Edu Science Microscope Set 100x, 450x, 750x

by Marlon Creations

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• ASIN: B0000205Z5
• Manufacturer recommended age: 5 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,035 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Product Description

Teacher Review

This is not the best introductory set for a child with little or no microscope experience, but for those with a little training, and perhaps some adult guidance, this high-powered scope reveals a whole new "cellular world." Most 8-year-olds will find the prepared slides of various textiles and grasshopper parts fascinating at 100x magnification, but at 300x or 600x magnification the fine-tuned focus and lighting adjustments may prove problematic. The apparatus is so sensitive at 600x that even nearby footsteps can jolt a specimen out of view. However, the set offers worthwhile lessons in microscope function and terminology, as children manipulate the eyepiece, the focus knob, the body tube, the revolving turret, the objective lenses, the arm, the stage, the slide-clips, the mirror, and the lamp. Creative scientific exploration is also encouraged as budding scientists concoct homemade slides of specimens (from algae to earwax!). --Kathryn Tracy. A certified teacher, Kathryn Tracy holds a BA in French Education and an MS in Speech and Hearing Sciences.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent value, January 31, 2002

By 

James R Sick (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Edu Science Microscope Set 100x, 450x, 750x (Toy)

I was pleasantly surprised and enthusiastic when my six year old requested a microscope for Christmas. After reading the Toy Enthusiast's review, I decided to take her advice and buy the Meade 9200, but alas it was not available in time for Christmas. As I was not willing to pay more than 100 dollars for a child's toy, we settled for this one. Image quality, particularly at 300 and 600 X, is quite poor, and goes out of focus easily. I was also a bit disappointed at the dearth of instructions, and no staining chemicals for preparing one's own slides included. Now having said that, keep in mind that the cost of this toy was about half what it cost to take my son and his cousin to see Harry Potter a few days after Christmas. Harry is now nearly forgotten, but we have had at least four delightful sessions with the microscope. For my six year old, the greatest joy seems to come from getting the slide and light aligned, and getting it in focus on his own. The images are of secondary interest. We are quite happy sticking with 100X. In addition, I needn't cringe when he gets sticky finger smudeges on the lens and eyepiece the way I no doubt would with a higher quality scope. This has been an excellent educational toy, and if his interest in microscopy continues, I will get him the Meade the year after next. We have already gotten more than our money's worth out of this one. Oh, and a tip. Staining chemicals such as methyline blue are impossible to buy in small quantites, but we found household iodine makes a decent stain. Works great on a bit of skin or a scab. Happy scoping.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars OH PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!, February 10, 2003

By 

Scott Holets (tracy, ca United States) - See all my reviews

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Edu Science Microscope Set 100x, 450x, 750x (Toy)

You call this a microscope!? I had bought this last year just for the fun of it, and it comes in a large pack of cool looking things like dissecting stuff and stains. And oh boy all of it did not last very long. The first time I looked in it was nothing but blurrs and all sorts of [stuff]. I cant even reccomed this hunk of trash to begginers. ITS USLESS GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!
This goes out to begginers, If you want a worthy microscope, I reccomend going to .... They give you everything you need including strong optics microscopes. Trust me, you don't want this microscope or if it is even a microscope!

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Inexpensive Microscopes, December 18, 2002

By A Customer

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Edu Science Microscope Set 100x, 450x, 750x (Toy)

One of the worst things people can do is sell someone a cheap microscope or telescope. Microscopes of this nature do more harm than good. The optics are plastic and extremely poor. The focusing is very course and very poor. The idea of using 750x power is very misleading, you need a lense with oil at that power. Get imformation on microscopes and buy a decent one. They are not that expensive new or buy a good quality used one for less than fifty dollars. Just don't but a cheap plastic miroscope. If someone has the interest don't ruin it with a bad microscope.