Tool Reviews

A microscope is one of the most important instruments for conducting research in various laboratories, research centers and even in production. It is actively used in everyday life by radio amateurs to work with small details, and in biology lessons with the help of a microscope, the teacher opens up to children the wonderful world of living cells and microorganisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye. By purchasing this device for a schoolchild, you can give him the opportunity to independently study the most interesting microcosm, instill love and respect for science from an early age.

How to choose a microscope for a student

It is difficult for an ordinary buyer to understand the whole variety of microscopes presented on the modern market of optical instruments. Considering that different models have their own design and technical characteristics, it is important to choose the model that is suitable for the student, without overpaying, but without limiting the child’s desire to learn new things with a low-quality device. When buying, you should be guided by the selection criteria below.

Increase

The simplest models have a magnification of 200 times, but the child’s interest can quickly disappear if little detail is visible. For schoolchildren, it is better to choose a microscope for 400x or more, and if the child plans to become a biologist or laboratory assistant in the future, then you need an apparatus with a magnification of 1000x or more.

Backlight

Microscopes may not have illumination at all, but a normal apparatus has it:

• The lower one is either a separate lamp located under the object stage, illuminating the test preparation through the diaphragm, or a mirror reflecting external light.
• Upper – the object table is illuminated by light falling from above. Suitable for studying opaque objects such as beetles.

It is better to choose models where both types of illumination are combined, while it is desirable that directional LEDs act as a light source. This microscope is more versatile.

Eyepiece

An optical monocular microscope, that is, one that is looked into with one eye, is much cheaper than binocular models. It has a compact size, allows you to install monoculars with other magnification characteristics. Their magnification can reach 1500 times. They are easier to handle, because for the student – this is the best option. To display an image on a computer monitor, modern devices are equipped with a video eyepiece.

Digital microscopes do not allow viewing an object through an optical eyepiece due to its absence, but display an image of the object under study on a built-in small screen. Such options are more expensive, have built-in memory, can take pictures and even record videos. Advanced models are also capable of displaying images on projectors and TVs.

Lenses

To get acquainted with the microworld, microscopes with one objective are suitable, the magnification of which is selected by replacing the eyepiece. More advanced models, the cost of which is also higher, have 3-4 lenses mounted on a revolving mechanism at the same time.

Accessories

When buying a microscope for a schoolchild, it is important to make sure that it contains accessories, without which full-fledged studies of the microcosm will be almost impossible:

• Micropreparations are thin sections of plants that are placed on a glass slide and pressed against a coverslip. Micropreparations are made under sterile conditions, and on their basis the child can independently create a unique product for experiments. A set of such drugs can be purchased separately, if they suddenly were not in the kit.
• A set for experiments – all kinds of test tubes, pipettes, tweezers, an incubator for Artemia (microscopic crustacean).
• A microtome is a tool that allows you to make sections of biological tissues up to 0.5 mm thick. It can also be purchased separately.

In addition to the above, the kit should include additional coverslips and glass slides. It will be useful to have a case or a hard case for transportation.

The best inexpensive microscope for a student

Training model Micromed 100 – 900 KRAT designed for long-term and intensive use for educational purposes. Due to its cost, this is an excellent budget solution for a student starting to study the microworld. The microscope is made in a metal case with movable plastic elements, equipped with a monocular and three lenses in a revolving device, providing a fixed magnification of 100, 400 and 900 times.

The tube of the device is mounted on a metal base, fastened with a special holder, adjustment is performed by rotating a large handle. The microscope received a convenient lighting system, which automatically turns on the backlight, located under the mirror, at any turn of the latter. To optimize illumination, the stage is equipped with an annular aperture and 4 special filters.

The microscope of this model is delivered in a hard double plastic gift case. A special cell is provided for placing the device. The standard equipment includes a set of initial preparations and many accessories, including only 7 coverslips.

Characteristics

• Magnification: 100x, 400x and 900x
• The visual attachment is a monocular.
• Revolving device: for 3 lenses.
• Power supply – AA batteries.
• Weight – 0.2 kg without case.

pros

• the presence of a case;
• ease of use;
• a ready-made set of initial preparations in the kit;
• affordable cost.

Minuses

• fixed object table;
• tangible backlash of moving mechanisms, which causes problems with sharpness adjustment;
• Chinese production.

The best microscope for a student with a set of micropreparations

Bresser Duolux 20x-1280x – a model with a 0.3-megapixel camera and a monocular visual attachment, suitable for studying micropreparations in both reflected and transmitted light. Equipped with a revolving device for 3 lenses with full rotation. For ease of use, the eyepiece is positioned at an angle of 45°. The main elements of the microscope are made of metal, and the device itself is mounted on a heavy stand, which has a small box for storing accessories. The connection of the MicrOkular II camera to the computer is carried out via the USB 2.0 interface, and the resolution of digital images is 640×480 pixels. During operation, the microscope adjusts smoothly and in this regard does not have the disadvantages inherent in classical devices.

The microscope received 2 LED illuminators, which can be turned on separately, which allows you to adjust the illumination of the studied preparations based on the brightness of the external illumination. The model is completed with a convenient bag for transportation, as well as many accessories for studying the microworld. In addition, there is a basic set of micropreparations, as well as an incubator with eggs for growing Artemia.

Characteristics

• Magnification – 20-1280 times.
• Eyepiece: 16x and 5x
• Lens: 4,10 and 40x
• Illumination – LED.
• Camera – 0.3 MPix.
• The visual attachment is a monocular.

pros

• the presence of top lighting;
• work from batteries and network;
• stand with a box for accessories;
• wide range of magnifications.

Minuses

• high magnification reduces image sharpness.

The best microscope for a student in a case

Microhoney “Eureka” 40x-1280x – a model designed to study biological objects, which are sections and smears, can be used both at home and in educational institutions. The device is equipped with 3 lenses, 2 eyepieces and a Barlow lens with a 2x magnification. In the production of optics, high-quality glasses with an antireflection coating are used. The presence of a 2 MPix video eyepiece allows you to connect to a computer via a USB interface and save research results in various formats, display and process images using special software. LED illuminators act as backlight, and the degree of illumination can be changed using various light filters.

The microscope comes in an easy-to-carry case, the kit includes a set of ready-made preparations, slides, coverslips and other useful accessories. Power is provided both from the household network using a separate unit, and from AA batteries, which allows you to use the device in the field.

Characteristics

• Magnification – from 40 to 1280 times.
• Condenser device – 6 diaphragms with light filters.
• Focusing – coaxial screws.
• Illumination type – LED.
• Food: household network or AA batteries.
• Eyepieces – 10x and 16x, Barlow lens 2x.
• Objectives: 40x/0.65, 10x/0.25, 4x/0.1.

pros

• build quality and materials;
• the presence of a USB-camera with the ability to save pictures;
• the presence of a case;
• economy of energy consumption;
• no backlash at the place of landing of the eyepieces.

Minuses

• lack of pads on the legs to prevent slipping;
• too coarse focus;
• drop in image brightness at 1280x.

The best electron microscope for a student

Celestron c LCD-screen II is a digital biological microscope that can be used both by schoolchildren in an amateur study of the microcosm, and by small laboratories for research. The device is a high-tech device capable of displaying the image of the research object on the built-in display, taking pictures of it and even recording videos.

The maximum optical magnification of the model is 400x; The backlight is made on the basis of LEDs – double, with brightness control. The design allows you to study both opaque and transparent objects.

The screen of the microscope is a rotary (up to 180 degrees) 3.5-inch LCD, connected to a PC via a USB interface. The device received 512 MB of its own memory, expandable up to 32 GB with a memory card. The complete set of the model includes a convenient case, as well as a set of ready-made micropreparations, there is an adapter for connecting to a household network.

Characteristics

• Magnification: optical – from 40 to 400 times, digital – up to 1600 times.
• Attachment – ​​3.5” swivel LCD screen.
• Camera – 5 MPix.
• Objectives: 4x, 10x and 40x.
• Revolving mechanism – for 3 lenses.
• Illumination: top and bottom, LED.

pros

• 5 MP camera;
• smooth adjustment of table height;
• 1 GB SD card included;
• there is a case for transportation;

Minuses

• built-in memory is only 512 MB.

The best microscope for a student with a connection to a computer

Digital microscope DigiMicro LCD can be attributed to universal equipment due to the wide range of applications. The model can be used both by schoolchildren for simple research and electronics repairmen. The microscope is suitable for autonomous operation due to the built-in LCD screen and support for memory cards with the ability to save photos on them, and the rechargeable battery allows you to study the microworld in the field.

The device itself can be connected to a computer or projector via USB, a TV or other external video receiver via an AV cable. Focusing and magnification are controlled by a manual mechanism, and for a more detailed examination of objects, the CMOS camera has an interpolated resolution of 12 megapixels. For ease of use, the device is equipped with an adjustable object table, on which micropreparations are fixed with two springy metal plates.

The illumination of the microscope consists of 8 white LEDs mounted around the lenses. Its brightness can be independently changed using the knob located at the end of the display. This design provides high quality observation of opaque objects in the incident light.

Characteristics

• Magnification – from 20 to 500 times.
• The eyepiece is an LCD screen.
• Illumination – LED.
• Camera: 5 MPix, with interpolation – 12 MPix.
• Power supply: network or battery.
• Weight – 780 g.

pros

• own display;
• support for memory cards;
• a large number of image settings;
• the ability to connect to the projector;
• high accuracy of measuring the dimensions of the object under study.

Minuses

• The maximum magnification is 500x.

In order for a student to be able to study the microcosm not only at home, but also in nature, it is recommended to buy digital microscopes with an autonomous power source. One charge in this case is enough for about 2 hours of operation of the device in the field. At the same time, optical options are better suited for the educational process, since objects will have to be sketched by hand instead of photographing, and this, as you know, contributes to a better memorization of details.

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