The resolution of a microscope is not the same as its magnification. The resolution is the smallest distance between two points that the microscope can distinguish as separate. The magnification is the size of the image compared to the size of the object.

For example, a microscope with a magnification of 400x may have a resolution of 1 micrometer (µm). This means that the microscope can distinguish between two points that are 1 µm apart.

The resolution of a microscope is determined by several factors, including the wavelength of the light used, the quality of the lenses, and the amount of aberration in the optical system.