Best lab compound microscopes according to redditors

I guess I could have predicted the questions that would be asked.

Here's the story. I have a cheap microscope that I bought less that a month ago, and I've been spending time every day looking at tiny alive things.

My oldest daughter recently came down with a lice infestation, and her huge (think Merida in Brave) curly hair is like a lice fortress. When my wife was treating her, I had her set aside a live louse.

I'd heard that one way to kill lice is to dry them out, and thought that letting it sit in salt water and letting the salt water dry around it might do that. I put a tiny drop of salt water on top of the louse in the lid of a petri dish and went to bed. When I got up the water was dried, the louse was still alive, and it just happened to have one of its feelers embedded in a salt crystal. It's been about 24 hours now and he's still alive, still wiggling. I've heard that they die after 2 days away from sustinence, so I'm testing that.

I kind of wish I had more of them so I could do other experiments on them.

edit: I take videos in the microscope by simply holding my phone's camera up to the eye piece.

editedit: 100x magnification

Every single person here should be able to give you an answer to that 🤣
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006FCI0G8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gt8.AbHK1DNB8

AmScope M158C-E Compound Monocular Microscope, WF10x and WF25x Eyepieces, 40x-1000x Magnification, Brightfield, LED Illumination, Plain Stage, 110V, Includes 0.3MP Camera and Software

My personal suggestion lol

You're arriving into microscopy at a golden age of cheap, decent microscopes. Well done!

You'll be spending some serious time at your microscope, so I like to recommend comfort and ergonomics. You need to figure out a desk (STURDY, shaky desks suck for microscopy) & chair combination that puts you at a good height & distance from your scope, but you also want a scope that you can use without too much strain and hassle. I recommend a binocular (2 eyes) compound (multiple lenses/magnification options) scope with a mechanical (use dials to move your sample around, rather than manually sliding your slide around) stage.

Here's one for $200, shipped, on amazon. I don't have this exact scope, but I use another amscope and am very very pleased with it for the price.

I assume you want to get at what causes hair to split, microfracture, etc. rather than a lower magnification look.

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-B120C-Magnification-Illumination-Double-Layer/dp/B009JROROU/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1549556722&sr=8-10&keywords=amscope

if you have the money, this one is top of the line for the home enthusiast

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094JTZOU/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A35BV4NHHC5J5C&psc=1

Amscope and OMAX (owned by the same company) are very big retailers of Chinese microscopes on Amazon. Also Swift.

In the price range you mention, Amscope has been pushing their T490 quite a bit and have lots of attachments for it. Given that you want a new scope from amazon for that price, not a bad bet. The link below includes a darkfield condenser (for getting images with a dark background with the sample lit) and a trinocular head you can use when you want to take pictures or videos.

https://smile.amazon.com/AmScope-T490B-DK-Magnification-Illumination-High-Resolution/dp/B004TP7KDM/

I haven't owned or used it, but it's kind of a safe bet by virtue of being popular and in the right price range. There are plenty of competing scopes in the same price range--mostly the use the same optical system, which is good for the price. By adding or removing features you want, you may end up with different models or brands. There's a pretty competitive market on Amazon.

On the Amscope website there's a live chat you might find useful (they also have a clearance section you might check out). They will give you advice after you tell them what you want.

You can get much better gear on the used market, but you have to deal with broken, dirty, and missing parts and the burden of search/repair/uncertainty is on you.

You won't be able to see molecules like antibodies, at least not with a light microscope. If interested in why, you should check out pages such as this one explaining the limits of resolution (about 3/4 down the page).

You won't be able to diagnose health disorders via blood draw and light microscopy without the proper tools (you might see evidence for super obvious ones that depend on morphology or cell counts, but that's not a diagnosis). I'm not a clinician, but my guess is clinics use stains, qPCR, ELISAs, things like that, to diagnose.

That said, you should be able to see things like cheek cells or RBCs, with a decent 20x or 40x light microscope. It's likely you won't be able to see more. I had one when I was a child, and it probably didn't cost more than a few hundred $. Here's one that's not wonderful quality, but it looks like you can get some decent magnification and it even has a phase add-on (except one review says the add on is unuseable).

Naw. Just have some $200 microscope(this one) and use a digital camera on the lens. Stacking focus does sound like something I should try though.

I'm tempted to buy one of these just for fun. I have no specific uses in mind just a curiosity for the things around me. Is there anything terrible about the $79 one that pops up any major red flags?

The main thing I'd probably use it for is to look at stuff from my aquarium.

this one looks like what I used in my bio classes at school which is kinda making me want it.

Sorry, but you've made a mistake in your conversion. 159 MR = 39.94 USD

That much money would get you something of a much higher calibre.

I bought an Amscope stereo microscope for US$250 a year ago. Excellent image quality at 4, 20, and 40x. The 100x isnt really usable—optical aberration is too pronounced at that magnification. But for every day exploration of little stuff and pond water, it’s awesome.

Context: I’m a scientist and have access to very high quality scopes at work, including confocal and even cryoEM. But for daily use at home with my kids, this was perfect and reasonably priced.

This was the scope, and now it includes a camera for about the same price.

AmScope B120C-E1 Siedentopf Binocular Compound Microscope, 40X-2500X Magnification, LED Illumination, Abbe Condenser, Two-Layer Mechanical Stage, 1.3MP Camera and Software Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009VUPIKM/

"Hey, I'll tell you what. You can get a good look at a butcher's ass by sticking your head up there. But, wouldn't you rather to take his word for it?"
Just kidding, something like this could be very satisfying on a budget of about $75. I don't think you would want to go much cheaper.

I tried general cure, paraguard and melafix : didnt help, fish dies. Got myself https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005LIG4RE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 today and found something wormalike in affected fish poop; it's hell of a deal to get fish poop from a 1inch fish in a heavily planted 65g tank...

Thanks for the advice! I was looking at this particular microscope which does have the vertical attachment.

As with everything I have had to purchase for all of my hobbies, it is not cheap, but I am willing to pay a premium for something if I can use it for life.

Compost teas have a very limited shelf life (some say only a few hours) because the moment you stop aerating the tea, aerobic organisms will quickly die and anaerobic organisms will begin to multiply. This could cause dangerous amounts of "bad bacteria" to develop (including e.coli) that could do more harm than good for your plants.

You're much better off brewing a fresh batch every time. Personally my tea is still being aerated as I'm applying it. If you do pick up a microscope be sure to share your findings! Also may I recommend one with a USB camera such as this

You'll obviously want to wait for an answer from an actual student or biologist. I am an amateur doing soil analysis on occasion for my business. I use this one... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SGCEZCS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Sweet, ok, this is sorta making sense. This? https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B005TJ5CEG/ref=pd_gwm_psimh_0?pf_rd_p=68979bf7-088b-4ac5-855a-4158ad0ce6aa&pf_rd_s=blackjack-personal-1&pf_rd_t=Gateway&pf_rd_i=mobile&pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_r=T3BPR4QF6JZ64WNGBSPE&pd_rd_wg=YW4cv&pd_rd_r=T3BPR4QF6JZ64WNGBSPE&pf_rd_r=T3BPR4QF6JZ64WNGBSPE&pf_rd_p=68979bf7-088b-4ac5-855a-4158ad0ce6aa&pd_rd_w=chRnZ&pd_rd_i=B005TJ5CEG

Here’s the link

So how does that particular model compare to, say this or this? I'm mostly curious from a hobbyist prospective.

Here's what I've found so far. The search continues...

Refractometer with Brix + SG scales - $19 Brülosophy link | non-affiliate link

5 gallon No Chill cube - $11.50 Brülosophy link | non-affiliate link

pH Meter (starts 3:15pm) Brülosophy link | non-affiliate link

40x-1000x Microscope (starts 3:50pm) Brülosophy link | non-affiliate link

If I were you, I'd go with a microscope that has a trinocular view. It really helps to be able to view what your are taking images of through an eyepiece.

This is the microscope I use and I have no complaints yet:

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-T490B-Magnification-High-Resolution-Microscopes/dp/B004QEFO1Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1524069091&sr=1-3&keywords=trinocular+microscope&dpID=41a90GOXjiL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

You can get decent photos / videos using a phone adapter if you're on a budget.

Something like this perhaps:
https://www.amazon.com/Gosky-Universal-Phone-Adapter-Mount/dp/B013D2ULO6/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1524069164&sr=1-4&keywords=microscope+phone+adapter&dpID=41riC-uLXTL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

https://www.amazon.com/TELMU-Microscope-Magnification-Illumination-Microscopes/dp/B07DQQKJNZ

A microscope and camera so I can look at stuff. I also have prepared slides on my list as well.

I have an Omax microscope (this one), and i have a phone bracket for it that attaches and lines up my phone with the eyepieces.

Hey guys, is this a good Microscope?

I just bought this one for $700:

OMAX 40X-2500X USB 3.0 Super Speed 18MP Digital Compound Trinocular LED Lab Biological Microscope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BPJID3A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_YzMjumeCDJNyL

and can see Exidia spores easily with it.

Check out this AmScope model. I have a friend who has it and is having a lot of fun with it. Pretty good for $75. You can even buy a cheap USB camera that fits it.

I'm a PhD student in the biological sciences, and I don't own a microscope because I have access to big expensives ones that are far better than anything I could buy. But, I could see myself getting one for fun if I ever don't have access.

Q 1; I'm saving up for a microscope!

Q 2: I'm intrigued by cellular structure and how things are seen at tiny magnifications. Saving Private Ryan.

Thanks a ton!

I bought this a couple months ago. It has 4x, 10x, 40x and 100x as magnifications. It's pretty easy to focus on the object at 4x. It gets progressively harder after that.

It also has ability to attach to your computer but I have not been able to do so. I have the number for support that I called but got a I need to call but am too lazy. I was also told that anything over 2000X would require immersion oil. If I knew all this, I wouldn't have bothered with this.

Also Amscope seems like they hate doing what they do. The instruction manual is pretty shitty and when I unpacked, the microscope seemed like it had been sitting in a dusty warehouse for fifty years.

Edit: Link. Also, most of the images you see on this sub are not from a $200 microscope :)

I bought this one used for less than $150. It goes up to 2500x. The picture you saw was at 1000x.

Added an eyepiece reticle ($15) for measuring and a stage micrometer ($10) to calibrate. I'm happy with it!

You can probably find cheaper used scope, but not much. You need at least 1000x (oil immersion) to get a good ID.

If you're planning on getting a camera just stick with a monocular. I have a binocular and it's really nice for viewing especially doing the long count method but if you can just get a camera. It's so much better.

There are plenty of decent ones on Amazon. Omax is a good brand.

Promotion Set: OMAX 40X-2000X Lab LED Binocular Compound Microscope with Double Layer Mechanical Stage + 100 Glass Blank Slides & Covers + 100 Lens Cleaning Paper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SDnwxbS0A9GYK

For a hemocytometer... Don't buy the shitty $30 one on Amazon. It fucking sucks giant donkey balls. I had that one and I seriously wanted to crush it repeatedly with our forklift. Buy nice or buy twice. Get the $130 one from sigma Aldrich. Bright line. Make sure you have the proper coverslips. Not your regular ones that come with the microscope. The sigma one comes with 2 I believe. Don't lose them or break them!!! You can order more though if it happens.

There are some decent Amscope scopes on Amazon. I got something like [this one] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004QEFO1Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500439482&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=B007LBETCQ%7CB004UMDLAA%7CB00AM5XB5O%7CB005O0XVTS%7CB00AZOICT2%7CB009JROROU%7CB004QEFO1Q%7CB007LBETCQ&dpPl=1&dpID=41a90GOXjiL&ref=plSrch) a few years back and I actually prefer it over my clinical lab scope at work. It's really quite heavy and sturdy, so I don't hesitate to let my sons play with it. We go "bear hunting" in the backyard after it rains. You can connect a digital camera to the trinocular piece on the top. Amscope sells those, too, but they are usually a low mp. I got the Canon converter and attach my Canon 6d to it.

I'm sure your daughter would love it! My kiddos are always bringing random things home to look at under the microscope. They could spend hours with a little cup of pond water.

Anytime. FWIW, I've got one of these that I use for my own DIY bio projects around the house. It's not the greatest in terms of optical quality but I was really impressed with the build quality/value since I think I paid about $150 for it.

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-T490B-Magnification-Illumination-High-Resolution/dp/B004QEFO1Q

Here is the mobile version of your link

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q768K8/ref=oh_details_o01_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the one I picked up and it works well. The digital imager was only another $30. For the price of a really big beer, I got my mini-lab

This sub is dead, and I am no expert. I went with https://www.amazon.ca/AmScope-B120B-Magnification-Illumination-Double-Layer/dp/B009JPXTNW
but Amscope B100B is cheaper
https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-B100B-MS-Magnification-Brightfield-Illumination/dp/B004UMDLAA

I personally wouldnt buy a microscope with less than 2000X magnification. If you wanted to choose between the two you found, I'd go with your second choice.

I bought this one years ago as my starter microscope and it works great.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094JTZOU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-Re8CbGJQ0N2S

I did the point thing but it was hard to keep/get the correct tilt/distance and hold it while hoping the camera doesn't auto focus at the last second and ruin the shot. I got a decent shot after 1-2 min but wouldn't try again. If he is still into it next year or maybe sooner if my inner kid doesn't take control I'll get him one of these. One of the best parts of having a kid is getting to buy any toys you want again without looking like a weird 30 something guy walking around toys r us :)

Not 100% sure how UK shipping would work but I have [this one] (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B006FCI0G8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) from amscope and it has a usb connection that lets me show it on the computer or project the image. It's not the greatest but lets you see onion cells just fine. I haven't tried blood yet, I should give that a shot.

I haven't seen a microscope adapter for a tablet before. The phone adapters with really well though, maybe you could either use a phone, or modify it to work with a tablet: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07JW9KHZ2/

These types of microscopes work great for general purpose viewing. They have a few different magnifications, and LED lights to view from the top or bottom. Plus they usually run on batteries so it's portable. https://www.amazon.com/TELMU-Microscope-Magnification-Illumination-Microscopes/dp/B07DQQKJNZ/

Finally there are these clip on lenses you can get for phones and tablets that can magnify, but not as much as a real microscope. Cheap and you might get good enough results with it. https://www.amazon.com/Camera-Fisheye-iPhone-Samsung-Smartphones/dp/B01CTZY89M/

Soil microbiology was one of the main reasons I bought my scope. Another was yeast in brewing. I'm now amazed at how useful it is for odd week to week things. Here is the one I picked up. It's a bit more than the one you linked but I've been very happy with it. I also purchased the amscope digital camera to go with it and it's just so-so.

OMAX 40x-2000x compound microscope (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094JTZOU/)
I really like and it's a solid microscope that's comparatively cheap. I took the photo just by holding my phone up to one of the binocular eyepieces and holding it steady.

I'm using a Celestron 44104 and a Celestron 44421 microscope imager. I just started using the linux package 'enfuse' for focus stacking.

I bought mine on amazon here's the link You can always get a more expensive one, but this one works for me!

This is the one I have and it's way better than the old high school microscope I used. If i could do it over I would get this one

That is pretty nifty. I've wanted to do microscopy on the spore prints I've taken, but microscopes tend to be quite pricey. That user that occasionally posts some of his microscopy posted a link to this which is about the same price as a nice smartphone if you don't already have one.

I bought this one! I kind of regret not springing for the one with the 3.0 MP camera, would have made for some sharper shots.

I just got it for fun, lol. I snagged this one off amazon, and then later upgraded the camera: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006FCI0G8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's a bright-field microscope, and not well suited for taking pictures of non-transparent, thick objects like weed - so I had to jerry-rigg some external lighting for it

I'm a scientist (chemical engineer in a research position, finishing my PhD), and my wife is molecule biologist. So we just thought it'd be fun to be able to look at stuff. and it's been a real blast!

A really neat aspect to having a camera is that you can also take videos. So i've got some cool ones of blood cells moving around. (and my sperm swimming around, lol)

AmScope M100C-LED Compound Monocular Microscope

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005O0XVTS/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_CmFPub1R9HH5C

If you've ever used a nice microscope, you will think that this one is really cute. But it works great and fits into a shoe box.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005TJ5CEG/ref=pe_175190_21431760_M3T1_SC_dp_1

I have a Celestron 44104 with a Microsoft Lifecam studio connected to the eye peice.

So I'm really interested in buying a microscope as a hobby item. I've always been fascinated by biology and when I was little I had a cheap slide to focus 40x microscope that was given away to younger cousins. I've been on the verge of purchasing a new microscope for a year and a half. I'm looking at three different price brackets:

$80 (The scope this article links to.)

Cordless LED biological compound microscope offers five magnification settings: 40X-100X-250X-400X-1000X
Widefield glass optics and optical glass lens condenser provide high resolution sharp clear images
45 degree inclined 360 degree rotatable monocular head with locked-in eyepiece
Cordless LED illumination with three AA batteries and wall-power adpter/recharger included
Sturdy solid metal framework with dual side focus



$130 Here

45-degree Inclined 360-degree Rotatable Monocular Head with Four Magnification Settings 40X-100X-400X-1000X
Precise Optical Glass Lenses; All-Metal Framework and Mechanical Parts
Separate Coarse and Fine Focus and Abbe Condenser with Disc Diaphragm
Built-in Tungsten Light with GS and CE Approval
5-Year Warranty Including Parts and Labor against Manuafcturing Defects



$195 Here and here. 8 settings up to 2000x

1st link:

High quality professional optical glass elements; 45degrees;inclined 360degrees;swiveling binocular head
8 levels of magnification: 40x-80x-100x-200x-400x-800x-1000x-2000x
4 achromatic objectives DIN 4x, 10x, 40x(S), 100x(S,Oil); 2 pairs of eyepieces: WF10X and WF20X
Sliding interpupillary distance adjustment; Ocular diopter adjustable on both eyetubes; Stage upward moving lock protects objectives and slides
Variable intensity illumination; Coaxial coarse and fine focus adjustment; Focusing knobs on both sides; Stain-resistant double layer mechanical stage; NA1.25 Abbe Condenser with iris diaphragm and filters; Rack and pinion adjustment condenser

2nd link:

Binocular Sliding Head with Adjustable Ocular Diopter on Both Eyetubes
Eight Magnification Settings 40X, 80X, 100X, 200X, 400X, 800X,1000X & 2000X
Graduated X-Y Mechancal Stage and Tension Adjustable Separate Coarse & Fine Focus
Precise Ground Glass Lenses and Sturdy Metal Framework
5-Year Warranty against Manuafcturing Defects


Here's what I'd use it for:

Looking at pond scum, amoebas, blood, sperm, insect parts, pollen, etc.

The $80 scope shown is an awesome value. Is it silly to consider paying $115 more for 1000x more magnification?

Is 2000x magnification complete overkill for these applications?

How can expect the 2000x magnification to compare to the 1000x? Is oil immersion required for 2000x?

Between the two $195 scopes, which one is best? I'd really appreciate some advice on this one.

How important is the apparent lack of a fine control knob on the $80 scope?

Would it be worth it to get the $130 scope when all it adds is a fine control knob, or would it be better just to choose between the $80 and $195 scopes?

Not much experience, but I had good luck right out of the box with this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-2018-Best-Compound-Microscope/dp/B0094JTZOU

I recommend getting some sample pre-prepared slides as well so you can focus on the scope usage at first.

http://www.amazon.com/OMAX-40X-2000X-Binocular-Microscope-Mechanical/dp/B005LIG4RE/ref=pd_sbs_indust_2

^^^^^^^^Click ^^^^^^^^here ^^^^^^^^to ^^^^^^^^find ^^^^^^^^out ^^^^^^^^more!

This is what I'm using

I don't know enough to say that isn't a good deal. The scope could be very well made or sought after for the precision assembly or something else I could only guess at.

But considering the fact that you can buy a brand new warrantied scope for that price which includes USB outputs for digital imaging and recording (link)...

It's pretty hard for me to imagine this is a particularly good deal.

Sounds like a cool project! This is the one i use at home- i don't know if it's available in the US (just guessing thats where you are) but i cannot recommend it enough. They have their own site too.

This is an alternative availble in the US - i have no experience with it but it seems okay, also has a connection to your laptop to make it easier to share your results!

Sure thing! I bought this one from Amazon last year. https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-Best-Compound-Microscope-2016/dp/B0094JTZOU I love it. It's perfect for every day use. Here's a video I took last year of pond water with cell phone camera. https://youtu.be/WALjNaX9WYg

These seem cheap and decent: https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-Microscope-Magnification-Brightfield-Illumination/dp/B006FCI0G8/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1525928202&sr=8-9&keywords=microscope+with+camera

My district suggested we get these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MX03Q0/?coliid=IGTKAK9Q261QH&colid=2FMX9BJI3OTTN&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I've used these before. They work well and they are well made really. I have an Amscope that cost $200 more than this one and I'd trade it in a heart beat. Hands down my recommendation. Been in my shopping list for years...

I'd recommend getting some kimtech wipes too and making sure you know all the care instructions. Keep it covered when not in use and all those things.

This is with an Amscope 620C-E1 microscope. I was just wondering if this is the image quality I should expect with this scope at this magnification?


This was with plastic slide and cover, but I was getting a similar image with glass slide and cover.

I was looking at microscope similar to that one, it is an AmScope brand but looks almost the same and comes with a camera that connects to a PC (which he has as well).

As for those cell phone holders I have one for my telescope and it will not work for a tablet.

I ordered here this one. Got good reviews and says that you can buy an optional camera attachment to plug into a computer. Which sounds awesome to me.