AmScope SE306-PZ Binocular Stereo Microscope, WF10x and WF20x Eyepieces, 20X/40X/80X Magnification, 2X and 4X Objectives, Upper and Lower Halogen Lighting, Reversible Black/White Stage Plate, Pillar Stand, 120V

Great, affordable microscope! However, the metal housing for the top light will burn your fingers, knuckles/hands! The adjustment knobs are located within an inch of the housing unit and we have already gotten burned while making adjustments. I will contact the manufacturer to ask if this is normal or a defect (maybe we are missing some sort of heat shield?).When looking for a microscope, especially for young children, please consider the placement of the top light housing in relation to the adjustment knobs. After turning the microscope on, it takes only a few minutes for the metal housing to get super hot (at least it does on ours)!Other than getting burned occassionally, we are happy with Amscope Binocular Stereo Dissecting Microscope 20x-40x-80x. Very interesting to see all the tiny things in our environment that we have been missing!UPDATE: Received email response from Amscope today regarding the metal housing around the light unit. Also, I did not include in my original review that the manual received with the microscope does not include the model purchased. I asked Amscope about this as well and below is their response (copied and pasted):"Please find attach a copy of your microscopes manual. The S/ST series is the model number from our factory and we rename them for consumer purposes. In regards to the top light, it does get quite hot and the only solution would be to avoid touching it directly. If that does not work, we will have to issue an RMA for return. - P"It isn't rocket science for one to know that the only solution to not getting burned is to avoid touching something hot! From the moment I recieved my first burn I have tried to avoid touching the metal housing the best that I can. Yet, there is only so much space between the adjustment knobs and the lights metal housing. Also, since Amscope knowingly renames the model numbers, and obviously has a manual for the model ordered here on Amazon, then why isn't it packaged with the microscope instead of one showing different model numbers?

I first became interested in purchasing a microscope after visiting the Botanical Gardens in NYC. There was a room set up with two microscopes and as soon as one became available, I began looking at plants and rocks under the lens and my eyes opened up to a whole new world of details. I went home and searched for a similar scope online but the cost ran close to over a thousand for a similar product. I took a chance on this microscope for around 150 expecting the worse but hoping for something decent. What I received was a well-made product that felt like something many times its cost. The optical quality was excellent. I saw details in a penny that I never knew existed like Lincoln sitting on a chair at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.The built in light helps to illuminate the object placed underneath the lens thus enhancing the details. My preference is to use 20x or 40x because at 80x, things get a little tricky such as how to place the object or lower and raise the lens in order to get the best viewing perspective.

I recently purchased the AmScope Binocular Stereo Dissecting Microscope for use in inspecting and repairing electronic circuit boards. This product is excellent for that use. It enables me to find small circuit board flaws and repair them. It also allows me to solder very small surface mount components which would be almost impossible to do without this level of magnification. I especially like having the stage at the rear of the scope so I can solder without having the optics get in my way. I also purchased AmScope 1.3MP USB2 Microscope Digital Camera to use with the scope and it works great. I can sit back in my chair and see everything on my computer monitor. I can even take pictures and/or video to show others how to do certain repairs. All in all this is a beautiful piece of equipment and I would highly recommend it to anyone needing to work with electronic circuit boards and components.

I use the microscope for examining coins but will use it for whatever comes along. Vary pleased With the stereo microscope but I think they could have done a better job with the pdf downloadable manual.

Very nice for the price. I did not see in the image that the binocular lenses pointed toward the back of the microscope (a Rear-Mounted Binocular Stereo Microscope), which would have made using cumbersome and difficult for my needs. Since the design is very modular, It was easy to turn the binoculars around by taking out a few screws and flipping the head 180 degrees so the binoculars faced toward the front to make it a Forward-Mounted Binocular Stereo Microscope.

I primarily use this for looking at coins close up for known errors! It works great for this. The only thing I suggest is this, replace the provided halogen bulbs with LEDs. The halogens become extremely hot and when your working under the lens moving the subject around, you can accidentally touch the light fixture underneath and it burns like you know what! Aside from that, this is a well built scope and does the job I need it to do perfectly!

The 6 year old daughter especially loves this dissecting scope and is so proud she can operate it herself. So does the rest of the family. I bought this after realizing the limits of a regular microscope for magnifying the big, chunky things the kids REALLY want to see up close. So we have a microscope and a dissecting scope now for our science program and I'm glad we do. I'd highly recommend owning both if you can afford it. I justified the pruchase in my mind because 1) Science is very important to our homeschool, 2) they will be used for years--even perhaps through college, and 3) I'm told scopes hold thier value if I need to I should be able to re-sell them later at a fair price.

I bought this particular model -- 3 for each of 4 6th grade classrooms -- in response to a recommendation by a professsor of chemistry at the U.I am trying to find ways to inspire more children to consider the wonders of science and pursue careers in it.They were mind-blown by what they could explore with these microscopes, and never seemed to tire of finding new ways to use them.