There is a wide range of careers and industries, where microscopes are a piece of basic laboratory equipment. They are used almost everywhere in laboratories, from scientific research to clinical laboratories, from food industries to pharmaceuticals.
Amscope Microscopes come with their special features. Choosing the right microscope for the purpose is essential for the right outcome. Special microscopic functions need specialized microscopes. Microscopes designed for educational purposes are simple and differ in features according to the intended age level.
It is essential to introduce children to microscopes at a young age. This develops curiosity and understanding of the tiny invisible world. We have compared and reviewed 10 AmScope microscopes to assist you in selecting the right one for your purpose.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table
Model | Magnification | Illumination | Eye Piece |
---|---|---|---|
M150C-MS | 40X, 100X, 250X, 400X, 1000X | LED lights | WF 10x, WF 25x |
DM130 | 20X – 1200X | 8 LED lights | Screen |
M162-2L-C | 40X, 100X, 250X 400X, 1000X | 2 LED Lights | Single |
SE100ZZ-LED | 20X, 50X | LED Light | |
1200X | 120X, 240X, 300X, 480X, 600X, 1200X | LED light and reflecting mirror | Single |
M30-ABS-KT1-WM | 120X, 240X, 300X 480X, 600X, 1200X | LED light and reflecting mirror | Single |
120X-1200X | 120X, 240X, 300X 480X, 600X, 1200X | LED light and reflecting mirror | Holder Type Single eyepiece |
40X-1000X | 40X, 100X, 250X, 400X, 1000X | Top and Bottom LED lights | Single |
FBA_M30 | 120X, 240X 300X, 480X 600X, 1200X | LED light and Reflecting mirror | Single |
10 Best Amscope Microscope
AmScope is a reliable online microscope store that provides premium quality at a very reasonable price. They design, manufacture, and distribute all kinds of microscopes from simple kids’ microscopes to research oriented complex microscopes. AmScope provides personalized customer care services and a 5-years company warranty on all microscopes.
AmScope M150C-MS Compound Monocular Microscope
• Five magnification powers
• Eyepiece: WF 10x and WF 25x
• Condenser: single lens with disc diaphragm
• Stage dimension: 3 ½ x 3 ½ inches
• Co-axial coarse
• 45 degree inclined monocular head
• LED illumination
• Objectives: 4x, 10x, 40x
Designed for learning purposes, this microscope is ideal for students and hobbyists who want to explore the microscopic structures of various organisms or materials. It features full optical glass elements and a metal framework. With a 360 degree rotatable monocular head and a mechanical stage, it allows both coarse and fine focusing.
The microscope can be used with five magnifications ranging from 40x to 1000x. It comes with two eyepieces and three objective lenses. A mechanical stage attachment and caliper ensures accurate positioning of the slides.
It can be operated with batteries or can be connected to a wall socket. The microscope is an ideal choice for school and home learning for science students of age level elementary to high school. An optional digital eyepiece camera can be added if required for streaming images or videos.
• It is a sturdy unit with solid metal construction
• It can be plugged into a wall outlet or can be operated on battery power
• It is easy to set up and use
AmScope – DM130-16GB-18FOS-FSL-TW IQCREW by Amscope
• 3.5” full color digital display screen
• Adjustable brightness, 8 LED lights
• USB Cable can connect it with PC, MAC or monitor
• Allows coarse and fine adjustments
• 20X – 1200X magnification
• 16 GB micro SD card
• Book publisher: Scholastic Press
• Dimensions : 16.52 x 8.56 x 7 inches
• Weight: 4.15 Pounds
• It comes with 18 unique plant and animal fossil specimens to arouse children’s interest in their amazing patterns.
• It comes with an informative book on fossils that will be a great addition to your kid’s library
• It is very convenient and children can use it themselves.
This latest microscope is designed by IQCrew, a team of AmScope staff dedicated to developing intellectual products for kids. Keeping in mind the curious and exploring little scientists, this state of the art microscope will spark the love of historic sciences in the kids.
This portable small microscope comes with a digital LCD 3.5 inch screen, a collection of fossils and a comprehensive book on fossils to enhance learning. It is convenient to use, and does not require looking into the eyepiece. The specimen is displayed on the 3.5 inch color digital display screen.
The microscope has 8 built-in LED lights which can be adjusted to a convenient level of brightness. The image can be magnified up to 1200X digital magnification with zoom. Apart from fossils children can observe the structure of anything from within their surrounding.
The microscope comes with everything you need to connect it with a PC or Mac – a data cable, 16GB micro SD card, and a chargeable lithium battery.
AmScope M162C-2L-PB10-WM”Awarded 2018 Best Microscope Kit
• 45 degrees inclined monocular head
• Objectives: 4X, 10X, 40X (spring)
• Condenser: 0.65 NA single lens and 6-hole disc diaphragm
• LED Illumination, 1W, top and bottom
• Stage Dimension: 3 ½ x 3 ½ inches
• Power Supply: 110V / 60Hz
• 3 AA battery operated
• 5 magnifications
• Package Dimensions : 14 x 8.9 x 6.8 inches
• Weight: 4.65 Pounds
• It comes with a five years factory warranty
• It is an ideal learning/ teaching tool for students/ teachers and equally useful for homeschooling/ hobby and fun activities
• It allows viewing opaque objects with clarity
This microscope is designed to enhance students’ interest in learning sciences. It is constructed from optical glass elements and full metal framework. It features a 360 degrees rotatable monocular head with two eyepieces for fine and coarse focusing. Five magnification settings i.e. 40X to 1000X provide optimum clarity on the given specimen.
The microscope features two LED lights – Incident lights to view the opaque objects from above and the transmitted light to view the translucent objects from below. The lights can be powered by either an outlet or 3 AA batteries.
The microscope is packaged with 10 piece slide kits, five of which are blank while five are prepared with biological specimens. To enhance the reading comprehension in students, the book “The World of the Microscope” is also included in the package.
SE100ZZ-LED Portable Stereo Microscope
• LED bulb as light source
• Working distance: 70 mm
• Magnification: 20X and 50X
• Stage: white plate
• Upright binocular head
• Material: metal
• Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Dimensions: 10.5 x 6.5 x 5 inches
• Eyepiece: WF10X and WF25X
This stereo microscope designed by AmScope IQCrew for curious minds. They can use it to view anything they want including coins, jewelry, circuit board, dissection, fossils, insects, plants, fingerprints, etc. It is easy to use so that everyone can independently use it in their free time without getting bored.
It features 20X and 50X magnification power. SE100ZZ Portable LED Stereo Microscope comes with two pairs of optical glass eyepieces for sharp 3D images with high resolution. The LED light illumination is powered by 2AA batteries. It is lightweight and compact which makes it highly portable.
• It comes with two sets of lenses: 20X and 50X
• It is easy to set up and use
• It does not drift once focused
AmScope 1200X 52-pcs Kids Student Beginner Microscope
• Stage size: 70 x 65 mm
• Dual spring clips
• LED light and mirror for illumination
• Batteries: 2 AA size
• Dimensions: 15.2 x 12.3 x 4.4 inches
• Weight: 4.9 Pounds
• Color: White
AMSCOPE-KIDS microscope is a Beginner level microscope that comes with all essential features and accessories that kids require to conduct their experimentation. A guidebook “The World of Microscope” is also included for introducing microscope to little scientists.
The microscope offers six magnifications: 120X, 240X, 300X, 480X, 600X and 1200X. It features one coaxial focus knob, one specimen stage which uses two-stage clips to hold the slides in place.
Other accessories include sample slides, plastic scalpel, plastic tweezers, coverslips, specimen vials, adjustable lenses, and much more. The sturdy cover keeps everything in place and makes the microscope convenient to carry around.
The book gives great detail about experimentation with the microscope and guides about slide preparation. It also guides the types of microscopes and their purposes.
• The microscope is very easy to use
• It can be carried easily in the case.
• It allows easy focusing
AmScope M30-ABS-KT1-WM
• Magnifications: 120X, 240X, 300X, 480X, 600X and 1200X.
• LED and reflecting mirror for illumination.
• Stage size: 70x65mm
• Holder type single eye piece
• Dual spring clips for holding slides
• 42 pc accessory set and case included
• 2 AA batteries operated
This AmScope microscope is made to answer the questions arising in the minds of little scientists. It is constructed from high quality materials and best optics to last longer. AmScope M30-ABS-KT1-WM is a 48 piece complete microscope kit that can be used to view the structure of a number of objects. It can be used for educational purposes, classroom and homeschooling.
It offers six magnifications ranging from 120X to 1200X with superior precision viewing. One mirror and one LED light make up the illumination system. The rack-and-pinion focusing allows clear images of the slides. It is a sturdy microscope that features a durable metal arm with a single coaxial coarse. The specimen stage has two stage clips to hold the slides properly.
Both prepared and fresh slides are included in the package. The case is nice and makes the microscope easily portable.
• The case keeps everything together and protected making it easy to carry around
• The accompanying book is very informative
• Some people may find it difficult to focus
AmScope 120X-1200X 52-pcs Kids Beginner Microscope
• Six magnifications: 120X, 240X, 300X, 480X, 600X, 1200X.
• Dimensions: 15.75 x 14.57 x 5.12 inches
• Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Color: White
• Stage size 70 x 65 mm
• Dual spring clips as slide holder
• Built-in rotating color filter wheel
• 2 AA size battery compartment
• Built-in light and reflecting mirror for better illumination
• Holder type single eye piece
AmScope 120X-1200X microscope is a complete set for little scientists who love exploring the tiny world around them. It is a beginner level microscope that comes with all the features and accessories enough for children’s scientific endeavors. The microscope offers six magnifications 120X, 240X, 300X, 480X, 600X and 1200X. It comes with 49 accessories including reusable blank slides, tweezers, Petri dish, eye dropper and much more. All accessories are nicely packed in an easy to carry plastic ABS case, which the kids can carry anywhere.
The microscope is made of a sturdy metal body and has a metal arm which hosts stage and clips. There is a reflecting mirror given for natural illumination and a built in light increases visibility. It features a built-in rotating color filter wheel. The power indicator is given on a rotating turret.
It comes with an ABS case and 2 AA batteries. An additional brine shrimp eggs kit is included to introduce children to the lifecycle of tiny sea creatures to enhance their interest.
• Nuclei of cells are also visible through this microscope
• It is very easy to use
• It makes a suitable gift for both girls and boys
• The box is nicely made to secure everything in place
• Most of the microscope body is made of plastic, however it does not affects its functionality
• It has a narrow field of view
AmScope 40X-1000X Beginners Microscope Kit
• Objectives: 4X, 10X, 40X
• Eyepieces: WF10X, WF25X
• Stage Dimensions: 3 ½” x 3 ½”
• Condenser: Single lens with disc diaphragm
• LED illumination
• Power Supply: 110V/60Hz or 3 AA batteries
• Sensor Size: 3.58 x 2.69 mm
• Sensor Type: CMOS
• Resolution: 35MP (640×480)
• Pixel Size: 5.6
• Frame Rate: 30@640×480
• Compatibility: Windows (32/64 bit) XP/Vista/7/8/10, Mac OSX
The AmScope 40X – 1000X beginners’ microscope student’s kit is a nicely built, sturdy microscope that will spark the interest for science in children and teenagers. It features a 360 degrees monocular head which comes with optical glass lenses. The microscope offers five levels of magnification: 40, 100, 250, 400, 1000.
This microscope is an ideal choice for science students of all ages. It is made of full optical glass elements and metal framework. A single glass lens condenser along with 6-hole disc diaphragm ensures sharp images. It features dual LED lights which can be plugged or powered by 3 AA batteries for optimum illumination.
The camera captures images and video. It can be connected with a PC to view a live stream. It is equipped with editing and measuring software which is compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10.
It comes with slide preparation kit, five of them contain biological specimen while five others are blank. The package also contains an informative book, “The World of the Microscope”
• The microscope is sturdy and allows a flawless view with blurring or shifting
• It allows both coarse and fine focusing
• It takes only few seconds to adjust the focus, even children can adjust it conveniently
AmScope – FBA_M30-ABS-KT1-W
• Six magnifications: 120X, 240X, 300X, 480X, 600X and 1200X
• Illumination: 1 LED bulb and a reflecting mirror
• Holder type single eyepiece
• Stage: 70 x 65 mm
• Hard ABS case
• Dimensions: 13 x 6 x 9 inches
• Color: White
• Accessory set included
This AmScope microscope is designed for young scientist who want to explore everything around them. They are ideal for homeschooling, classroom and hobby use and make a perfect gift for both girls and boys.
It allows six magnifications; 120X to 1200X. It comes with a built in LED light source and a mirror for natural illumination. They use two AA batteries. It comes with prepared slides and a kit which is used for preparing slides. Children can take different samples to observe the microorganisms present in them.
The metal arm with a single coaxial coarse makes it sturdy and durable. The specimen stage has two clips to hold the slides in place. It is a complete package for young learners. To excite the children, a 48 piece accessory set that comes in an ABS case.
• The premade slides are interesting
• It can be used by children conveniently
• It makes a nice gift for both boys and girls
Buyer’s Guide
The purpose of buying a microscope determines the kind of microscope you should buy. Every microscope is not used to view every thing. There are many kinds of microscope available in the market, which are designed for different purposes.
The type of samples you are working with and the type of image you require are the basic considerations for buying a microscope. Having the right type of microscope is crucial for optimum results of your project.
Types of Microscope – Stereo and Compound
Compound microscopes are used where very high magnification is required. Along with very high magnification, they are designed for very high optical resolution. This means that they allow you to visualize extremely tiny features with the help of objective lenses. They are used for viewing the internal structures of cells of different living things. They come with transmitted illumination as they are designed to view slides which are transparent.
Stereo microscopes are intended for viewing larger objects such as solder joints. They offer lower magnification settings but larger focusing distances. This enables the user to use hand and tools between lens and sample. Their large field of view allows viewing a larger area of sample. They come with reflected illumination because they are used to view opaque objects.
Special Purpose Microscopes
Some special purposes require highly specialized microscopes. An example of such complex work is viewing semi-opaque or semi-translucent objects.
Magnification
The magnification is determined by the objective lens and eyepiece. The product of eyepiece magnification strength and the objective lens is the total magnification of the microscope.
Stereo microscopes have low magnification which is can be fixed or zoom magnification. Compound microscopes have 3-5 objective lenses depending on the complexity of use.
Microscope Head
Compound microscopes come with three configurations:
Monocular: They are comfortable and convenient for children and students.
Binocular: They are suitable for adults and are used in laboratories for food and pharmaceutical companies.
Trinocular: They are used when high quality pictures or video is required. A webcam or camera can be attached to them. They are often used for research and teaching purposes.
Most stereo microscopes are made with binocular heads however, you may find some trinocular microscopes which allow digital imaging or demonstration.
Light Source
There are different types of light bulbs used in microscopes.
- Tungsten/ Incandescent Light:
- Halogen Bulb
- Florescent
- LED
- Mirror
Most of the new microscopes feature LED lights for better light quality and durability.
Coarse and Fine Focus
Focus knob attached on the microscope is used to adjust the focus for the eyes. The main knob is for the coarse focus and the small one on it is used for fine focus. Fine focus is used to observe very minute details for example; structures of bacterial cells.
Diaphragm
Diaphragm controls the light that passes through slides before it hits the objective lens and eyepiece. Rotating disk diaphragm under the microscope stage restricts the light passing through it. It can be adjusted through the given holes.
Iris diaphragm can be adjusted by a simple lever. It looks like a pupil of the eye and is used in specialized microscopes.
FAQs
Can I personally visit AmScope retail stores?
AmScope is an online company based in Irvine, California, U.S.A. They do not have their retail stores or showroom. Everything is manufactured, sealed, and dispatched from the factory. Their customer support staff is available on phone and email to assist customers with their queries and warranty claims.
How can I choose the best Amscope Microscope for home use?
The type of microscope you should buy depends on the purpose for which you have to use it. If you are interested in exploring every tiny microorganism from your pond or animal dissection, you should buy amscope compound microscope with slides. If you are going to observe other common use objects, like coins, stamps, hair, etc, then amscope stereo microscope is a better choice.
Which Amscope Microscope is used for viewing Cells?
Amscope Compound microscopes are designed for viewing animal, plant, and microbial cells. They provide very high magnification up to 1200X. You can use the amscope’s compound microscopes to clearly view the internal cell structures. There are various kinds of compound microscopes each designed for its specific purpose.
What is the difference between a Kids’ Microscope and a Students’ Microscope?
Kids’ microscopes are simple to use and inexpensive. They are similar to toys and can be used for homeschooling and hobby use. They can be presented as a gift to both girls and boys.
Student’s microscopes are intended for educational purposes. Student microscopes come with different features and categories for different age groups. The simpler ones are for elementary school students, then complex for graduate students, and specialized for research fellows.
What is the Best Microscope for a Child?
Children prefer easy to use microscopes which they can focus easily. Most of them come with guide books, prepared slides, fossils, etc to further enhance children’s interest.
Our Recommendation
Human minds are always looking for activities, and if they find none, they indulge themselves in screens and video games. There are hundreds of discoveries around the world that are done by using microscopes in laboratories, schools and research centers. And if brains are handled properly towards productive outcomes – they turn a common person into a genius. Your mind is always ready to explore everything around and science is the best avenue to learn.
If you are searching for an amazing gift for your child, grandchild, nephew or niece, microscopes are a great options. Microscopes can keep children busy for hours and they start searching for samples everywhere. They learn about cells and microbes, or the structures of everything around them. They are curious to check the bugs from their garden or to check the cell of fungi from the pond.
Our best recommended product is “AmScope 120X-1200X Beginner Microscope. It is durable and come with everything necessary for beginners. Plus the case makes it easy to carry around and keeps everything in place. Surprise your little one with this best AmScope microscope and let your little scientist explore everything.
Leave a Reply