Most student microscopes compromise on optical and mechanical quality. Usually only two objectives and a single eyepiece are available, and they are usually of the lowest quality possible. With such microscopes it is difficult for an expert to see detail, yet students are asked to do so. That is frustrating for both students and teachers. On the other hand, this is understandable.
Microscopes are the largest expense for any high school or college laboratory.
The unique fine-focusing system is very convenient, being a horizontal ring in the base. Worse, most teaching scopes compromise with quality by using a lot of plastic and die cast parts. While that may lower the initial price, it also means that they are easily destroyed in the punishing environment of a teaching laboratory. Our teaching scopes have the same sturdiness and quality as our best research units. In fact, they are all built on the same frame.