Comparison between Domestic and Imported Microscopes
① Price. Domestic microscopes are low-priced, generally ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands. They are suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises with modest inspection requirements and limited equipment budgets. Imported microscopes usually cost tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. Prices vary greatly by manufacturer and model, and they are mainly adopted by medium and large enterprises with high inspection standards and sufficient procurement funds.
② Product Quality. Although domestic equipment is continuously developing and improving, there remains a substantial gap in genuine product quality and technology compared with imported counterparts. It is believed that this gap cannot be closed in the short term.
③ Optical System. Most domestic microscopes adopt finite optical systems, resulting in relatively simple functions. Some high-end products employ infinite optical systems, yet the relevant technology is not fully mature. Imported manufacturers universally use infinite optical systems. Among them, the ICCS optical system from Zeiss, Germany, represents the most advanced design.
④ Objective Lenses. Objectives of domestic microscopes are mostly achromatic objectives with a smaller field of view, poor image contrast and unsatisfactory color reproduction. The maximum magnification of domestic objectives can reach 40×, and 100× objectives are mostly oil immersion types. Objective lenses from imported microscope manufacturers include achromatic, semi-apochromatic and apochromatic objectives. The latest objective technology is the EC contrast-enhanced objective. These objectives deliver a much larger field of view, outstanding imaging quality and contrast, with a maximum magnification up to 100×.
⑤ Mechanical Stability. Domestic microscopes generally have rough workmanship and a high rate of mechanical faults. Especially after several years of use, the overall performance of the equipment declines sharply, with a service life of 2–5 years (service life depends on usage frequency and maintenance). Imported microscopes feature fine workmanship, stable mechanical performance, and most have a service life exceeding 5 years.
