iOptron ST-80 Digital Microscope

Pas facile à utiliser pou un jeune de 10-12ans.

This is a very conventional microscope. It's magnification range is huge for the price. It can be used with or without a computer. The computer image produced is excellent. The software is very, very simple, but it serves the purpose. It looks to be an 'off the internet' generic app for any type of video capture device ... not specifically created for this microscope. The body of the scope is heavy metal. The lenses are glass, not plastic. It is more or less par focal. It comes in an excellent padded, plastic carring case with room for everything ... very rugged. It has a standard slide stage which should accept calibrated slide-movement add-ons. The quality of this microscope is far superior to the Digital Blue computer microscope (formerly known as the Intel scope). The Digital Blue has an all plastic body with plastic lenses. It is geared towards children whereas the metal microscope is not. Nevertheless, the Digital Blue scope has very useful characteristics lacking in the metal scope: the barrel is removable allowing the scope to be hand-held (very useful) and the software, although geared to children, is very full-featured. The Digital Blue scope, although very useable, does not have the rugged professional feel of the metal scope. Something to consider: Digital Blue has dropped support for the model I have. I cannot use it with my current computer running Windows 7 and this scope must be used with a computer. It has no eyepiece. That is why I bought the new scope. Otherwise, I would be continuing with the Digital Blue. For this reason, I will not be buying anything else from Digital Blue. Final note: the bottom lighting of both scope is very good. The top lighting of the Digital Blue is excellent and under software control. The light provided for specimen illumination from the top with the metal scope is a small flash light that mounts through a hole in the body. It is totally useless. Final, final note: although I am a very seasoned computer user (and developer), I had trouble getting the software supplied with Ioptron to work. Once I got it to work, there was no further problem. In contrast, the software with the Digital Blue sets itself up automatically and just always works: very intuitive and fun.

Outdated junk, didn't work at all for me and returned it.

The price is right, the optics as advertised. My problem is with the pen-light, but that is minor as there are other alternatives.I bought this scope after reviewing a number of others on the web (including hand-held scopes). I am a woodworker and wood turner, most of my need for the scope is in identifying wood - and that involves "reflective" rather than "transmission" lighting. The pen-light was a plus in my choice of this scope, but I'm afraid it is inadequate. The beam is narrow and difficult to focus on the viewing area - and the objective tube can shadow it when close in to the sample. Also it is not a strong light.That said, I'm pleased with the scope - all I have to do is set up an alternate light source on my bench and use that for reflective viewing. A real plus for my work is the two eyepieces, the 10x and 16x. The objectives are 4x, 10x, and 40x - so by changing eyepieces I get a good range of magnification. The cellular structure of different woods ranges in size, so being able to go from 40x to 64x, then 100x to 160x, by changing eyepieces, is very convenient.I have not yet tried the camera software so can't comment. I will, however, second the previous reviews on the inadequacy of the manual. Also on the tightness of the "capture" of the items in the case (which is a fine case, and a good selling point for those who, like me, can't leave the scope set up due to a lack of space). I got a nasty slice in a finger pulling out the "round object" in the lid to find out what it was (it was not advertised as an accessory, and the manual doesn't mention the parts included). It turned out to be a specimen slicer with a razor blade in it. A nice accessory, but had I known what it was I'd have been more careful handling it.I'll also concur with the reviews on the "transmission" light, it is very strong and far better than a "mirrored" light. A battery light might be more convenient for some uses, but it would be unlikely to be as strong. I've been able to get a good view of thin wood sections with the "transmission" light, and that requires a strong light.I mentioned above that I also considered hand-held scopes (so I wouldn't have to section the wood). As the good ones were close to the price of this scope (and I have had bad experience with "el cheapos") I decided to take the time to make sections and buy this scope. It was a good choice. I would prefer to have an electronic eyepiece with a built in screen, and a wider area of focus - but I'm afraid that is out of my price range.In summary, if one is choosing this scope over another for the "light pen", forget it. But if one wants a solidly built scope with decent optics and a flexible range of magnification for about a hundred bucks, then this is for you. It is no problem to aim a desk lamp with a spotlight bulb on the specimen table for reflective viewing, the light pen was someone's bright idea that wasn't so bright, but all it adds to the cost is the drill hole in the shaft and a pen-light you can use for something else. I recommend the iOptron ST-80Best, Jon

Not able to use it.Bottom light will not work.Unable to see slides.This was a gift, not very happy. Product should have been checked prior to shipping