AmScope B490B-BS-50P-S Compound Binocular Microscope, WF10x and WF20x Eyepieces, 40X-2000X Magnification, Brightfield, Halogen Illumination, Abbe Condenser, Double-Layer Mechanical Stage, Sliding Head, High-Resolution Optics, Anti-Mold, Includes 50 Blank Slides and 100 Coverslips

To start this review I will outline my reasons for purchasing this microscope, then I will discuss its advertised use for the medical field. I wanted to enter Kodak's Small World Competition. I was deciding between AmScope's mid-grade Binocular Biological Microscope, and this model, AmScope's Professional Binocular Biological Microscope. I also considered a $90 beginner microscope, and a mid-grade binocular microscope by Omax. I chose this microscope for several reasons. (1) It was a decent package deal. It includes everything you need to start looking at microscopic organisms. Set up took 15 minutes or less and it includes microscope immersion oil, slides and cover slips. (2) For great photographs, I needed a well balanced lighting fixture on the microscope. This microscope has a halogen bulb, typically producing about 5k-6k lumen, whereas the mid-grade microscope has a tungsten illumination system, which has a warmer light color. (3) The price was great, for only $30 extra you can get the pro-grade instead of the mid-grade. They are using ridiculous low price claims though, stating this microscope retails for $1,200. NO WAY! $230 is FAIR for this product and if you pay more, you are making a mistake... Why? Because the microscope isn't quite pro-grade. Maybe it is a step above the mid-grade, but it is not perfect. The construction is solid but apparently so is the mid-grade. The aperture needs to be closed REALLY TIGHT to view detail past the 1000x zoom point, and the light bulb will just not get bright enough to see small specimen. This means the 100x DIN objective is virtually useless to see detail, and it is difficult to see at the 400x point. This means you're losing the use of 2 DIN objectives. It may be possible to increase luminosity by replacing the bulb, or by modifying the voltage, but when I pay good money for a product, I expect it to work as it should. I can't deny this product is sturdy, but it is HEAVY. This is a product you need to dedicate a desk to because its not going anywhere. To take photos, I was planning on buying a 10mp microscope camera from AmScope ($300), but will probably wait to buy a microscope with an LED bulb to use with a digital SLR. The light is still too warm and looks too washed out. Forget about using a dark field condenser, you won't have detail. I will be keeping this microscope since microscopy is a great hobby, but I will need a microscope with an LED for a cooler light balance if I plan on entering Kodak's competition. It will be possible to get extreme detail if I hook up a Digital SLR 14mp camera, even at 200x, What does this mean for a doctor's office looking for a microscope? From my experience its easy to see detail of a cell with 400x zoom (as long as you have good eyes). If you need to view smaller bacteria at 1000x or 2000x, shop around for a different scope with a better lighting system. It just gets too dark at these zoom levels without sacrificing detail. And if your a doctor buying such a serious piece of equipment, your probably expecting the scope to work perfectly without modifying it in any way. You will be frustrated with the inability to view tiny pathogens. Buy a better established brand, even if you have to pay $400. As for where AmScope saves you money, its in the packaging. I had a bad experience with the immersion oil. The bottle is made of cheap plastic which bursted when I tried applying it, which then got all over the microscope. And the microscope comes in a clumsy foam box (parts of the package were lodged out of place, but nothing damaged).

Good microscope for the money. Feels very solid. I've had it for about 6 months and havent got to use it much but, when i have it has performed to expectation. I left out the slide covers and my cat knocked over the box. it happened months ago and in still finding them though out the house.