Powerful microscopes have fallen in price over the years, and now are affordable for both professional, as well as home use. Microscopes make great gifts for children of all ages, encouraging them in their studies of science. However, the as the selection of microscopes has grown, so to has the challenge of finding the right one to fit your needs.

Basically, there are three main types of microscopes:

-High-Powered Microscopes: Perfect for looking at the smallest objects, these microscopes offer zoom ranges of 40X to 1000X and come in a variety of price ranges.
-Low-Powered Microscopes: Perfect for looking at insects, these microscopes generally offer dual lenses for ease of viewing, and are among the most affordable.
-Digital Microscopes: Generally reserved for advanced scientific study, digital microscopes quickly become quite expensive, but offer the ability to sync with cameras, video recorders and computers.

Whether you are looking for an inexpensive microscope as a gift, or an a sophisticated microscope for the most detailed study, be sure to check out the variety of online microscope retailers. Prices are generally very competitive, with excellent information about each option and it's capabilities, as well as the large selection only online retailers can provide.