When buying a microscope, is it better to buy a digital one or a traditional one?

Peppercat101: When buying a microscope, is it better to buy a digital one or a traditional one?
I am planning on buying a microscope for a friend but I would like to know if a traditional one is better or a digital one?

Answers and Views:

Answer by delta217
Buying digital would be a better choice due to the fact that with increased technology, one has more options then most traditional scopes.

Answer by JayM
It really depends on what the scope will be used for. If your friend is just a casual observer, a “traditional” microscope is more than adequate. The image quality of modern scopes is so good that you need to be an expert to even notice. One thing you don’t want to do, though, is by a department store microscope. The lenses are poor quality and will provide a source of frustration rather than pleasure. Don’t shell out for a scope with lots of bells and whistles when they aren’t needed. Also, a good scope that can magnify 600-800x will run you close to $ 1000. I hope it’s a good friend.