My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope
by C & A Scientific
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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 |
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Toys and Games Reviews of My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope
Customer Review: Instant scientist maker
Summary: 5 Stars
When I told my 9 year old I ordered her this microscope she looked at me like I had a third eye. But when this microscope arrived, she literally could not put it down. She started with the prepared slides that I ordered along with it Learning Resources Prepared Slides Combination Set, 48 Specimens, then progressed on to everything she could find in the kitchen. She asked for a journal to record her findings and made detailed reports. She even woke up early the morning so she would have time to look at other objects before she had to get ready for school. She's already making plans for the next Science Fair and asking about careers related to using microscopes. And this is in the first 24 hours!
The microscope, itself, is well-made. The optics are good and images are crisp. It is easy for a child to use and durable. I like it's portability, as my daughter can carry it around with her as she explores. The dual function of looking at slides or solid objects is a plus. The lenses are so good, that you really don't need the LED to examine objects in a lighted room. We even were able to get great photos from a regular point-and-shoot digital camera through the eyepiece. (Glad I waited on ordering the digital eyepiece camera!)
I also ordered the Celestron 44104 microscope for my older daughter. The Celestron is definitely a solid microscope, but heavy and is limited to looking at slides and not solid objects. The MFL Duo microscope also comes complete with all the accessories you will need to prepare slides and collect specimens.
Highly recommended.
Customer Review: Great starter microscope
Summary: 5 Stars
I read quite a few reviews on microscopes because we wanted to get my 8 year old one for Christmas. We bought one at Toys R Us but when I read the reviews on it they were all 1 stars. After finding a website that reviewed them this was the second best one that was recommended and was cheaper than the top one so I figured it would be a good purchase. We took the one back to Toys R Us and I quickly ordered this one. It was about 25 dollars more than the toys r us one but I am so GLAD we upgraded to this one. This thing is really cool. It has 2 light settings. One for clear/transparent objects and another for solid objects. I could not be happier and I love messing with this thing as well. My daughter likes it as well. We found an earwig and we were able to zoom in on it and look at the legs and antennae and see the tiny hairs and appendages. Since we live in a cold climate we have not found any ponds but there is one close by where we live and we will be going to get some water when the weather warms. The products seems durable and the tray is easy to move up and down to get focused. I do like that it is battery powered so it can be taken on the move. After using this with my daughter for 2 days I can't find anything I do not like about it. It comes with a one year warranty which is nice.
Pros: Fun, objects are clear if focused, easy to use, durable
Cons: No educational books
So if you are looking for an educational tool that is fun and interesting buy this now. If you are looking for a cheap item that is more of a toy then get something cheaper. I'd say this is more for the kid that likes science. For the value this one can't be beat.
Customer Review: An EXCELLENT Microscope! Look at solids and slides!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am mom. Mom I am. I bought this for my 8 year old twin daughters as a Christmas gift. They did NOT think it was a corny gift either... In fact we have spent hours at a time looking at anything and EVERYTHING...including just last night one of the girls pulled a tooth out and we used a small glob of fun-tack to mount it standing straight up on a slide so we could look at the part that used to be stuck in her gum-line. UNBELIEVABLE!! We actually were able to see the hairlike fibers of the nerves that were up in the root system! I am able with my Kodak camera (set on macro) and hold the lens right against the microscope viewer and take a photo of what we are seeing. A really good photo! We were not able to use the girls Canon cameras because the shape of their camera lens does not allow it to set flat on the microscope viewer.
We also looked a a small dead spider we found lying around the house and viewed the eyes which were actually quite beautiful as they looked like tiny amber/garnet colored stones. We have looked close-up at many things using both the top and bottom lighting thereby viewing both slides and solids.
I sooooo recommend this to anyone with kids...including teachers! The batteries are lasting very long so far. We have not yet changed them. We are looking forward to bringing the microscope to a pond area when it gets warmer and taking samples directly from our surroundings!
I have a great photo of the tooth area with the nerves, but do not see a way to add a photo to this review. If there is a way, please let me know and I will be sure to post it and any other photos we take.
Customer Review: by far the best beginner scope i've seen
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this for my 11 year old son because he had purchased some dinky play microscope at school with a money voucher that he got for getting good grades. Well, the scope was really poor quality (10$), and he couldn't see anything. Since he was interested enough to use a 10$ voucher I got him a 'better' one at toy-r-us. It was 29$....and a little better than the first one....but still poor quality. We went to the beach and collected samples for it, and he was pretty excited to see some bugs swimming on the slides but me being an engineer and having access to very high quality scopes I was very disappointed.
I didn't say anything to him about purchasing this Duo-Scope but it arrived yesterday. Well worth the price! Absolute clarity with both modes (over and underlit). The focusing is VERY smooth and precise, I was a little worried about this because focusing is one of the parts that is crucial and is often overlooked. The focus mechanism on this scope is top notch. Addtionally, I looked this scope over very carefully, and as a Mechanical Engineer I can say that the construction is excellent. I would imagine as long as it is not abused it will last a very long time.
We spent the evening looking at all kinds of stuff, coins, dollar bills..etc.
He was thrilled with it, and since it's portable (the LED's are VERY bright) he was looking at stuff after his bedtime under his covers and I had to tell him to put it away....kids..heh!
Take a lesson from me, don't spend a total of 39$.....to be disappointed.
Get one of these scopes, you'll love it.
Customer Review: Great Microscope for the price!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have tried other microscopes and was very disappointed with the results. This microscope however is great! The price is very reasonable, it is very sturdy, and it is easy to adjust to view your specimens. The eye piece takes a little getting used to, if you put your eye too close you will see your eyelashes when you blink. I found that using my thumb and forefinger to make a circle then resting it over the top of the eye piece and then resting my eye on my hand with the rest of my fingers on the eye piece tube works well. Now, I can look through the eye piece without getting to close. I love being able to view the specimens with the above light and the below light which allows you to see different aspects of the specimen. I have found that using the above light shows a lot more detail of the specimens, it really makes the specimens sort of come to life. I ordered pre-made slides which one is of an ant and when I look at it with the above light it is amazing. Even hair looks amazing. I am very happy with my purchase and can't wait to share it with the kids.
Also the microscope comes with the following accessories:
5 Blank Slides
4 Prepared Slides
1 Concavity Slide
Slide Labels
Cover glass
Plastic Dropper
2 Bottles of non-toxis "stain" - (which is actually food color 1 red & 1 blue)
Forceps
Lens Paper - (which is a pad of approx. 50 sheets)
Test Tube
Petri Dish - (which is small, the size of an Eisenhower dollar coin)
Straight Teasing Needle
Cotton Swab on a long thin stick
Long thin stick with no cotton