specimen with a Plaugable USB microscope, but you can transfer all your images to a computer using most of the OS.

Best Inverted Optical Microscope

Telmu Inverted Microscope

Wide eyepiece

Although it’s only a monocular microscope, Telmu inverted optical microscope has a nice, wide-angle eyepiece that provides a clear view and a more broad view of the live specimen or tissue.

Adjustable brightness and focus

It’s important for a live specimen to have a flash of adequate lightning. Telmu microscope can adjust the brightness of the light. More importantly, the focus is also easily adjustable with the side focus knob. 

Optical lens and color filter

There are three objectives with an optical lens, 4x, 16x and 20x. The magnification can go up to 320x. It’s known that optical lens improves the view and color filter helps to protect the specimen from harmful, bright colors. 

Some accessories included

Along with the Telmu inverted microscope, you will also get some valuable accessories; plastic tweezer, measuring cups, coverslips and a phone adapter that allows you to save the images on your phone

Buy On Amazon

Conclusion: Two Best Inverted Microscopes

Inverted microscopes are all very high-quality products and they allow you to see what an upright microscope doesn’t. My choice for the two best inverted microscopes goes to Motic AE200 because of the interchangeable light system and to the Plugable USB microscope because of the budget-friendly price.

For more info about upright microscopes, check out my article about a microscope for sale. To read a little more about other types of microscopes you might find my other two articles useful, the one about the digital microscope and the one about the compound microscope.