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Charity, they say, begins at home, but so can a solid knowledge of microscopic viewing. With the right microscope for home use, you can do your work from home or make your children more aware of their surroundings and appreciate the existence of life beyond physical perception. The ideal home use microscope should be convenient to use, have high power, and should be easy to maintain.
Best Microscope for Home Use
Below, we help you save some shopping as we look through top-five microscopes for home use you are sure to fall in love with.
1. OMAX 40X-2000X Lab LED Binocular Microscope
The OMAX Lab Binocular Microscope boasts of impressive reviews and comes with a 40x to 2000x magnification range. Its quadruple nosepieces work with the 2D movement mechanical stage for the best viewing flexibility, and binocular vision for viewing comfort. It also comes with extra accessories to get you started right away and features LED illumination for the brightest images.
- High magnification and great image quality.
- Great viewing flexibility and sample adaptability.
- Comfortable to use and comes with extra accessories.
2. AmScope 120X-1200X 52-pcs Kids Beginner Microscope
The AmScope 120x-1200x microscope is the ideal gadget for your kids and comes with all the fun accessories they’ll need to get started right away. It comes with a single eyepiece backed with LED illumination for the brightest images and comes with excellent controls for easy operation. Once your kids are done for the day, its carrying case provides all the storage space and portability they’ll need.
- Impressive 120x-1200x power and extra accessories.
- Very compact and lightweight.
- Excellent image quality and controls.
3. Jiusion 40 to 1000x Magnification Endoscope
The Jiusion Magnification Endoscope boasts of an impressive 40x to 1000x magnification range and is a great buy for both kids and adults. It comes with a sleek design and sturdy stand, is highly compatible with different operating systems, and features LED illumination with brightness and focus control. With it, you can take the most outstanding photos and videos of micro profiles from the comfort of your home.
- Impressive 40x to 1000x magnification range.
- Sleek design and superb compatibility with different operating systems.
- LED illumination and media recording support.
4. AmScope T490B Compound Trinocular Microscope
The AmScope T490B packs a 40x to 2000x magnification to view just about anything into a compact, durable unit. It features a trinocular configuration for camera compatibility, halogen illumination, and a 3D movement mechanical stage. It comes with excellent controls, impressive ergonomics, and an overall sleek, durable design.
- Sleek design with 40x to 2000x magnification.
- Camera compatibility, illumination, and 3D mechanical stage.
- Excellent controls and ergonomics.
5. Celestron – LCD Digital Microscope II
This top of the line digital microscope from Celestron emphasizes comfortable viewing and comes with a 5 MP camera backed with an LCD display, and a powerful 40x to 1600x magnification range. It sports a sleek, sturdy design, excellent controls, and comes with a host of accessories for added value. It nonetheless, supports projected viewing via its USB port and comes with great customer support.
- 0 MP camera with 40x to 1600x magnification.
- Built-in display screen with USB connection support.
- Durable design and extra accessories.
Microscope for Home Use Buying Guide
Having a microscope at home is an excellent way to nurture your kids’ flair for the sciences or enable you to work comfortably as a researcher or scientist. With a host of brands on the market who all claim to offer the best value for money, making a final decision can be pretty difficult.
There are a number of factors you want to consider before you make a purchase. This buying guide reviews the best microscopes for home use on the market based on their specified features and customer feedback to help you make the right choice quickly.
Magnification
Every microscope is made to magnify a sample and so, the magnification must be considered. Microscopes come in a very wide range of magnifications depending on the field of use. For viewing specimens like insects, small rocks, leaves, etc. low-power stereo microscopes are a great choice. These will come with magnifications between 20x to 400x.
If you, however, want to be able to see microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, etc., a high-power compound microscope is the preferred option. A typical unit can achieve magnifications of up to 2000x and above. Many modern microscopes come with magnifications that overlap the domain of both stereo microscopes and will allow you to view samples under low and high power.
Ease of Use
When getting a microscope to use at home, the convenience factor comes into play. How easy is it to operate the unit? The included accessories also go a long way in determining how quickly you or your kids will adapt to its use. It should come with a very comprehensive manual and should be easy to set up.
An activity guide is a good accessory to look for if you’re buying a microscope for kids. This will help keep them busy and ensure the learning process is fun.
Analog vs. Digital
Home use microscopes come as either analog or digital models and your choice will depend on your needs. Analog or traditional microscopes will require you to look through the eyepiece to see the magnified image. They are relatively easier to construct and thus also very affordable.
Digital models, on the other hand, come with built-in cameras and a USB or WiFi connection to transfer the images to a PC or mobile device. They trump analog models in viewing comfort as you don’t have to strain your eyes to see the image. They, however, require electric power to function and are generally more expensive than analog models.
Most modern microscopes are tilting towards digital models and as digital imaging technologies improve, they will become more compact and yield excellent image quality on par with our eyes.