Basis of differentiation | Optical microscopy | Electron microscopy |
Definition | A light or optical microscope is used to make small compounds visible through a magnified image (through glass lenses) | Is a microscope which uses accelerated beams of electrons (through electromagnetic lenses) |
Magnification | Has lower magnification compared to an electron microscope (up to 1500X) | Has a high magnification compared to the light microscope (as high as 10,000,000 X) |
Samples visualized | Live and dead samples can be visualized | Only dead and dried samples can be seen |
Radiation leakage | Has no risk of radiation leakage | Has a risk of radiation leakage |
Resolution | Low resolution | High resolution |
Illumination source | Light rays | Electron beams |
Cost | Is cost-effective and low maintenance | Is expensive and high maintenance |
Sample preparation | Sample preparation takes a few minutes to hours | Sample preparation takes several days to weeks |
Method for viewing images | Images are viewed through the eyepiece | Images are visualized on the zinc sulfate or photographic plate fluorescent screen |
Size | Light microscopes are comparatively smaller, and lighter than electron microscopes and easier to move | Electron microscopes are heavier and larger than light microscopes, and may weigh up to half a ton |
Vacuum | Does not require to be used in a vacuum | High vacuum is required to avoid scattering of the electron beams |