A monocular is a modified refracting telescope used to magnify the images of distant objects by passing light through a series of lenses and prisms; the use of prisms results in a lightweight telescope. Volume and weight are less than half those of binoculars, making it easy to carry along. The 50 cm refractor at Nice Observatory. ... A lens is a device for either concentrating or diverging light, usually formed from a piece of shaped glass. ... If a shaft of light entering a prism is sufficiently small such that the coloured edges meet, a spectrum results In optics, a prism is a device used to refract light, reflect it or break it up (to disperse it) into its constituent spectral colours (colours of the rainbow), traditionally... Mass is a property of physical objects that, roughly speaking, measures the amount of matter they contain. ... Binoculars A set of binoculars (from Latin, bi-, two-, and oculus, eye) is a hand-held tool used to magnify distant objects by passing the image through two adjacent series of lenses, and erecting prisms. ...
Monocularmicroscopes allow the microscopist to use one eye when viewing through the microscope, similar to looking through a telescope/spotting scope or a rifle scope.
Monocularmicroscopes are most popular for children and the beginning microscopist as they are the easiest to use and get comfortable with.
However, since using a camera on a monocularmicroscope does not allow the user to view through the microscope while the camera is attached, most microscopists opt for a trinocular head whenever picture taking through the microscope is desired.