Digital Blue: QX3 Microscope Reviews

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Requiring a USB connection and a computer to attach it to, this is very much like a webcam, except that it can do 10X, 40X and 200X. It has incident and base illumination; focus is touchy at 200X but look at the price. This video microscope is a favorite at our microscopy center open houses. When compared with the cardboard tube 'scopes they sell at toy stores, this is a gem. This allows realtime viewing, as well as image and video capture. These can be viewed on the computer, emailed etc. and comes with software. (...).

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The software for Windows is rather careless. It is hard wired for rather low screen resolution, (it's either VGA or XGA), and sets the resolution "for you" like so much kid's software. Unfortunately, unlike every other software I've had that does it, it doesn't restore the video settings when you exit. I found a freeware program that restores the settings, and I now run it from inside a .BAT file, but this is careless. Intel needed to write better software than this to make a profit in the consumer products business. They didn't, and they had to bow out.

The image sensor is also really noisy. I don't know if it's CCD or something cheaper. I suppose this was necessary to build it to a low price point. But it is annoying.

But, it is better then the optical microscope I had as a kid 30 years ago. But that one came with better prepared slides. The USB powering is very nice. The driver provided is TWAIN, so you could acquire images from image editing software if you choose.

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As a PhD that daily works with cutting edge microscopes and imaging systems I recommend this "toy" for anyone. This digital microscope is probably the best value for ANY microscopist, child or adult. This scope does more than others 10X its price that are marketed towards the scientific community. Some might consider the software childish but behind the cute noises and buttons this is an excellent little tool. All controls are very intuitive, and my two children (ages 5 & 7) were able to use it with little or no help. Anyone intrested in this microscope should check out the following website devoted to the QX3.

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I just returned it. The image was so poor that above minimum magnification I couldn't even tell what I was looking at.

It would have been a fantastic item if they had just used a better CCD. The plastic moving parts were very imprecise also.

I gave it two stars just because the idea is excellent.

I would gladly pay 20 dollars more for a decent image sensor.

Oh well.

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I kid you not, I overheard two Ph.D's talking. One was discribing this fantastic new microscope he'd just purchased for field work. 200x, timelapse, movie, illuminate from above or below...the other doc just HAD to get one, who makes it? Why intel, it's a TOY and sells for under a hundred bucks.

I went back to my computer and ordered one that day...and my only regret is that I didn't order one for every kid I know. My five year old is absolutely fascinated by this subject! did you know bees wings have hair on them? She didn't(well, I didn't either!), but now we have photos! want to see what's swimming in that stagnant water? We have movies! This is the best educational toy I've ever seen!

Software works perfectly on my xp machine, unit is plug-and-play. the only problem is that the scope didn't fit snugly in the base, so I shimmed it with a strip of cardboard. You can morph, paint and email your collection to grandma! Software is incredibly robust...not simply a viewer, and easy for youngsters to use!

It's been discontinued by Intel so they're getting tougher to find, and that's too bad! get one while you can!

*update* !Digital blue has brought these back for christmass 2002!