Having used the Olympus SZ61 stereoscope extensively for mouse surgeries (mostly intracranial injections and window implantations, but also spinal cord and abdominal), I am looking to purchase a new stereoscope and wonder if I should be considering other models?

The SZ61 uses Greenough optics, whereas for example the Olympus SZX7 uses a CMO / Galilean system (and costs almost 2.5x more). I've heard people rave about Leica and Wild, and have seen Zeiss Stemi models in other labs.

Good 3D depth perception is critical for me and it's not clear to me whether a Greenough system will actually feel better in this respect vs a CMO/Galilean? I do occasionally find myself wishing for a better image at highest magnification (when using the SZ61), but would rank this lower in priority than good 3D at mid-mag. I will mount a camera for documentation photos, but having good quality here is a lower priority.

Any advice or comparative experiences would be very welcome.

As for the SZ61 that I know very well, if anyone has used both it and the SZX7 system, please let me know whether you found it to be an upgrade / noticeable / worthwhile.

Thank you!