Microscope - need recommendations

[itsmylife]

DD (8 yrs) wants a microscope for Christmas.  I would like to get one that is "useful" and not a toy.  I talked to her about what appeals to her about the microscope and she said it was being able look at slides and also the "cool" factor of putting her eyes into the lens and "acting like she is a scientist" :-)  So there is the "toy" factor which rules out the digital microscopes. 

 

I can spend around 75 dollars - I want something that she can use for a while and has more than "toy" value.  I am not able to make a decision from the Amazon reviews eithers.  What do you recommend?

 

TIA!

 

Edited to add:  I like this one: http://www.levenhuk.com/catalogue/microscopes/levenhuk-2l-ng-amethyst/#.VIG8KHtfHsM

Is it a good choice?

[Reefgazer]

We have an AmScope brand microscope and are really happy with it - affordable, high quality (but not meant for the abuse of a classroom semester after semester), and they usually have a free ship deal around the holidays.  Get one that is binocular, magnifies up to at least 1,000 on oil, and has a mechanical stage.

[Farrar]

I really like the Brock Magiscope, but that's a bit more than your budget. 

[Reefgazer]

I didn't see your $75 limit at first; sorry.  AmScope will be more than that.

 

My honest opinion is to stay away from department store and "toy" microscopes and this falls more into the toy category than microscope category; it's got pretty poor optics, as far as I can tell from the info.  They are rarely useful for much except looking at things you can already see with the naked eye, and they are mostly useless for real microscope work and looking at things beyond our field of vision because at the higher power that you need for that, everything is blurry because of low quality lenses.  In fact, they wind up frustrating kids and turning them off of microscopy for good.  I'm sorry to be blunt, but that's my true thoughts on the matter.  Maybe wait intil she is older and you have a chance to save up for a more functional microscope.

DD (8 yrs) wants a microscope for Christmas.  I would like to get one that is "useful" and not a toy.  I talked to her about what appeals to her about the microscope and she said it was being able look at slides and also the "cool" factor of putting her eyes into the lens and "acting like she is a scientist" :-)  So there is the "toy" factor which rules out the digital microscopes. 

 

I can spend around 75 dollars - I want something that she can use for a while and has more than "toy" value.  I am not able to make a decision from the Amazon reviews eithers.  What do you recommend?

 

TIA!

 

Edited to add:  I like this one: http://www.levenhuk.com/catalogue/microscopes/levenhuk-2l-ng-amethyst/#.VIG8KHtfHsM

Is it a good choice?

 

[Alessandra]

Look at Home Science Tools to get a sense of microscope prices. They also have some very informative videos.

There are also so-called digital microscopes that plus into computer. Learning Resources makes one called a Zoomy for $59. The best known is shaped like an egg. I have seen it mentioned here, but cannot remember the name.

Here is a link to a video that shows how to turn an iPhone into a microscope. Looks cool! Oops, not linking -- Google smartphone to digital microscope conversion.

 

ETA

 

http://www.instructa...ope-conversion/

 

Found the other one Carson zOrb. It was on sale last year and some WTMers bought it. You might ask about it. Sounds like a good choice, imo.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Carson-Digital-Microscope-Optical-MM-480G/dp/B001GIDW2S/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1417817888&sr=8-6&keywords=carson+microscope

 

I see it now works with Macs, so I am tempted, lol.

 

nice site 

 

http://microscopy4kids.org/For_Kids

 

http://www.amazon.com/Usborne-Complete-Book-Microscope-Internet-Linked/dp/0794515584/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417819106&sr=8-1&keywords=usborne+microscope