Digital Microscopes: My Top Five Picks on the Market Today

As the Christmas shopping season draws nearer, is there a special someone on your list that has mentioned wanting a digital microscope? A young Einstein perhaps? Whether a young science enthusiast, college student, or an adult that uses a microscope as an essential tool in their career, all will be impressed with the advances in microscope technology today. All five of the top picks of digital microscopes of the day, are computer linkable. As easy to use as the digital cameras you and your family use everyday. Like a magnifying camcorder, you can look inside the hidden world of microbiology. Viewable on your computer monitor too. Not only that, most models available today, just like your digital camera, can create and store photos and files from your latest microscope experiments, right on to your computer in convenient files and folders. These are my top five choices, and they are not your grandmothers microscopes.

Celestron.com offers a wide range in price and models. The company has been producing microscopes and other optical merchandise for decades. They have some very reasonably priced, quality microscopes. Most with two year warranties. For only $299 Celestron's LCD Digital Microscope comes ready to connect with USB Cable for Transferring Images, as well as an AC Adapter to Power the Microscope. The LCD digital has three objective lenses ,40x, 100x, and 400x, then combine this with 4x digital zoom and you are seeing things at 1600 times their original size. Also has a Camera built in for snapshots or short videos. Store captured photos and clips on an SD card or just put them on your computer. A good user friendly quality telescope. Many Wal Mart department stores carry models of Celestron microscopes.

Well known microscope maker, Olympus has probably got the hottest microscope going right now. The Mic-D, deserves mention because there is still some time left to search till the last day of shopping. Supplies are very limited though, and it could be impossible to find. This particular microscope by Olympus rates very high on website user reviews.This model is touted as being able to do it all. Basic classroom to highly technological laboratory research.The Mic-D can project light onto slide at over 135 degrees, lighting the field of view from almost any angle possible. Of course images are uploadable and can be stored and worked on from your PC. The Mic-D also offers websites with online interactive tutorials and assistance.While popular with users this model is listed at over $999.00. You might even want to try a search of E bay for the popular Mic-D microscope.

Of course a review of digital microscopes needs to include mention of the Proscope. This is a hand held model digital microscope, found on their site at Proscope.com.You really gotta see this little baby to believe it. Compatible with windows xp, vista and Mac this versatile, ready to go model is worth a look. ProScope's Interchangeable lenses offer you versatility. The 0-10X lens makes ProScope a video camera. Capable of magnifying to 200X power. The lens mount is an industry-standard C-Mount that will accept third-party lenses. The original, basic proscope x50 can be had for as little as$199.00. The site also offers a variety of convenient kits ranging from science level 1 at $499.00 to over a thousand dollars for portable labs.

The Digital Blue QX5, available from Prime Entertainment PC & Network Cameras is A great product. This microscope is geared more towards the younger crowd on your list. This microscope offers 640 x 480 resolution, and comes complete with digital editing software. QX5 is also able to take pictures and create video, and time-lapse movies. You can even share your discoveries through e-mail. At a very reasonable $75 -$90.00 this is a great deal.

If you are interested in a wider variety at lowest prices the Dino- Lite mineralogical Research Company is definitely worth taking a closer look. This company offers twenty one different models to choose from. Full size table models, as well as hand held portable units. Prices at Dino-Lite range anywhere from under a hundred dollars, and above. The site is simple to navigate, and is even color coded by degree of magnification.

Happy Microscope Shopping !