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I had a toy microscope as a kid -- it was a fun idea but not so good since seeing truly small things well requires more budget. I'm now in a business where microscopy is critical and have some nice hardware I can use to see truly small things, but there's a lot of fun in looking at larger objects. This can be done with cheap hardware and I use an older pen-style scope like what you posted even for "serious" business-related work (https://www.amazon.com/Supereyes-Portable-Microscope-Endoscope-Magnifier/dp/B0066H7H1Q ). These come with software a lot of the time but it's maybe not very good, so I use something called "SharpCap" which is meant for astronomy but is actually just an easy program to display USB camera images in real time so it works nicely for USB camera microscopy. I'd recommend getting this kind of setup (USB camera that plugs into a computer for display) since the display will be nicer and my instinct is that 80 dollars/euros is too little for a microscope/display/storage/stage that will work to anyone's satisfaction.

I found this one on Amazon ( https://www.amazon.com/Opti-Tekscope-Microscope-Advanced-Definition-Industrial/dp/B0184CCOY0/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=usb+microscope&qid=1567129440&s=gateway&sr=8-10 ). It has LED lighting (important for illuminating objects from the top) and looks solid, with metal construction that seems nicer than the one I have. Something like this would plug into a computer and display in real time, allowing you a large working distance from the object while being steady enough to watch the screen while focusing. There are lots of them like this for sale, some with higher magnification, but I think anything like along these lines would be a great toy microscope.

Dooooon’t use kimwipes. If you’re going to try and clean them, please buy actual lens tissue. Kimwipes have abrasive cotton fibers, that can scratch your lens. Lens paper is not terribly expensive. Try Thorlabs, or even just amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Tiffen-Cleaning-Paper-Tissue-Sheets/dp/B004ZZOMZ0/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1543122811&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=lens+paper&dpPl=1&dpID=41CjgK6aDmL&ref=plSrch

Also, that Zeiss guide is great if you really want to get into it, but general cleaning is done well with some Sparkle lens cleaner. Do not confuse it with Sparkle glass cleaner. Not the same thing, and will leave a film on your lens. https://www.amazon.com/Sparkle-Bottle-Optical-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B00MZZYIL0

Feel free to DM me any questions!

Source: am a microscopic imaging specialist.

>How do I figure out what magnification I am getting in the view? Do I like multiply the eyepiece number by the objective number? The eye pieces say like 10X, 20X etc (what exactly does that mean? it doesn't really change the picture maybe just the FOV?) and the objectives say 4X, 10X, 40X and 100X.

Pretty much, yes. The specs here list this scope as having a magnification range of 40-1600x, which is 4x Obj 10x Eye up to 100x Obj 16x Eye. Technically your magnification will also change depending on how you resize the image digitally (e.g. you enlarge it in Microsoft Word) so scale bars, if you can add them, give you a better idea of the image scale.


>My guess is that if I used oil it would go better

The specs also list that the 100x Obj uses oil immersion to function, which is why it doesn't appear to work without it.

Nice hair; great shot.

If interested in looking at bugs, you can purchase an 'aspirator' to vacuum up the really tiny ants and bugs and mite and whatnot into a collection tube. I usually put a small amount of ethanol in bottom of the tube to just straight-away preserve the bugs. The aspirators typically look like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Carolina-Biological-Supply-Company-Aspirator/dp/B005VDNICI

There are a lot of different options if you think the mouth operated one is too weird, as you can see here:

https://www.bioquip.com/Search/WebCatalog.asp?category=2700&prodtype=1

Also would want some tweezer to move things around, just some fine ones that you get at the pharmacy or general store will work.

Other stuff... a lot of leaves and plants with tiny features are interesting to look at (especially lit from underneath)... ferns and mosses and whatnot are cool. Sand can also be rad, very different from different beaches or areas; sometimes its just a pile of amazing, fully-formed, miniature shells.

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 might want to start with a simple compound microscope and get a cell phone adapter to view with. A stereo microscope is great but it's difficult to view "together". Buying a microscope used will cut the price a lot, but beware the objectives could be dirty and need cleaning. also, high magnifications like 1000x can be difficult to use, because of low field of view, high light levels required and may be difficult for a kid to focus. A few hundred dollars isn't going to cut it for those magnifications. Stick to a scope that has 4x, 10x and maybe 20x objectives.

This type of basic microscope is great for learning, has LED lights for both reflection and transmission viewing, works on batteries, easy to use. https://www.amazon.com/TELMU-Microscope-Magnification-Illumination-Microscopes/dp/B07DQQKJNZ/

Cell phone adapter I've used with great success: https://www.amazon.com/Gosky-Universal-Phone-Adapter-Mount/dp/B013D2ULO6/

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.

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.

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

It depends a bit on how much you want to spend. There are inexpensive 20x and 40x step stereos that might be cheap enough to test out. https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-SE306R-PZ-Microscope-Magnification-Objectives/dp/B005B1TR16/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539852360&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=stereo+microscope&psc=1

If you want to take photos, or want a wider range then the standard 7x - 45x Chinese zooms can be surprisingly good. I like the ones with the transmitted and incident light sources. https://www.amazon.com/7X-45X-Dual-Trinocular-Stereo-Microscope/dp/B00X4LKO9E/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1539852360&sr=8-12&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=stereo+microscope

Talk to your local microscope supplier and they’ll likely let you test one out.

The links above look a lot like the ones I am familiar with.

There is a lot of microscope material online that I can't find in print, so that's the way I do most of my learning. But I agree that a book is nicer since much of this information is on old websites that haven't been updated in a decade or more (so many frames and animated gifs ugh).

I only have one microscopy related book I use regularly, A field guide to bacteria by Betsey Dexter Dyer. It's oriented toward finding bacteria without a microscope based on macroscopic clues. Since bacteria and other microorganisms are often found in association this book has given me some great ideas about where to look for samples to take home and check out under the microscope.

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.

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!

I use one of these and it works great. Takes a bit of adjusting though to get the cam on view. Great low cost option.

Gosky Universal Cell Phone Adapter Mount

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013D2ULO6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_8rJEybNN3TSPK

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.

Thanks for the advice- I think I've found something like what I'm looking for, called a Barlow lens:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007LBD8KA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00
It cuts magnification in half and doubles working distance.
Now I just gotta find one for my scope or make an adapter

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

This is probably not the quality you're looking for but a field microscope is what you're looking for like this

It has a trinocular head, the tube is to mount a camera if you choose. The opening should be capped when not in use so dust and dirt stays out. 100x objectives need immersion oil on the slide to focus. Youtube should have plenty of videos how to use the oil.

For cleaning look here http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/_asset/file/the-clean-microscope.pdf

A general tip, I recommend getting a box of these https://www.amazon.com/Kimtech-Science-KimWipes-Delicate-Wipers/dp/B0013HT2QW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1543119000&sr=8-4&keywords=Microscope%2BWipes&th=1&psc=1. I use them to clean up glass surfaces on the scope and even sunglasses, but should be used with a lense cleaner and in proper process.

I currently have a similar scope to the first one (Older version of this), though mine has a 100x lens also. Would recommend, not had any issues with it at all.

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

This is what I'm using

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.

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.

I bought this one at Christmas:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UBNIMC/

I already own a Nikon YS (Picked up on Craigslist for $100) without the trinocular port, so I knew I wanted something that was lit from the top. You can probably get just the head:

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-SM7180T-7X-180X-Trinocular-Microscope/dp/B005MKI5NW/

The Nikon allows me to see individual red blood cells moving around, the Amscope doesn't get that kind of magnification and the lighting is wrong. You can record video through holding the phone as well and I've done video of the red blood cells moving around.

Found it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rkeCcYyCVI