The more you know about a graduate's plans for the future, the easier it is to come up with a cheap graduation gift. However, the suggestions below should work for most any grad and cost less than $25.
Microscopes Reviews
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Microscopes Performance
In general, microscopes reviews indicate the best low-cost models both motivate and satisfy children's curiosity about the natural world and serve the hobby and technical needs of many adults. Cheap microscopes should be sturdy enough to withstand the normal knocking around that kids' stuff generally suffers as well as the occasional foray into the field -- on this issue, microscopes reviews for the models on our list trend positive.
Traditional Microscope Ease of Use.
If you're buying a cheap microscope for a child or young adult, you want it to be both user-friendly and fun. Our top picks for traditional microscopes prove easy to use. The My First Lab Duo-Scope is an excellent starter microscope for children as young as nine years old, notes a microscopes review on Carolina.com, an opinion echoed on Amazon about the Thames & Kosmos Biology TK2, although the reviewer lowers the age bar to eight for this model.The microscopes reviews we found suggest that the uncomplicated, traditional models score well with children (the users) and adults (the reviewers) on the enjoyability scale. My First Lab Duo-Scope earns high praise on Amazon for customer satisfaction. Several parents report that their children enjoy exploring the wider world at a micro level with the Duo-Scope, and one writes in a microscopes review on Mom2BB that her ten-year-old son is delighted with this cheap microscope.
The Thames & Kosmos Biology TK2 is another kid-pleaser. A microscopes review on Buzillions reports a nine-year-old is thrilled with the TK2, using it to examine the included slides as well as her own finds. Reviewers generally comment that the multi-piece accessory kit included with the microscope enhances the user's enjoyment, although some caution that the instruments are sharp and younger children may need oversight.
Digital Microscope Ease of Use.
Digital microscopes are, from the get go, more complicated than traditional microscopes but not less fun or particularly hard to use. You will, however, want to pay attention to both the hardware and software on these instruments. Most of cheap digitial microscopes are made of plastic; they're generally lighter and more portable than the traditional models we looked at. The Digital Blue QX5, for example, can be removed from its base so that you can hold it in your hand and users seem to think the Veho VMS-004 works better without the stand.Usability and practicality are strong suits for the Digital Blue QX5, according to microscopes reviews. An expert review at Eurocosm.com notes that the QX5, the result of a combined effort by Intel, the computer chip company, and Mattel, the toy company, is an ideal gift for an inquisitive child. Indeed, the testers at Edutainingkids.com used the included computer software to create a guess-what-this-is game that engaged both kids and adults. Other microscopes reviews say this model holds the interest of young children and serves important professional needs, like taking close-up photos of failed parts on marine equipment. We didn't notice any comments about software challenges, although we did see a couple of reports about difficulty focusing with the plastic knob and inadequate light at the highest magnification setting (200x).
The Carson Zorb MM-480 might be the hands-down winner of the fun award. Shaped like an egg and measuring just under three inches high and two inches around, the Zorb MM-480 won't do for grown-up work -- no zooming with this cheap digital microscope -- but it is spot-on for kids. Microscopes reviews on Amazon say the Zorb MM-480 kept an older toddler as well as tweens enthralled and grossed out children who used it to examine their skin.
The Veho VMS-004 Deluxe, on the other hand, requires a fair amount of technical competence. We didn't see any reports about young people using this model, but quite a few adult hobbyists and others who use it on the job posted comments on review sites. Many are not thrilled. Microscopes reviews on Amazon say it's hard to focus, not well balanced, and requires some creativity in positioning whatever it is you're trying to examine. Reviewers also gripe about blurry and lagged feeds into the computer and inadequate documentation, which leaves you to your own devices.
Microscope Durability.
If a child gets hooked on the whole microscope thing, you don't want to be buying a new one every few months. Our best and good picks in the traditional microscopes category stand out for durability. The My First Lab Duo-Scope is solid enough to take a few zings, say microscopes reviews, and the Thomas & Kosmos TK2 is made of durable hard plastic. The Vivitar Micro View MIC-20, however, garners no such praise and is even described as little more than a toy. Users posting microscopes reviews on Overstock and Amazon complain about the light source giving out and problems with the magnification and focus of the lens.The picks for best and good digital microscopes also pass the durability test. Microscopes reviews report the Digital Blue QX5 survives service with youth programs and in the field for stream studies, not to mention with eager little children. A review on What the Stuff Toy Review calls the Carson Zorb MM-480 a computer peripheral that should be treated with care, but family reviewers don't express concern about fragility.
Microscope Image Quality.
Remember, cheap microscopes are not high-tech scientific instruments. That said, the models on our list deliver the up-close quality images users expect. Many reviewers gush about the view with the Thames & Kosmos TK2, saying it's reminiscent of what you get in a college lab class. Ditto for the My First Lab Duo-Scope, which gives a birds-eye look at microscopic aquatic life and what one father-engineer describes in a microscopes review on Amazon as total clarity and very precise focusing. The Digital Blue QX5 works best at the 10x and 60x magnification levels, according to reviews on sites like Microscopy-uk.org, and others simply say the magnification is excellent. The Corson Zorb MM-480's magnification is limited to 35x, which is enough for a stamp collector who uses it to check out the imperfections on bad plate runs and parents who assert it gives kids the close-ups they want. A couple of Veho VMS-400 Deluxe users report good views of record grooves and coins, but others express disappointment with the inability to get the image quality needed for inspecting industrial and electronic components. If you need a digital microscope for this latter type of work, microscopes reviews at J&R report the Celestron 44302, another model we researched, is worth considering.
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Read user comments below
Best Cheap Microscopes
Traditional: My First Lab Duo-Scope
The My First Lab Duo-Scope receives excellent grades from users for its high quality and durability. This microscope has a battery-powered dual illumination system that lights objects from above and below, and it magnifies up to 400x. It comes with a 50-piece accessory kit and is an excellent starter microscope for kids.Microscopes Deals
Digital: Digital Blue QX5
The Digital Blue QX5 is warmly applauded by reviewers for its simple, user-friendly design and the quality of its images. Users consider this an excellent educational tool for children and teens. The QX5 can capture both still images and video, and magnify objects 10x, 60x, and 200x. It features image resolution of 640x480 and comes with sample slides and specimen jars.Microscopes Deals
Good Cheap Microscopes
Traditional: Thames & Kosmos Biology TK2 636815
The Thames & Kosmos TK2 microscope receives strong praise from users for its high-quality optics, ease of use, and helpful learning materials. The TK2 illuminate objects from above and below and magnifies up to 400x. The TK2 includes an accessory kit and instruction manual with 25 experiments.Microscopes Deals
Digital: Carson Zorb MM-480
The Carson Zorb MM-480 is noted for its durability and ease of use. Users find this simple, egg-shaped design ideal for kids; it's 35x magnification is suitable for examining prints, coins, and other small objects. The Zorb MM-480 captures both video and still images, with a resolution of 640x480.Microscopes Deals
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Products Mentioned in This Review
Traditional: Vivitar Micro View MIC-20Digital: Veho VMS-004 Deluxe
Traditional: Thames & Kosmos Biology TK2 636815
Digital: Carson Zorb MM-480
Traditional: My First Lab Duo-Scope
Digital: Digital Blue QX5
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