MICROSCOPE.IT
Service Bench Open +1 617 555 0184
Est. 1998 — Boston, Massachusetts

Sales, calibration and repair of precision optical instruments for research, clinical diagnostics and industrial inspection. A working bench, not a catalogue house.

Instruments on hand 186 units
Avg. repair turnaround 7 working days
Certified technicians 11 on staff

Microscopes
for those who
look closer.

EYEPIECE PRISM NOSEPIECE OBJECTIVE STAGE CONDENSER ILLUMINATOR FIG. 01 — CROSS-SECTION, INVERTED COMPOUND
Fig. 01 — Optical train, inverted compound
Compound Stereo Digital Metallurgical Fluorescence Inverted Polarizing Phase Contrast DIC Confocal Compound Stereo Digital Metallurgical Fluorescence Inverted Polarizing Phase Contrast DIC Confocal
01 / Catalog

Instruments in stock, ready to ship.

From entry-level teaching scopes to research-grade fluorescence systems. Every unit bench-tested, optically aligned and shipped with a twelve-month warranty. Rental and lease-to-own available on request.

CAT. 011 / COMPOUND

Compound Binocular

Four-objective achromatic turret, 40×–1000× magnification, Köhler illumination. Built for clinical cytology and teaching labs.

  • Objectives4× 10× 40× 100×
  • HeadSiedentopf 30°
  • StageMechanical X-Y
$1,240FROM
CAT. 024 / STEREO

Stereo Zoom

Greenough-type stereo with 7×–45× zoom range. Long working distance, LED ring and backlight. Inspection, dissection, jewellery.

  • Zoom ratio6.4 : 1
  • Working dist.100 mm
  • IlluminationDual LED
$890FROM
CAT. 037 / DIGITAL

Digital HDMI

Integrated 16 MP CMOS sensor, HDMI + USB-C output, SD capture. Measurement software and calibration slide included.

  • Sensor1/2.3" CMOS
  • Resolution16 MP stills
  • SoftwareMeas. & capture
$2,180FROM
CAT. 046 / METALLURGICAL

Metallurgical Upright

Reflected-light inspection for opaque samples. Brightfield, darkfield, polarized and DIC contrast methods. Bench-top alloy analysis.

  • IlluminationReflected
  • ContrastBF / DF / POL / DIC
  • Objectives5× 10× 20× 50×
$4,560FROM
CAT. 058 / FLUORESCENCE

Fluorescence Research

Five-position filter turret, mercury or LED excitation, plan-apochromat objectives. Live-cell imaging ready, with motorized shutter.

  • Filter setsDAPI / FITC / TxR
  • SourceLED 385–630 nm
  • ObjectivesPlan APO
$12,400FROM
CAT. 062 / INVERTED

Inverted Tissue Culture

Long-working-distance phase contrast for vessels, flasks and multi-well plates. CO₂ incubator compatible, warm-stage ready.

  • ContrastPh1 / Ph2
  • Working dist.72 mm
  • StageVessel universal
$7,890FROM
CAT. 074 / POLARIZING

Polarizing Petrographic

Strain-free optics, rotating 360° graduated stage, Bertrand lens. Mineralogy, thin-section analysis, geological laboratories.

  • Rotation360° / 0.1°
  • Compensatorsλ / λ/4 / quartz
  • Bertrand lensCentrable
$3,340FROM
CAT. 089 / ACCESSORIES

Objectives & Optics

DIN 45 and RMS thread objectives, achromatic through plan-apochromat. Eyepieces, condensers, filters and replacement bulbs.

  • ThreadRMS / M25 / M27
  • GradeACH / PLAN / APO
  • Warranty12 months
$45FROM
02 / Service

The workshop behind the counter.

Most microscope problems are not failures — they are drift. Alignment that has wandered, optics fogged by humidity, a condenser half a turn out. Our bench technicians work on every major brand and have the parts cabinet to match.

S.001

Calibration & optical alignment

Stage-objective parfocality, condenser centring, Köhler illumination setup, reticle calibration against certified stage micrometers. Returned with a signed calibration certificate traceable to NIST standards.

From$180 3 working days
S.002

Repair & component replacement

Objective cleaning, eyepiece reticle swap, stage gear repair, focus block re-greasing, illuminator rebuilds. OEM and compatible parts stocked for common bodies going back twenty-five years.

From$240 5–10 working days
S.003

Preventive maintenance contracts

Annual or semi-annual on-site visits. Deep optical clean, mechanical service, illumination check, calibration sign-off and a written report for your QA file. Priced per unit, discounted above five instruments.

From$420 /yr On-site, scheduled
S.004

On-site emergency call-outs

When a microscope goes down in the middle of a run and the lab cannot wait. Coverage across New England within 48 hours; New York and Mid-Atlantic scheduled weekly. Travel and labour billed separately.

From$340 /visit 48h response
S.005

Trade-in & refurbishment

We take older research-grade microscopes in part-exchange, strip them to the frame, replace consumables and optics where needed, and resell them with a full warranty. Good for the budget, good for the planet.

QuoteOn request Valuation free
S.006

Training & technical consulting

Half-day and full-day sessions for new laboratory staff: Köhler illumination, contrast selection, measurement and image capture. Delivered in your lab with your instruments, or at our Boston training bench.

From$650 /day Up to 6 attendees
03 / Process

How a repair moves through the bench.

Every instrument that arrives for service is tagged, logged and photographed before any tools touch it. You receive a quote before we begin and a report when we are done.

I

Intake

The unit is received, catalogued, tagged and photographed. Serial number, accessories and presenting fault all logged against a job number.

Day 1
II

Diagnosis

A full bench inspection. Optical paths checked, mechanical stages tested, illumination measured. A written quote follows within 48 hours.

Day 1–2
III

Repair

Once you approve the quote, the instrument enters the service queue. Optics cleaned, parts replaced, mechanics re-greased, electronics tested.

Day 3–6
IV

Calibration

Final alignment, Köhler setup, parfocality check and reticle calibration against certified micrometers. A signed certificate issued.

Day 6–7
V

Return

The microscope is foam-packed, insured and shipped back, or you collect in person. Full written report and a twelve-month service warranty.

Day 7+
04 / Brands

We stock, sell and service every major body.

New-stock inventory and a parts cabinet built over two decades. If the name is missing, ask — we have probably fixed one before.

Leica
Nikon
Olympus
Zeiss
Bresser
Motic
Euromex
Celestron
Levenhuk
Meiji
Swift
Accu-Scope
Labomed
National
AmScope
Optika
Kern
Saxon
05 / Reference

A field guide to our ranges.

Quick reference to the technical envelope of each instrument family. Full datasheets available on request; we will also recommend the right fit if you send us your sample and your question.

Instrument Family Magnification Range Typical Contrast Methods Primary Applications Price Bracket
Compound — Educational 40× — 400× BF Schools, introductory biology, teaching labs $290 — $780
Compound — Clinical 40× — 1000× BFPH Histology, haematology, cytology, parasitology $1,240 — $3,400
Stereo — Inspection 7× — 45× ReflectedTransmitted Dissection, electronics, horology, gemology $410 — $2,100
Metallurgical 50× — 1000× BFDFPOLDIC Alloy analysis, grain-size, wafer inspection $4,560 — $18,900
Polarizing — Petrographic 40× — 1000× POLBF Mineralogy, thin-sections, asbestos analysis $3,340 — $12,800
Inverted — Tissue Culture 40× — 400× PHBF Cell culture monitoring, micro-injection $7,890 — $24,600
Fluorescence Research 40× — 1000× FLDICPH IF staining, live-cell, pathology research $12,400 — $68,000
Digital — HDMI Integrated 40× — 400× BF QC inspection, classrooms, telemedicine $2,180 — $6,400
27
Years on the bench
4,180+
Instruments serviced
98.4%
First-pass repair rate
7d
Median turnaround
06 / Sectors

Who we work with, and how.

A client list built on referrals, not advertising. From university teaching labs to GMP-audited pharmaceutical sites, the instruments change but the craft does not.

i.

Academic Research

Universities and research institutes — cell biology, neuroscience, plant science. Multi-user facilities where a week of downtime is a week of grant burn.

TeachingPI labsCore facilities
ii.

Clinical Laboratories

Pathology, haematology, microbiology. Audited calibration records, documented maintenance logs, CLIA-compatible service paperwork.

HistologyCytologyMicrobiology
iii.

Pharma & Biotech

QC laboratories, formulation development, stability testing. GMP-suitable instruments, IQ/OQ/PQ documentation packages on request.

GMPQCFormulation
iv.

Industrial QC

Electronics inspection, metallurgy, failure analysis. Stereo zoom and metallurgical upright configurations, often bundled with measurement software.

ElectronicsMetalsComposites
v.

Education

K–12 and community college programmes. Durable, serviceable teaching-grade bodies, bulk pricing and long-term support contracts.

K–12CollegeSTEM
vi.

Forensics & Museums

Document examination, trace evidence, conservation of paintings and manuscripts. Non-destructive inspection at working distances that protect the sample.

ForensicsConservationArchives
07 / Voices

What working labs actually say.

They brought our 1998 Zeiss Axioplan back to life after the university's preferred service partner declared it finished. Optics cleaner than I remember them being when the instrument was new.

Dr. Helena Arredondo Principal Investigator — Neurobiology

We run fifteen microscopes across two histology suites. The preventive maintenance contract means we have not had an unplanned shutdown in three years. That is how it should feel.

Martin Brennan Lab Manager — Regional Pathology

I asked for a recommendation for a teaching microscope under $900 and got a fifteen-minute phone call, not a brochure. The unit they suggested has outlasted the warranty twice.

Priya Chandrasekhar Biology Instructor — Community College

The technician who arrived on-site treated the instrument like it was his own. Alignment sorted in under an hour. Left us with clean optics and a written report the QA auditors liked.

Jonas Vermeer QC Supervisor — Pharmaceutical Formulation
08 / Questions

Things we are asked often.

Yes. Our bench works on every major microscope brand and many niche ones — Leica, Nikon, Olympus, Zeiss, Bresser, Motic, Meiji, Swift, and more. Bring in the instrument or ship it; we will quote before we start.
Most repairs are completed in five to ten working days, including the quotation and calibration steps. Simple calibrations come back faster — three days is common. Complex rebuilds that need parts from overseas can take longer; we will always tell you up front.
For preventive maintenance contract customers, yes, subject to availability. For one-off repairs, loaners are offered when stock allows, at a modest daily rental fee that is credited back against the repair invoice.
Yes. We cover all of New England on a 48-hour response; New York, New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic on scheduled weekly visits. Travel and labour are billed separately from parts. For sites outside these regions, we will work with you on a shipping-based arrangement.
Every calibration is performed against certified stage micrometers and condenser test targets with traceability to NIST standards. You receive a signed calibration certificate and, on request, the full measurement log for your QA file.
That is usually where every relationship starts. Tell us the sample, the question you are trying to answer, the budget and the space available. We will recommend a configuration — sometimes a simpler one than you expected — and explain why.
Yes, for research-grade instruments in working or near-working condition. Send us the make, model, serial number and a few photographs, and we will return a valuation within two working days. Valuations are free and without obligation.
Twelve months as standard on every new instrument, covering manufacturing defects and optical alignment. Extended warranties of two or three years are available on research-grade bodies. Refurbished units carry a six-month workshop warranty.
09 / Visit or write

A working bench
at 418 Commonwealth Avenue.

You are welcome to bring an instrument in person — the workshop is open to clients by appointment, Monday through Saturday. For anything else, the numbers and inboxes below are the fastest route.

Workshop & Showroom
418 Commonwealth Avenue,
Suite 210, Boston, MA 02215
Sales Desk
+1 617 555 0184
Service Bench
+1 617 555 0197
Opening Hours
Mon–Fri  08:30 — 18:00
Saturday   10:00 — 14:00

Send us a note.