Seriously, I was a bit worried about the quality of this digital microscope based on some of the reviews. Although honestly I'm more than satisfied with the purchase. It was very easy to get started and the quality of the photos I took was great. I had so much fun with him. Let's listen for a second. Ratings and questions go back and forth as this item is referred to as a "microscope". This is what this type of device is usually called. If we want to get to the bottom of this, perhaps a better name would be "digital macro camera" because that's what it is. If you buy this and expect to see individual cells you will be very disappointed. If you buy it expecting to see close-ups on relatively small items, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Also, stop removing the clear plastic tube from the bottom of your scope. It should stay there. This helps you keep a reasonable distance from the subject you are viewing and protects the lens. The only thing you need to remove from the scope to use it is the small plastic cap that attaches to the bottom of the clear plastic tube. If you remove the clear plastic tube from the bottom of the scope, you are not using it properly and therefore will not get good results!