Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Three kids microscopes compared. 1) AmScope 120X-1200X 52-pcs Kids Beginner Microscope 2) Swift Compound Monocular Microscope 60X-200X 3) EMARTH Microscope for Kids Beginners Children Student, 40X- 1000X Note: The prices of these microscopes vary from time to time. When I purchased them they were all within about a $20 price range. Amscope: This microscope is basically useless. The optics are terrible. Even on the lowest magnification level nothing interesting can be distinguished. At the highest mag you will be lucky if you can even find the "focal" plane. It also lacks a "light from above". That would be a useful feature for an inquisitive child. It does have two things going for it: It comes with a case, and the frame of the microscope is made of metal. Both of the other two microscopes have plastic frames and neither comes with a case. It is also the cheapest of the three, but saving $20 and getting a worthless microscope doesn't really seem like a great deal. Swift: Nice bright and large field of view. Best of the three in these regards. But the magnifications does not go that high. Smaller details are visible on the EMARTH. Theoretically they would be visible on the AmScope if the image quality was anything better than terrible. Lights both above and below the sample. Intensities are independently adjustable (nice). The stage on this scope is more difficult to adjust. Get the image in focus and let go of the knob and the stage "relaxes" to a new position, and the image goes out of focus. A bit of tweaking will get a focused image, but shouldn't be necessary, and may frustrate a child. I am unsure of the total magnifications of the Swift. The objectives are labeled 60X, 120X, and 200X. Actual magnifications seem higher, although not nearly as high as the other two. I can see an argument being made that this microscope is the best of the three.because of the larger and brighter field of view, but the highest magnification level on the Swift is not enough. Frame is plastic. No case. EMARTH: Reasonably bright images. Decent sized field of view. The objective lens housings are made of metal - the other two have plastic lens housings. This microscope also come with two eye pieces, one 10X and the other 25X. Very quick to swap them for a different view. Switch for (1) Light from below, (2) Light from above, (3) Both. Intensity is adjustable, but not independently Above/Below. Frame is plastic. No case. Instructions say to "Use the dust cover provided by the microscope manufacturer...." to protect the eye piece, but no dust cover was included. This is the best of the three. Even at the highest magnification level the image is clear and bright enough. It is also the most expensive of the three.