If your child is a schoolboy, then the microscope is one of those items that will help him in learning and open up the microcosm around him. There are many microscopes produced now, they differ in price, in functionality, in quality of optics and characteristics.
Instrumental microscope
It is designed for examining samples under low magnification (studying the structure of rocks, insects, plants, coins, jewelry. Great for exploring the world around young children, but not suitable for studying the school curriculum).
Instrumental microscopes have a stereoscopic image (3D picture), a binocular attachment (we look through a microscope with two eyes at once) and a small magnification (usually 10-40 times). It is very convenient for preschool and primary school children! Another plus is that the preparations for examination do not need to be prepared in advance, that is, the child can easily cope with the work on such a microscope on his own.
The leaders in this category of microscopes are Celestron (Labs model), Micromed (Masha and the Bear series) and Levenhuk (LabZZ series).
Biological teaching microscope
This microscope is designed for biological and simple medical research. That is, these are the same microscopes that are used in schools and secondary specialized educational institutions.
Their peculiarity: ease of use, mount for a glass slide on the stage, inexpensive price (from 4,000 to 7,000 rubles), monocular attachment (we look through the microscope with one eye). These microscopes are daunting for preschoolers, but just perfect for middle-aged and older schoolchildren. Educational microscopes have a magnification of 40 to 800 times, which is sufficient for examining the cellular structure, ciliates, erythrocytes in the blood, protozoa, the movement of the cytoplasm, and so on. That is, this microscope is enough to master the entire school curriculum.
Biological microscopes can have bottom, top and combination illumination. The most convenient for use is the combined option, since the upper and lower LED illumination will give more variations for research (you can examine both transparent prepared preparations and opaque ones). With this kind of illumination, the child can examine not only the skin of an onion, plant cells, a drop of blood, but also a coin, a piece of cloth or, for example, a sausage. If you need to display an image on a computer or laptop screen, you can use a video eyepiece.
Leaders in the manufacture of such microscopes are Mikromed (Eureka series, as well as C-11 model) and Levenhuk (Rainbow series).
Biological laboratory microscope
Laboratory microscopes are designed for biological and medical research of any complexity. They are often used in medical institutions and laboratories, as well as in higher education and research institutes. They can be divided into optical (magnification up to 2,000 times) and electronic (up to 2,000,000 times). Accordingly, their price starts at 12,000 rubles and has practically no ceiling.
The main feature of such microscopes is a high magnification, the obligatory presence of coarse and fine adjustment knobs, an adjustable stage, a halogen or LED illuminator. The attachment can be either monocular or binocular. Sometimes there is a trinocular nozzle (this nozzle allows you to observe with two eyes and display the image on the screen at the same time). Laboratory microscopes have at least four objectives, one of which is immersion.
Simple laboratory microscopes are suitable for older schoolchildren and students, as working with them requires a certain skill and care. The most budgetary microscope in this category - Micromed R-1
Which microscope is better to choose
The most optimal variant of a microscope for a student is a biological educational one. He has all the qualities that will help him master the school curriculum and open the microcosm. The student will be able to independently conduct simple biological experiments and make interesting discoveries.
But be sure to note that all microscope optics should be made only of glass (not plastic), and the body should be made of metal. This will serve as a guarantee of high-quality images and a long service life.
