A light microscope uses light to illuminate underneath a specimen. It has magnifying lenses located in the eyepiece. It also has objective lenses that further magnify the specimen. Magnifies only to 1,500x. An electron microscope uses a stream of electrons to show the specimen in a greater magnification and in better detail. Magnifies up to 1,000,000x.
More Microscopes
Scanning Tunneling Microscope: can be used to can give information about the surface of a material on the atomic level.
Scanning Electron Microscope: can be used to magnify in very close detail. Easy control of level of magnification. Also produces 3D images.
Transmission Electron Microscope: uses electromagnetic lenses to make a think stream of electrons that passes through object being viewed.