Comparison Microscopy

This technique employs a comparison microscope—two separate compound or polarizing light microscopes connected via a bridge to a single viewing head, allowing an analyst to simultaneously observe two different samples under the same viewing conditions. Magnifications between 40X and 400X are typically used.

Comparison microscopy is especially useful for the comparison of hair and fiber samples, but it can also be used for color and pigment comparisons of paint and other polymers and to observe similarities and differences in a wide variety of other samples.