Customer Reviews

Celestron 44306 Handheld Digital Microscope

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I believe that there is a problem with using this microscope at high-power in that the magnification-level slider can hang up on an edge. If you don't push it down all the way it will not focus. The slider (on mine at least) seats about 1/8" over the edge. Once I got that worked out with a little extra push and wiggle it was able to focus. As for the microscope in general, so far so good. The software loaded easily and runs well on a computer running Vista. At the lower power magnification in particular we've gotten some great images. The higher magnification works ok, the images are not quite as sharp but still acceptable for the money. I've downloaded a high-power capture we got without a lot of fuss. It's a little difficult to focus at the higher power; twisting the focus ring generally causes the microscope to move enough for you to temporarily lose whatever it is you were focusing on. My biggest concern and the reason I haven't given it another star is durability. It doesn't seem to be extremely sturdy; the potential for an early demise is there especially with children using it. It's advertised for 13 years and up but even at that age I'd be a bit concerned. That said, we're happy with the purchase so far. The microscope has worked as advertised. I don't think there's anything better out there for this price.

Length:: 9:46 Mins

Update 23 Jan 2012: I have been using this product more in preparation for an educational outing I am doing soon and have touched up my original review. I may have found a small design flaw that explains the issue with focus. I fixed it with sandpaper and elbow grease (see video review for info). I also took measurements of the magnification (mag) for the digital mode and they are Low = 35x High = 220x (partly empty mag with digital effects). My estimate for the eyepiece (which I have used far more now) is about High = 60x, perhaps higher. My video shows the scope in action on several different samples. Amazon compresses the videos and as such the quality has suffered some, but I think you can still get an idea (also see my images for a less compressed idea of quality). I mostly have the video lined up, but there is a small delay between the voice track and small video versus the scope images (main area). That delay seems to get a bit longer as the video goes on (different frame rates from the original videos). Also the audio starts to fade at the end, since I am not a professional at this I use cheap software that may limit some, so, sorry. I hope this helps demonstrate the scopes abilities and what I feel to be its strengths.

Original review:

First a little about my background, I have a fair amount of experience with different types of microscopes due to my job. When I need really good optical micrographs I use a several thousand dollar scope at the lab. THIS IS NOT THAT SCOPE. It is not a professional level scope in any means. That said, I think it is a pretty good little scope. I own this product, and am glad I do. Also note I pretty much only use the CCD and computer connection when I use this scope, I do not really bother with the eyepiece. My laptop works great with it and I have gotten pretty good images with it, but I can not really speak to the non-digital images, since I do not really ever use it.

One big issue with these is too high expectations, but it is actually the marketer's fault. This scope boasts 20x to 200x, however that is with digital effects in the CCD camera. This is an important distinction as most of digital magnification is called "empty magnification". It makes things bigger but does not increase resolution. The cover of the box identifies this as 10x and 40x without digital zoom, and I find this to be a pretty accurate value. I have marked my comparison images as such, since I IGNORE empty mag aspects (even though it is technically true to market it as having that magnification) whenever I note values in my data. I think that is the biggest issue most people have, and there might be a scope capable of pure 100x+ but I expect it to be several times the price, at the very least. So be advised excellent quality magnification you can expect is a little above 10x and 40x, from my experience without doing a direct measurement. Get a feel for it with my images up top.

I mostly look at flat-ish samples and that is what the scope does best. Rougher samples will be hard, but should be able to imaged. Depending on your sample and mag setting you may only be able to focus part of the image at a time. That is a physical limitation all optical scopes have, see: "Depth of Field" for more information. I have several images of mostly flat samples, and am pretty impressed with the quality and mag.

Speaking of my images, some have recommended getting the Jeweler's loupe's instead. That might be a good choice, especially if you do not plan on using the CCD. However, the loupe I used was the "30x" (marked 30x on the loupe but really 10x I think and marked such on my images) from the 3 loupe set sold on amazon. They are pretty good, but you can see from the comparisons, this scope easily out performs it at high mag. I admit that the quality of the images with the loupe do not quite capture what you see with your eyes, but what I can see with the loupes and my eyes AT BEST matches the 10x digital images I provide and usually does worse.

A note on the software, it comes with Arcsoft web cam companion. I do not own a Mac, so I can not speak to compatibility with an Apple. However, it does work well with Windows 7. I like the interface, it is easy to use and adaptable. I have actually used the software with other webcams to get images I needed. The fullscreen is nice and the ability to easily switch picture quality is most useful. I used the software to obtain all the images in my comparison pictures. All were taken at 1.3 MP (the limit of the other webcam) and the scope can do up to 2MP but may not get any better imaging from the digital effects.

On focusing, I can get pretty decent focus on low and high settings as you can see in the images. On low, I slide the slider all the way to low. However, on high I can not get focus pushing the slider all the way down, it may vary for each individual scope. I recommend using the full screen mode and making small adjustments on the wheel focus and the slider until you can see clearly. This back and forth adjustment to get good focus is a common practice to have to do on almost any microscope. That being said, I only have experience with my particular Celestron scope, and others that some other reviewers received may be defective.

Final note: This is best used by 13 year olds and above, or with adult supervision at least initially. This is a technical toy and can be frustrating for children who are more used to something working straight out of the box.

p.s. Though it is not directly related, I am also using this scope as an objective lens in a home made Keplerian telescope. I tested it already using a diopter 2.0 reading glass as an objective, and was able to read 18 point font from 40 ft away. This is just an example of how you can get even more out of a higher power toy like this. I hope my ramblings were informative.

p.p.s. It looks like amazon compresses the images a little, so a lot of the really fine detail is lost. I think you can still get a good idea of the results though. The image is much better than what you see in my posted pictures.

This is my second attempt to get an inexpensive 'microscope' for my kids (ages 6 & 8.

At the lowest power it is OK - I could not get it to focus at any higher power. And think about it, at a higher power, one just could not "hold it by hand" and get focus.

It might be OK for doing things as advertised - (at low power) - i.e. look at coins, rocks, etc. The 'camera' part works OK - again at low power, but I only used it a couple of times.

As for viewing prepared 'biological' slides, it is OK at the lowest power where you can set the thing directly over the slide.

For the lower power levels, just get a jeweler's loupe (and save a lot of money).

I bought this microscope because I am on an older Mac (system 10.4.11) and it looks like there is no other microscope that is compatible. The company did not provide software and sent me to a 3rd party to download software that did not work.

Just before sending the scope back for a refund, I did extensive research and found that miXscope software will work for this camera (but I see other reviewers with newer operating systems can't get the software to function). I was one to have to alert the company of software that worked for THEIR product. The software is about $18 and allows users a free trial period.

Next, the focus wheel right from the start was very tight but was workable until one day it jammed. I sent the camera back for a replacement under guarantee. It was supposed to be replaced within one month. Seven months later I was still waiting. They told me it was out of stock and coming from China. Each month I was told, it's coming next month.

When the new camera arrived it was completely dysfunctional.
1. The up and down slider that is used to fine-tune focus was so loose that I couldn't release my finger from it. Even holding it in place it would lose focus.
2. The image would start to flicker with banding across it within 1 minute of turning the camera on. If I didn't catch the image within the available timeframe (and sometimes the only opportunity would be a few seconds) the image would freeze and I'd have to reboot the software.
3. There were spots all over the lenses that came with the camera and showed up when I took photos.
4. My first camera, all I had to do was turn the light on full strength to see the image. This new camera would bleach out the image if I did that, so I had to finesse the light and it would not stay put suddenly shifting to brightness out of nowhere.
There was only one good thing about this new camera and that was the focus wheel moved easily and did not jam.

I sent the camera back and wrote off the flickering image as a possible problem with the software and on my end. I now know that is not true.

The new replacement Celestron sent is much better however there is a big black spot on the images when I use it on the highest magnification possible. I can't seem to clean it off. At lowest magnification it shows up as gray blur.
Flickering problem is still here although less dramatic. I can at least have a little time before camera freezes. I'm convinced now that the flickering problem is now in the camera itself as it only starts when I try to fine-tune the image with the up and down slider. Something must not be mounted firmly within the housing.
The focus wheel on this new camera is as tight as my original camera but has not frozen yet.

I'd send the camera back, but I need it to document a medical issue and don't know what else works for a mac. With such poor quality control, there is no guarantee that any replacement they sent would be any better.

With this much variation between camera to camera, I'd say if you have the option of buying from any other company, you should!

P.S. if anyone finds a camera that works for a Mac, please let me know. I'd jump for joy!

My title sums it up. I have used it in many applications related to my antique militaria business.It enables me to see details that would otherwise go undetected. This is very important to me as it could spell the difference between success and failure in my specialized field.

I had to return this because my 9 year old son couldn't work the little zoom bar, which is hard to handle and offers too much resistance. I would even find this frustrating.

That said, it's a nice piece of equipment and not just a toy. Much better than competitors I researched. I may buy it when he is 12.

I returned this product because it was not compatible out of the box with MAC OSx 10.6

Its probably going to work with 10.5 because from the setup instructions its asking download third party software that should work with Quick Time. But instructions are related to older Quick Time version that does not have any settings to capture images on 10.6 OSX Leopard from this Microscope.

This is the second Celestron microscope that I've returned right after receiving it. This is no more than a cheap toy. First off, it is incredibly small (~2.5") and all plastic. There is no stand or base provided so you have to hold it by hand. Given its lighness, resting it on its front end enables it to move with the slightest distubance. The hand held aspect means that keeping the distance from the objective to object constant is virtually impossible as is necessary for viewing at high magnifications. That didn't really matter because for some reason the device would not focus at higher magnifications anyway. The only images I was able to reliably view were those of macro objects such as fingernails and coins, on the lowest magnification settings. The included software did not work on a Mac and performed poorly on a PC. The help menu only suggested that the generic 'webcam' setting be used for a Mac without any real description of how to configure it. The digital picture had very poor contrast in the image. The previous Celestron microscope I purchased had to be returned because it would not focus at any point other than at the extreme top end of its travel. ie, objects with any thickness at all were permanently out of focus (eg a leaf). Save your money and get a real optical microscope. There are some excellent all metal ones from amscope with high quality glass optics and quality machining available for $135 on ebay.

I have a previous Celestron digital handheld microscope which is not compatible with Snow Leopard (10.6) Mac OS X. This product was advertised as compatible with Mac OS X 10.4.9 or higher.

It does not work with any software that I have found so far on my mac.

When i connect it, i get this error message;
USB Device Venus USB2.0 Camera is violating Section 9.3.5 of the USB Specification -- Error in GetConfigDescriptor( wLength = 4)

I am so disappointed. I now have to box this thing up and send it back. What a headache. I tried miXscope and it does not work on my Mac (OS 10.6.8). I am so sad.

I hate USB drivers that don't work.

Celestron has never failed to amaze me with their products. I needed a way to economically perform visual inspections of surface mount electronic assemblies and they provided me with the right equipment. Well done. Surface Mount Technology - Principles and practice, Second Edition