Stereo/Dissecting Microscopes also known as low power microscopes are used for the observation of larger specimens that may be non-transparent  ‘lumps’ (as opposed than thin, transparent, slide mounted  specimens viewed using an upright microscope).  Typical magnifications used are 7X to 90X.  Hugely popular for entomology, botany, embryology, archaeology and in all kinds of industrial inspection.  ‘Stereo’ means that the observer is presented with a 3D image of the subject by virtue of each eyepiece being linked to its own objective, each of which is angled towards the specimen from slightly different perspectives.  These microscopes are available in 3 fundamental types, single mag, dual mag and zoom mag.  Zoo Stereo microscopes are the most popular, the most flexibe and the most expensive type and are most suitable for photography.