My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope
by C & A Scientific
List Price:
Our Price: $62.10
Availability: Usually ships in 1-3 weeks
Buy Used: from $60.00 (click here)
Category: Toy
See more product details
Product Summary
Manufacturer: C & A ScientificBrand: C&A Scientific
Release Date: 2009-04-28
Model: MFL-06
Product features:
- Features 40x, 100x & 400x magnifications
- Real Glass Optics
- 6 hole disk diaphragm
- Battery Operated
- Extensive, 50 pc accessory kit
Toys and Games Reviews of My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope
Customer Review: Hard to beat its total value in a beginner microscope
Summary: 4 Stars
Let's cut to the chase: If you're looking for an inexpensive microscope for younger children, the Duo-Scope would be very difficult to beat for features, quality, and cost.
After reviewing several sources on inexpensive microscopes, I took a chance for Christmas on this less documented model. I'm glad I did.
PROS:
* Solid construction. Despite its light weight, it feels like a coherent whole and has no rattling pieces. The objective lenses click nicely into place and the mechanics have a silky feel when operated. This model considerably betters the microscope I had as a child growing up in the Sixties, so some items ARE better made today than yesteryear.
* Smooth focusing wheels that don't clunk through the mechanism's gearing.
* Permanent, bright light sources from two separate LED bulbs. Far better than mirrored scopes.
* A pointer in the optic field--a nice addition to a low cost scope.
* A plethora of accessories including four prepared slides, six blank slides (including concave/well), slide covers, stains, tweezers, scalpel, lens wipes, vinyl dust cover, and more--just about anything you would need to get started on a basic level (except for three AA batteries).
* A detailed manual of a higher quality than most will expect, especially considering the microscope's country of origin.
CONS:
* Made in China.
* The upper and lower lights cannot both be turned on at the same time for maximum illumination of semi-translucent objects.
* When using the highest power objective, the optic field is still too dim.
* Users can ram the highest power objective into the slide without realizing it, breaking slide covers and possibly damaging the objective (This is a problem on most inexpensive scopes. The stage does have some give, though, so while slide covers may break, it's doubtful slides will.)
* Though the ocular appears to be on a swivel base, it's not, making it less convenient for two people to share the microscope.
* The diaphragm, which controls the amount of light reaching the stage, doesn't appear to make much difference on most of its settings.
*No secondary fine-focus knobs. (However, this won't be missed because the scope's macro-focusing mechanism is smooth enough to compensate if given a light touch.)
All things considered, the cons are minor.
Some have said this microscope is mostly plastic, but that may not be the case. The main upright portion that features the focusing rail of the scope is definitely a powder-coated metal. Considering that this part is the one that truly matters for overall integrity of the microscope, I'd have to say that this makes the scope an even better deal for the money.
All the positives of this entry-level microscope make for a very good purchase that should last for several years. It's also a great deal for parents testing the waters to see if their children would enjoy owning a microscope. Better to invest in an inexpensive, but good quality, scope than to pay hundreds more and end up with something that gathers dust on the shelf.
The box recommends this scope for children 10 and up, but with parental instruction and supervision, children a few years younger would enjoy it, too. (Steer clear of the scalpel that comes included, though!)
A worthy product that would be a fine gift to a budding scientist.
Description of My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope
My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope?s uses are unlimited with dual lights. It has the flexibility to view both slides and solid items. View slides with the light shining up from below and view solid objects with the light shining down on the specimen. It is fun and educational for scientists of all ages. It includes over 50 pieces of accessories for hours of scientific research. It requires 3 AA batteries, which are not included. It contains glass and sharp instruments. Also it includes: vinyl dust cover, five plain slides, one concavity slide, four prepared slides, cover glass, plastic dropper, two bottles of stain, slide labels, lens paper, forceps, scalpel, plastic test tube, plastic Petri dish, straight teasing needle, and instruction manual and helpful hints. It features: 10X eyepiece; 4X, 10X, 40X objectives, 40X, 100X, 400X Magnification, real optical glass lenses, dual focusing knobs, two LED lights, and six hole disc diaphragmsScience Toys
Toys and Games
Bestsellers in Science Toys
Carnegie Collection- DiplodocusSafari; Safari; Release date: 2007-07-01; Toy
Price in other shops:
Learning Resources - Spotlight On Science Famous Experiments KitLearning Resources; Learning Resources; Release date: 2007-01-01; Toy
Best price: $13.99
Price in other shops:
Learning Resources Jumbo Magnetic Numbers/ Operations, Set Of 36Learning Resources; Learning Resources; Release date: 2005-12-01; Toy
Best price: $9.61
Price in other shops:
Tedco Discovery PakTEDCO; Tedco; Release date: 2006-06-12; Toy
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
Light Crystal PrismTEDCO; Tedco; Release date: 2006-06-12; Toy
Best price: $5.95
Price in other shops:
Dowling Magnets Very First Magnet KitDowling Magnets; Dowling Magnets; Toy
Best price: $12.90
Price in other shops:
Wild Planet Spy GearŪ Spy Tool KitWild Planet; Wild Planet Toys Inc; Release date: 2007-01-01; Toy
Price in other shops:
Super Gigantic DinosScientific Explorer; Scientific Explorer; Toy
Smart Lab ReCon 6.0 Programmable RoverSmart Lab; Smart Lab; Toy
Price in other shops:
Smart Lab All Natural Spa DaySmart Lab; Smart Lab; Toy
Best price: $19.37
Price in other shops:
Similar Toys and Games
A World in a Drop of Water: Exploring with a Microscope (Dover Children's Science Books)by Alvin Silverstein, Virginia Silverstein
Dover Publications; Published: 1998-08-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Celestron 44410 Prepared Microscope Slides (25-Piece Set)Celestron; Digital Camera
Best price: $18.01
Price in other shops:
Micro Monsters: Life Under the Microscopeby Christopher Maynard
Penguin Group USA; DK CHILDREN; Published: 1999-09-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.30
Price in other shops:
Learning Resources Prepared Slides, Set II - 24 SpecimensLearning Resources; Learning Resources; Toy
Best price: $9.22
Price in other shops:
The World of the Microscope (Science and Experiments)by Chris Oxlade, Corinne Stockley
Usborne; Usborne Pub Ltd; Published: 2008-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.92
Price in other shops:
Elenco 12 Slide With 36 Assorted SpecimensElenco; Elenco; Toy
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops:
Learning Resources Prepared Slides Combination Set (Pack of 12 Slides)Learning Resources; Learning Resources; Toy
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops:
72 Blank Microscope Slides and 100 Square Cover GlassChang Bioscience; CB; Chang Bioscience; BISS
Best price: $5.99
The Usborne Complete Book of the Microscope: Internet-Linkedby Kirsteen Rogers
Aladdin; Educational Development Corp.; Published: 2006; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.89
Price in other shops:
Elenco Slide Making KitElenco; Elenco; Elenco; Toy; Hobby
Best price: $12.45
Price in other shops: