We recommend the Omano JuniorScope microscope for a 10-year-old looking to get into the fascinating world of microscopes. This scope lets kids magnify to 400x for super-close views of specimens. The impressive precision glass optics and premium-grade lenses allow for a spectacular experience each time.
In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about selecting a microscope for your children. From must-have features to reviews and everything in between, by the time you’re done reading, you’ll know exactly which microscope suits your child best.
8 Best Microscopes Reviews
1. OmanoJuniorScope Microscope for Kids
Let’s begin with our most recommended microscope for 10-year-olds, the Omano JuniorScope. You get a series of experiments worth nearly $20 called The Amazing Microscope Adventures with your order. These let your kids get into scoping without needing to catch their own specimens…yet. Also included are guides, slides, a test tube, a dropper, forceps, stains, and a petri dish. There’s thus no need to go out and buy any microscope accessories. It’s all here.
Pros:
- Since it runs on batteries, you can take the JuniorScope to school or out in the yard to observe what kids catch as they do so.
- The informative guides will teach children more about their own bodies as well as insects, plants, and even crime scene investigation.
- Other accessories and parts included with your purchase are cotton swabs, a dissecting needle, a wooden specimen pick, test tubes, slide labels, lens paper, cover slips, blank slides, and Beastly Bits prepared slides.
Cons:
- Some users say this microscope comes broken or does break very shortly after use.
- Others say the LED light burns out quickly.
2. AmScope 120x-1200x Kids Beginner Microscope
As an Amazon’s Choice product, the AmScope 120x-1200x kids beginner telescope makes for a wonderful choice for children getting into scoping. With 52 pieces in all, you get an ABS plastic carrying box, an LED light, plastic slides, and a microscope with a hardened metal body.
Pros:
- You get everything your children need to get into scoping all in one convenient, inexpensive kit.
- With a rotating turret, you can magnify 120x, 240x, 300x, 480x, 600x, and all the way to 1,200x.
- This microscope is designed for beginners such as young kids.
Cons:
- Some users have reported that parts arrived broken.
- Others said that the microscope as a whole doesn’t work.
3. Educational Insights Nancy B’s Science Club Microscope
Next, we’ve got Nancy B’s Science Club Microscope from Educational Insights. This microscope set includes an activity journal that’s 22 pages long, a scientific tool set with 26 pieces, and the microscope itself. Also bundled with the microscope are some focusing knobs and a rubber eye cup.
Pros:
- All the equipment and accessories are very neatly and clearly labeled. They also match the purple color scheme of the whole kit.
- The microscope and activity journal gives the kids a great memento to look back on later as they remember their scientific adventures.
- Using a microscope like this could promote STEM learning.
Cons:
- The batteries you need for the microscope don’t come with them.
- Users have reported that what you put under the microscope shows up blurry, even if you switch settings to 400x magnification.
4. National Geographic Dual LED Student Microscope
If your kids want something that looks a bit more adult, get them this National Geographic dual LED student microscope. There are no cutesy colors here, just a sturdy, dependable microscope. You get everything your kids need to have their own experiment on brine shrimp, such as a lab manual, a petri dish, shrimp eggs, and a hatchery station. Your kids will quite enjoy getting to see a brine shrimp’s lifecycle in action.
This National Geographic microscope has magnification between 20x and 50x. Included with the microscope are dual optical eyepieces made of real glass, various lenses, and a dual function light system. A comprehensive learning guide will teach your kids more about brine shrimp and microscopes themselves.
Pros:
- This National Geographic microscope comes in three colors: Genetic Green, silver, and Biology Brown.
- You get more than 50 accessories, among them a mini geode, a petri dish, eye droppers, tweezers, slide labels, slide covers, and a slide storage box.
- Kids can also study daisy leaves, earthworms, and onion skins in addition to brine shrimp.
Cons:
- Compared to some of the other scopes on this list, you can’t get as much magnification with this National Geographic microscope.
- Some users have complained about the trans-illuminator, mentioning how it doesn’t diffuse and is too bright.
5. AmScope 40x-1000x Dual LED Light Student Microscope
Our last pick is yet another one from AmScope. This time, it’s their 40x-1000x dual LED light student microscope. This complete microscope package includes a slew of accessories, an all-metal framework, an impressive optical glass lens, and two LED lights. We also have to talk about the magnification, as this is able to zoom in to 1,000x. That’s crazy good.
Pros:
- The variety of slides lets inexperienced kids use included specimens until they’re ready to catch or find their own.
- The quantity of the various accessories is quite generous.
- The fine focusing and coaxial courses enhance the views of this impressive microscope.
Cons:
- Some users have said you get very little stain dye, only a couple of drops.
- Others have noted how the knobs are stiff and don’t work very well, thus preventing focusing.
6. My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope – MFL-06
Don’t let the term ‘My First’ fool you in the name, this is a very well made microscope – a huge step above a mere ‘toy’ microscope and packed with enough cool features to intrigue kids and parents in equal measure.
The My First Lab Duo-scope microscope is lightweight enough for kids to carry around the house with them and yet sturdy enough to remind you that this is a quality made bit of scientific equipment. This Duo-Scope boasts a 50 piece accessory kit containing everything from droppers, slides and forceps to a Petri dish.
This is a great budget microscope for young science enthusiasts and thanks to an extensive user manual, your little scientist in the making can get the most out of their microscope and accessories – and may even be teaching you a thing or two once they get into it!
Pros:
- Includes 50 accessories
- Sturdy, lab-quality weight
- Powerful LED lights
- Helpful user manual
Cons:
- Batteries aren’t included
7. AmScope Awarded 2017 Best Student Microscope 40X-1000X Dual Light Glass Lens Metal-Body Student Microscope with Slides, Tools and Book
With powerful dual LED lights that let them view both opaque and translucent specimens with equal clarity, 5 magnification settings and a whole bundle of accessories, it’s not hard to see why this particular microscope was awarded the Best Student Microscope in 2017.
This AmScope Dual Light microscope also boasts a good variety of pre-made slides and 50 blank ones for your child to start collecting and examining their chosen specimens.
Overall this AmScope Student microscope is incredible value for the price. The only real negative we can mention has nothing to do with the product itself, but the poor packaging – just be wary when ordering the AmScope online as it has been known to arrive with squished and damaged accessories – not a great start for your budding scientist!
Pros:
- 5 wide-field magnifications
- Batteries & power adaptor included
- Adjustable stage for immediate focus change
- 5 pre-made slides and 50 blank ones for own use
- ‘Introduction to Microscopy’ book included
Cons:
- Poorly packaged
8. AmScope M150C-I 40X-1000X All-Metal Optical Glass Lenses Cordless LED Student Biological
The AmScope M150C-I is a high powered, high quality student microscope to inspire your budding young scientist. Precision coaxial knobs allow you to make minute adjustments easily to switch seamlessly from coarse to fine focus on your subject.
The monocular head is also fully rotatable so kids can share the other microscope eyepieces with other users without ever disrupting their set magnification power. The solid metal frame also has a stain-resistant finish to ensure that, however intricate and messy your kid’s slides get, this microscope can take it.
If you’re only in the market for a great quality instrument then this shouldn’t be a problem, but having extra slides always come in handy – especially if you’re trying to encourage a young beginner.
Pros:
- 5 magnification settings
- 360 degree rotatable head
- Lab quality metal framework
- LED lights can use batteries or mains outlet
Cons:
- Doesn’t include any slides or accessories
Which Microscope Is Best for Your Kids?
If you’re looking to get a microscope for your kids, you’ll most likely want a light microscope. These contain their own built-in light source. There are other kinds of microscopes such as ultraviolet or electron scopes, but these are typically only used in scientific or commercial settings and are much more expensive.
Microscopes are built for different purposes. You want to make sure you buy the microscope best-suited for whatever application your kids will be using it for. When trying to decide what type of scope to buy, there are three main things you need to consider.
Magnification
The most important quality of a microscope is its magnification. Don’t let yourself be fooled into thinking higher magnification is better, though. The overwhelming majority of light microscope applications only require magnification levels of 60x or under.
Eyepiece and Objective Lenses
Light microscopes have two sources of magnification. The scope’s objective lens is the primary source. Its eyepiece lens acts as the secondary source. The magnification total is determined by multiplying the power of the objective lens by the power of the eyepiece lens.
Microscope Type
Finally, you need to figure out the type of microscope you need. Microscopes are grouped into two main categories: stereo microscopes and compound microscopes. These are also referred to as low-power and high-power microscopes respectively.
Stereo Microscopes vs. Compound Microscopes
Stereo Microscopes
Stereo microscopes are a great choice for viewing larger specimens such as gems, leaves, or insects. In most cases, these specimens only require you to use magnification levels of 6.5x to 45x. That’s why they’re also referred to as low-power microscopes.
A stereo microscope by definition has at least two eyepieces which give the observer a 3D image of whatever specimen they’re viewing. They come in two different configurations, zoom or dual power. Zoom microscopes offer a continuous zoom range from the lowest to highest power. Dual power has two magnification options, such as 30x to 60x.
Compound Microscopes
While stereo microscopes are used for larger specimens, compound microscopes are needed to view smaller specimens. These can be water organisms, blood samples, or forms of bacteria. Higher magnification levels are necessary in order to see the detail of such tiny specimens.
Compound or high-power microscopes often have between three and five objective lenses with a wide magnification range. These can go from as low as 4x to as high as 100x in some cases. These microscopes are also considered integrated systems since the base and body form a single unit. By comparison, some stereo microscopes are modular and need assembly.
Monocular, Binocular, or Trinocular?
When you’re considering either a stereo or compound microscope, you need to decide on what type of ocular set-up you want. You can get a microscope with a single eyepiece, two eyepieces, or two eyepieces and an additional trinocular port. Compound microscopes are available in all three configurations, while stereo microscopes by nature do not have a monocular option.
There are four factors to look at when deciding which configuration is right for your kids. They are application, comfort, cost, and magnification.
Let’s talk about these more now.
Application
Many monocular microscopes don’t include a mechanical stage, making them useful for more sophisticated tasks. Binocular microscopes more often than not do have a mechanical stage. Trinocular microscopes are most commonly used when the third port is needed for microphotography.
Comfort
Most people find binocular microscopes easier to use and more comfortable than other options. Young children may prefer a monocular microscope when starting out though.
Cost
Microscope price ranges tend to overlap each other. Typically, monocular microscopes are the most economic and trinocular microscopes the most expensive.
Magnification
Monocular microscopes provide efficient total magnification up to 1,000x. To get higher levels, you’ll need to look at a binocular scope.
Quality and Illumination
By this point, you’ve looked at all the different factors and considered your microscope options. You know what kind of microscope you need to give your kids the best experience. However, before you buy a scope, you should consider both the quality of the microscope and the illumination.
When looking at quality, you need to look at both the quality of construction and the quality of the optics involved. The last thing you want to do is spend your hard-earned money on a microscope that will fall apart. Stick with microscopes made of solid metal rather than plastic.
In terms of optical quality, achromatic lenses are the standard for quality objective lenses. Achromatic lenses correct different colors refracting through a curved glass lens at an angle. In doing so, the scope produces an enhanced “flatter” image of the subject.
There are four kinds of illumination found in microscopes. These are fluorescent, halogen, LED, and tungsten. Each provides a different level of illumination and works better for different situations. Let’s take a quick look at each one.
Fluorescent
Fluorescent illumination is typically used for biological research and other similar purposes in specialist microscopes. This ring lighting can also be found in some stereo microscopes as an additional light source.
Halogen
This lighting is standard in high-quality pedestal microscopes. Halogen lighting gives off a strong white light which can be adjusted via a variable rheostat.
LED
Ring lighting via LEDs is becoming more common in portable microscopes. These can be used with rechargeable batteries in a variety of different settings, from science fairs and conferences to out in the backyard.
Tungsten
Entry-level microscopes use tungsten lighting to provide the most basic illumination.
Conclusion
If you’re the parent of a kid who’s interested in starting out with a microscope, the Omano JuniorScope is one of the best ways to get them into this rewarding area of scientific study. Between the scope itself and all the added accessories, your kids will have everything they need to get started with their new hobby.
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Mike Zhang. Founder of FamilyLifeShare