Digital High Power Microscopes 

• Now that you have decided you want a high power digital microscope, below are a few other digital options to consider.
• Digital microscopes include a camera or LCD tablet for viewing live images.
• Digital microscopes allow you to capture and save images and many cameras include software for making measurements or adding text to images.
• Before purchasing a digital microscope, consider how you would like to use the microscope. Do you have room to set a laptop next to the microscope? If not, would a tablet camera on top of the microscope work better? Would a WiFi camera be good for your needs? If you want to project the image onto a large screen in a classroom figure out if your LCD projection system uses S-Video, HDMI or USB input. This will help determine what type of digital camera you need.
• Finally, there are benefits to having a detachable camera. A built-in microscope camera can be nice because there are no camera parts that can be removed from the microscope. However, should the camera break or if you ever want to upgrade the camera at some point, replacing the camera is not an option when the camera is integrated into the microscope system.

Middle School – Adult Model Richter Optica MDS1-D (about $349)

The MDS1-D is a digital middle school microscope with a 3 megapixel USB eyepiece camera in the eyetube. This microscope has 40x, 100x, 400x magnification and coarse and fine focusing. The microscope is a corded LED microscope. If you have a MAC, this is not the microscope for you – the camera only works on a PC. Richter Optica provides a 5 year warranty on this microscope. Shop for this model here.

High School – Adult HS-1D Digital Microscope (about $449)

The HS-1D is a digital high school microscope with a 3 megapixel USB eyepiece camera in the eyetube. This microscope has 40x, 100x, 400x magnification and coarse and fine focusing. The microscope is a cordless (rechargeable) LED microscope. An optional mechanical stage is available. If you have a MAC, this is not the microscope for you – the camera only works on a PC. Richter Optica provides a 5 year warranty on this microscope. Shop for this model  here.

High School – Adult MW2-HD1 Digital Microscope (about $615)

The MW2-HD1 has 40x, 100x, 400x and 1000x magnification. The built-in 3 megapixel camera connects with a USB cable to the computer. Rechargeable LED light allows the microscope to be used corded or cordless. This microscope includes software for image capture. Built-in mechanical stage, and coarse and fine focusing. This microscope has a lifetime warranty. Shop for this model here.

High School WiFi Digital Microscopes (about $425-735)

National Optical and Swift Optical make several WiFi microscopes and a WiFi microscope camera. The digital WiFi microscopes are available with 40x, 100x, 400x and 1000x magnification. The digital microscope transmits its own WiFi signal (no network is required) and a live image from the microscope can be shared to iOS or Android WiFi phones, tablets or laptops with a free downloadable App. Images can be shared with up to five devices. Includes 1.3 megapixel built-in camera. The microscopes are corded with LED lights. Shop for WiFi microscopes and camera here.

University Fein Optic RB20D 5mp Digital Microscope (about $2,030)

The Fein Optic RB20D digital microscope has Infinity Corrected Optics with 40x, 100x, 400x, 1000x magnification, a built-in mechanical stage, LED magnification and coarse and fine focusing. The microscope has built-in power cord storage on the back of the microscope. The 5 megapixel camera includes software for image capture and making measurements. The camera works on PC or MAC. Fein Optic provides a 5-year microscope warranty for the microscope, 1-year for the camera. Shop for this digital microscope here.

Laboratory Fein Optic RB20LCD Digital LCD Microscope (about $2,305)

The Fein Optic RB20-LCD digital microscope has Infinity Corrected Plan Achromat Optics with 40x, 100x, 400x, 1000x magnification and focusing eyepieces, a built-in mechanical stage and LED illumination with coarse and fine focusing. The microscope has a storage compartment for the cord on the back of the microscope. The HD camera has 2mp image capture to SD card. 13″ LCD HD monitor. 5-year microscope warranty, 2- year camera warranty. Shop for the digital LCD model here.

You may want to view the other Microscope Buyer’s Guides here:

• High Power Compound Microscope Buyer’s Guide
• Low Power Stereo Microscope Buyer’s Guide
• Digital Low Power Stereo Microscope Buyer’s Guide

Learn more about evaluating microscope quality here.