Phase contrast microscopy makes use of diffracted light to provide a clearer, sharper image than traditional microscopy. Phase contrast microscopes operate by converting phase shifts in light as they pass through a transparent specimen sample to brightness changes in the observed image. While these phase shifts aren’t visible, when they’re represented as brightness variations they become observable. This is done by separating background light from the image from the light reflecting off the sample and manipulating both to provide as clear an image as possible. A phase contrast microscope accomplishes this through the use of a condenser and multiple focusing rings.

Phase contrast microscopy has plenty of applications, but it’s most useful in biology. This is because using diffracted light to observe organic material reveals a number of cell structures that would otherwise be invisible when using traditional microscopy without staining the samples. This staining usually kills organic samples, but using phase contrast microscopy enables cell observation while they’re still alive, which was revolutionary at the time and continues to provide incredible insights into the field of biology today. That’s why we carry the most advanced phase contrast microscopes you’ll find anywhere at prices you won’t believe!