Difference between Light Microscope and Electron Microscope S.No Features Light Microscope Electron Microscope 1 Invented by Zoocharia Janseen in 1590 Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll in 1931 2 Also known as Optical microscope Beam microscope 3 Major types Bright field, Dark field, Phase contrast, Fluorescence microscope, Confocal Microscope, Polarised microscope and Differential Interference Confocal Microscope Scanning Electron Microscope and Transmission Electron Microscope 4 Principle The image is formed by the absorption of light waves. The image is formed by scattering or transmission of electrons. 5 Size and handling Compact and Handy Large and Complicated 6 Highest practical magnification About 4000