Review on AmazonBasics Siedentopf Binocular Microscope Magnification by Jean Donjuan

It's interesting to see a purely optical microscope these days. At least at work, they've been replaced by digital for some time, but that's no work, and thousands of dollars for a professional model are unlikely to ever find their way into a home-use budget. This microscope has a solid construction and the magnification is very useful. The lighting is built into the table and you need substrate holders to cover the open light hole. In the case of biological substances, this is usually necessary anyway. Because there is no local illumination, it can only be used to examine cell samples, etc. This is no small feat for biologists or enthusiasts, but if you want to view opaque objects, you need a local light source. Given the high magnification, the amount of light needed is certainly beyond sources like the LED flash in a smartphone. The so-called Siedentopf binocular head is removable and can be replaced with a digital head if necessary. However, it was not possible to find help whether there is such a possibility and where to get it. The frame is big and heavy and certainly not something that can be easily stored and carried over and over again. So that can add to the required level of dedication. However, when everything is in order, this microscope is the good old way of examining translucent materials with good magnification and acceptable image quality. However, today's smartphone-focused "kids" may be a little underwhelmed.