My First Lab My First Lab Microscope

by My First Lab

Product Features

• Features 40x, 100x & 400x magnifications
• Real Glass Optics
• 6 hole disk diaphragm
• 110 or 220 Volts
• Set of prepared Slides

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 8 x 13 inches ; 3.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005J377
• Item model number: MFL-02
• Manufacturer recommended age: 11 - 18 years
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,211 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)

Product Description

Teacher Review

Future scientists will thrill to the physical world revealed to them under the magnification of a genuine microscope. A slide containing cells of human skin looks like a magnificent intricate art pattern in rainbow colors. This microscope is the real McCoy. With three objectives--4x, 10x, and 40x--hours of scientific collection and observation await your young biologist. Heavy and heavy duty, this microscope is not for young children and is not a toy. Advertised for those ages 11 and older, it comes with five prepared glass slides. More blank ones could be purchased at a science supply store to create countless new samples to explore. The model plugs into a three-prong outlet to produce the light needed for magnification and will probably require adult help for initial use. This solid metal scientific tool should pique the curiosity and stretch the imagination and scientific acumen of most preadolescents. --Lair Showalter, mother and elementary school teacher

Product Description

This is not a toy but an actual scientific instrument equivalent to microscopes used in intermediate and high schools worldwide. An educational investment that encourages students to increase their science knowledge through independent study, My First Lab TM Microscope will be a useful tool for study throughout school years. Designed for use by ages 11 & up, this microscope is affordably priced, making it ideal for home school use Real optical glass lenses- 10X Widefield eyepiece with pointer- 3 Achromatic objective lenses: 4X, 10X & 40X Power- Magnification from 40X to 400X- 90mm x 90mm Stage with clips- 6 Hole disc diaphragm- Coarse focus, easy grip knob- Built in 15W illumination- UL approved 3 wire power cord- Sturdy all-metal construction- Instruction manual- Five prepared glass slides- One year limited warranty- Overall size: 4 x 6 x 11 H, N.W.: 3 lbs.- Box size: 8 x 6 x 13 MA13Packaged in fitted styro foam in full color box. Shipping Weight: 5 lbs. Case of 10: 49 lbs.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

603 of 608 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Value., February 9, 2002

By 

Bruce A Parkinson (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: My First Lab My First Lab Microscope (Toy)

I am a chemistry professor and I was sceptical that a microscope for under $100 could be any good at all since I had several of them when I was a kid that were marginal at best. Often buying a kid a microscope or telescope that is marginal can result in turning them off rather than sparking their interest, I have and use microscopes in my lab that cost from $1000 to $10000 and so I know what a good optical system looks like. This little microscope was an amazing value. There is not much plastic and the optical quality is quite acceptable. The built in light works very well. How they can make a microscope this good for under $100 is amazing to me since you couldn't even buy one objective for most instruments they sell to labs for this price. I strongly urge anyone to not spend less than this on a microscope and go for this one! The only small criticism is that they could have had a few more slides in the box or some diatomaceous earth to keep the kids busy until summer when we can collect pond water etc.

308 of 310 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Value, September 18, 2002

By 

"teacher-mom2" (Waterford, PA United States) - See all my reviews

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: My First Lab My First Lab Microscope (Toy)

After testing a cheaper "kid's" microscope for my nephew, we ended up returning that one to purchase this one. My husband, a biology teacher, likes the design and features on this model. We also purchased a slide preparation kit from a science supply company, however the 5 prepared slides included with the scope were enough to get us started. From our own experience, we agree with the chemistry teacher - buying a cheaper scope (which claimed to have higher magnification)would have only led to frustration for the child when he attempted to view the slides. Everything on this scope was clear. This was a good value for the money.

64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best "Toy" we ever bought!, January 11, 2004

By 

Doris J. Crompton (Washington, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: My First Lab My First Lab Microscope (Toy)

After pouring over dozens of microscopes to possibly buy our 8-year-old daughter for Christmas, we found this one with the few, but good, reviews on Amazon. We were not disappointed. I know nothing about chemistry and have never used a microscope. We had this out of the box and running smoothly within 10 minutes. The instructions are very simple and the quality is exceptional. I have heard that poor quality plastic microscopes often dissuade children from pursuing science because they are so frustrating and disappointing. This one is great. It comes with five slides that show up really well. They are fascinating to look at and we spent all day gathering other items to look at. Our daughter likes science even more, and now she's anxious to take the microscope to class to show her friends. She's used it many times since Christmas and hasn't grown tired of it. I think she'll enjoy it even more when summer arrives. Some of the slides, such as frog's blood or mosquito head parts, sound gross, but they actually are unexpectedly pretty and colorful. Although it is supposed to be for children age 11 and up, our 8-year-old had no problems with it. The microscope is sturdy, nonfussy, and should hold up fine with any older child that wouldn't knock it off a table. I have never rated a toy higher than this one. Highly recommended!