What is the maximum magnification achievable with a brightfield microscope?

The maximum magnification achievable with a brightfield microscope typically reaches up to 1000X. This is primarily due to the limitations imposed by the lenses used in the microscope. In brightfield microscopy, the objective lenses are designed to magnify the specimen, and when combined with the eyepiece, the total magnification is calculated.

For most brightfield microscopes, the highest power objective lens commonly available is a 100X oil immersion lens. When this lens is used in conjunction with a standard 10X eyepiece, the total magnification is 100X multiplied by 10X, yielding a maximum of 1000X. Beyond this level of magnification, the quality and resolution of the image often deteriorate due to factors like diffraction and the limits of optical resolution, which can affect the clarity of the observed specimen. Thus, even though it may be theoretically possible to attain higher magnifications, practical usage in brightfield microscopy generally caps at 1000X to ensure image quality.