Difference Between Compound Microscope and Simple Microscope.
| Characteristics | Simple Microscope | Compound Microscope |
| Number of lenses | One to magnify objects | 3-5 to magnify objects |
| Condenser lens | Condenser lens is absent in Simple microscope. | Condenser lens is present in Compound Microscope. |
| Mirror type | Concave reflecting | One side is plain and the other side is concave |
| Source of Light | Natural | Illuminator |
| Level of magnification | One level only | Higher-level |
| Structure | Stand is small, hollow cylindrical attached to the base and is used to hold the microscope. | Arm is curved and is used to hold the microscope. |
| Usage of course, hooks, and knobs | The usage of course, hooks, and knobs is not that much. | The use of knobs is much, which help in focusing and as a result, a clear and concise image is seen. |
| Used | Can only be used in simple ways such as enlarging small letters while reading. | Has a wide range of use such as in studying the structure of different objects, e.g. details of cells in living organisms. |
| Magnifying power | Up to 300X | 2,000X |
| Adjusting Magnification | No | Yes |
