Our two favorite kids microscopes are quite versatile, offering both compound and dissecting views, but My First Lab DUO-SCOPE shines the brightest based on an impeccable reputation, a lower price point and a wider range of accessories than the product in the No. 2 spot.
DUO-SCOPE, our TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award winner, strikes just the right balance between toy and serious scientific equipment, helping children have a great time while learning about their physical surroundings.
Whether bringing into focus the surface of a penny or giving a child their first look at microscopic critters moving about, this product is designed to illicit what a first science set should be all about – children using their imagination to learn.
We had to dig deep to find even a shadow of a complaint about this kit. One customer called the 40x objective “useless” but still went on to rave about the product overall. What’s not to like, after all?
We love the fact that you can view both translucent specimens (lit from below) and solid objects (lit from above) with My First Lab DUO-SCOPE. With that one feature you’ve doubled the number of objects you can observe with this beginner set.
It means children can pick up virtually any object they can find and get a closer look at it.
The accessories are also well thought out.
This kids microscope comes with everything you could want to get started – prepared slides, cover glass, plastic dropper, two bottles of stain, slide labels, scalpel, plastic test tube, plastic Petri dish, lens paper, forceps, five plain slides, one concavity slide, and a straight teasing needle.
This is the type of equipment that will lead to discoveries of all kinds, including the most important – a love of science.
None of the sets we reviewed had very many prepared slides, and that includes this one. There are only four. We’re not really sure why kids’ microscope manufacturers are so stingy with the prepared slides. These could offer inspiration for custom specimens down the road. Slicing and sealing a few more onion pieces and similar items would be a nice extra.
The scientific instrument itself more than makes up for a lack of prepared slides, however. DUO-SCOPE features real optical glass lenses, dual focusing knobs, two LED lights, and six-hole disc diaphragms. There is a 10x eyepiece; 4x, 10x, and 40x objectives; and 40x, 100x and 400x magnification. Little fingers can adjust knobs, lights and diaphragm to pinpoint the exact view they want.
There are two LED light sources. Anyone who has ever used a toy version with a flimsy mirror for light will appreciate this. Views are destined to be so much better with real illumination. Load in some batteries and you are on your way.
Reports of possible drawbacks include the real possibility of crushing your slide if you get in too close, but that is possible with most scopes. A little training will prevent mishaps.
DUO-SCOPE is a cinch to use. It’s cordless so it can go anywhere, and there is an included vinyl dust cover, which should offer some protection and also some training about the proper respect for scientific equipment.
We wish this instrument came with a carrying case, although if you have to choose between set with a carrying case and one with high-quality craftsmanship we’d definitely err on the side of quality craftsmanship. You could always devise some sort of packing method to get this safely to grandma’s house. You can’t devise better optics on the spot, however.
As mentioned, the kit includes prepared slides, though not many, which are nice to get the process of discovery going. Prepared slides mean you can pull My First Lab’s instrument right out of the box and start enjoying it, definitely a factor for ease of use.
The learning materials are not going to be anything to write home about with this kit but they will suffice. Again, if you have to choose between barely useful software or a fancy manual and high-quality craftsmanship, we’d definitely err on the side of quality craftsmanship. My First Lab DUO-SCOPE will not disappoint.
C & A Scientific stands behind their products with solid customer service via telephone. The folks who answer the phone know about the DUO-SCOPE and should be able to answer any possible question. There is also an e-mail form available on the company’s website. Even if you buy from someplace other than C & A itself it is nice to know you can contact someone there if you have problems or questions.
C & A makes professional level instruments and really all things optical, including camera eyepieces. They also offer a huge selection of scientific equipment, everything from tissue floating baths and thermometers to beakers. This is exactly who you want to buy a science set from. This company has some serious scientific street credibility. It’s not a toy factory.
That means real learning on a real scope.
Customers can get their money back if not satisfied with any C & A purchase, always a great show of confidence in a product. The company will also replace parts that do not function properly.
The company’s website could use some serious upgrading. Other companies selling DUO-SCOPE had as much or more information about the set on their sites. The website is certainly not a deal-breaker but a quality virtual storefront would inspire even greater confidence in this product.
My First Lab DUO-SCOPE is the best of the best kids’ microscope sets. The instrument itself is crafted of high-quality materials by a company that knows how to make scientific tools. In a world where people usually only write or call if they are terribly dissatisfied with a purchase, this kit has an expansive list of positive reviews online from many perspectives.
The positive reviews are long and detailed, many of them chronicling a frustrating search for a piece of equipment that would help their child learn without breaking the bank. When these customers finally find DUO-SCOPE they are thrilled enough to describe their euphoria online.
One Amazon customer wrote, “A microscope is an educational device. A tool of science and learning, but it's not a ‘toy’ as Amazon calls it. This particular microscope is well built, and has a number of useful features. This is my first microscope, and I purchased based on its ability to do both macro and micro viewings, and was not disappointed. I've seen some fascinating things with this tool, and found there's a whole ‘other world’ out there that we're not seeing.”
A Fat Brain Toys patron raved, “as a physician, I have a great deal of experience with microscopes. The optics on this scope are quite good for the price, and although some parts of the scope are of cheaper quality (such as the battery compartment), they put the money where it counts. Intuitive design, surprising illumination at high magnification (400x).”
The combination of a dissecting scope and compound scope into one tool for a great price with great optics is something we found only in My First Lab DUO-SCOPE. We recommend it as a worthwhile investment in your child’s future educational pursuits and their general sense of awe and wonder.
