Carson MM-300 MicroBrite Plus 60x-120x LED Lighted Pocket Microscope

This is a review for the MicroBrite Plus 60x-120x (MM-300) from Carson Optical.The MicroBrite MM-300 is just the ticket for gardening and exploring. It's lightweight but substantial and has a nice, solid feel.Like all of the more powerful small scopes, you need to tinker with it a bit to get the best magnification, and at the highest magnification you will also benefit by being still. I've used more expensive scopes and several natural light scopes over the years, and this LED light scope puts them to shame. The results are excellent from full sunlight to dark.The grip is quite ergonomic for such a small device. You can use the focusing ring with the same hand you're holding it with, and you'll need to use your non-dominant hand to adjust the zooming dial when needed. The LED switch is perfectly located for a quick press of the thumb.This handheld is also perfect for those of us who choose to avoid button batteries. I wanted an AA battery device because our local stores are often out of the button battery I need. The battery compartment opens easily and the single battery can be accessed in a snap. (AA battery not included).There is an indent on the top to weave in a lanyard thread.It's portable but not really pocket-sized unless you stow it in a cargo-type pocket. It's about the size of a deck of cards and twice as thick. I keep it in my gardening apron pocket, in my birding vest pocket, or around my neck with a lanyard. When it's on the lanyard I use it more often just because it's there. It's useful and fun.Whether you're looking at a praying mantis casing, diagnosing spider mites, checking herb for readiness, or exploring the micro world with kids, this is an excellent portable microscope for the money.If this review was helpful to you in any way, I would appreciate it if you'd please check "yes" below. Thanks!

Such a neat little thing! You have to make sure everything is on a still, secure surface, but it works great!!

I bought both this produc Carson MicroBrite Plus 60x-120x Power LED Lighted Pocket Microscope (MM-300)] and the lower magnification sibling [[ASIN:B000Z3A8UY Carson MicroBrite 20x-40x LED Lighted Pocket Microscope for Learning, Education and Exploring (MM-24, MM-24MU)]. Both are inexpensive and good, and overall, I'm happy with them.This model has several features that make it better than the 20-40x model, including:1) focus on a dial knob, easy to use (the other model has the focus on a twisting lever)2) the light stays on (the other model requires the user to keep pressing the light button)3) AA battery lasts longer than the small button LR44 batteries used in the other modelHowever, this model lacks a base and does not have a glass slide holder; the other model has both. Unfortunately, the removable base of the 20-40x model does not fit this model. To me, the lack of a base is a big deal because this being a higher magnification (60-100x), it is much harder to keep an object in place. The scope may be useful to look at prepared slides, but unless you have a very stead hand, it will be hard to observe the slide (or anything else) for a long time without moving the scope.The image quality is also surprisingly good for an inexpensive microscope. Overall, it is a good investment, but I think I will be using the lower magnification model more often in the field than this one because of the lack of a base. Also, the higher magnification limits the range of objects that one is likely to find; it is more useful to study microscope slides or other specialized use.I am a researcher and use research microscopes; I bought both to see if they could be used on college level field trips, such as my Invertebrate Zoology class; I think would be very useful, especially the 20-40x model. This one is more useful to look at prepared slides, like the ones in my Parasitology class; although we already have real microscopes in the lab, the 60-100x scope may be useful to do a quick check on a slide while another student is at the real microscope.Suggestion for the manufacturer: make both 20-40x and the 60-100x models with the same profile, so that they can use the same removable base, or add a similar base to the 60-100x model.This scope makes a good companion and complements its little sibling, the 20-40x scope. I recommend buying both to a child who is interested in sciences (if buying only one, I would recommend the other model as the a first microscope).

This little pocket microscope works great! For the most part, I have used it as intended, flat on a table or desk with the subject beneath it, but I have also tried using it handheld. I've had some success, but of course it's very difficult to keep steady and focused in your hand at high levels of magnification. Using as I am supposed to though, it's very easy to set the focus and the image is very clear. My kids love using it and so do I!