I selected the Kentfaith pocket microscope to help me with my electronics and coin collecting hobbies, and whatever additional needs may pop up from time to time. I spent a good part of the day testing it out on just about everything around the house. Overall, I'm satisfied with its performance, but just a little concerned with its "cheap" feel and construction.
The pocket microscope does exactly what it's described to do. They might have taken a little liberty with the 120x spec., but for inspecting coins, tiny print (mm size), or studying nature in the back yard it is perfect. It is of plastic construction, so it's not something you'd toss in a toolbox or get too rough with.
I like the little cloth carrying/storage pouch that comes with it. This was a really nice addition. Also included are 5 microscope slides (in a little clear storage case) with various things to look at (insect leg, pine needle, vegetation, etc.) that are a very thoughtful addition. I was able to use these slides right away for adjusting/calibration and just to get a good idea of what the scope was capable of doing.
The pocket microscope does exactly what it's described to do. They might have taken a little liberty with the 120x spec., but for inspecting coins, tiny print (mm size), or studying nature in the back yard it is perfect. It is of plastic construction, so it's not something you'd toss in a toolbox or get too rough with.
I like the little cloth carrying/storage pouch that comes with it. This was a really nice addition. Also included are 5 microscope slides (in a little clear storage case) with various things to look at (insect leg, pine needle, vegetation, etc.) that are a very thoughtful addition. I was able to use these slides right away for adjusting/calibration and just to get a good idea of what the scope was capable of doing.
20/04/2023
I was hoping to use this to examine coins but it's a bit over powered for that.
But checking tricomb maturity and locating splinters is a breeze now.
But checking tricomb maturity and locating splinters is a breeze now.
19/04/2023
I love the idea of this, but it didn't really work for us. We followed the instructions and made sure the light was on, we had the microscope on a level white surface, and we couldn't see anything on the slides. Even after adjusting the magnification.
Then we tried it on a few actual hard surfaces in the house, like skin, fabric, and our countertop. I didn't see anything other than the white light, with the exception of the granite counter top. We could see the fine details of that.
It's possible that we just didn't adjust the knobs properly. So keep in mind if you have a child who gets frustrated easily, this might not be the best item for them. It takes patience to set it up just right with the slides and to adjust the knobs to clearly see what you're trying to see.
Then we tried it on a few actual hard surfaces in the house, like skin, fabric, and our countertop. I didn't see anything other than the white light, with the exception of the granite counter top. We could see the fine details of that.
It's possible that we just didn't adjust the knobs properly. So keep in mind if you have a child who gets frustrated easily, this might not be the best item for them. It takes patience to set it up just right with the slides and to adjust the knobs to clearly see what you're trying to see.
18/04/2023
I use this to identify fake magic the gathering cards and I really like how well it's built compared to the other pocket microscopes I've used and its the only one that I've used that actually uses a standard battery size instead of those watch batteries that are a pain to find at the store. Overall this is a great microscope.
17/04/2023
I have an old Fischer-Price magnifier from when I was a kid that somehow keeps ending up in my lab and being surprisingly useful. But, since the optics are plastic, it's always been a bit hazy despite being upgraded with an LED ring light, etc.
So when this popped up on my feed, I figured I'd try it out. It's surprisingly nice for what it is. Where my old pocket scope only has a focus; this one has both a zoom and focus. My other scope has a far wider field of view, so being able to get in and close with this is nice.
It includes some test slides, which seem to be represented fairly well in the marketing pictures (see the "Ant Amplification" for example as well as the other reviewers' pictures). I was using it to look at circuit boards and other than the housing getting in the way at times, it worked nicely. I'll probably drag it out on walks with me to look at things since it's a lot more clear than my old pocket scope.
I do wish it had more than just one light on it. But I bet I can find a tiny ring light and modify it. :D
So when this popped up on my feed, I figured I'd try it out. It's surprisingly nice for what it is. Where my old pocket scope only has a focus; this one has both a zoom and focus. My other scope has a far wider field of view, so being able to get in and close with this is nice.
It includes some test slides, which seem to be represented fairly well in the marketing pictures (see the "Ant Amplification" for example as well as the other reviewers' pictures). I was using it to look at circuit boards and other than the housing getting in the way at times, it worked nicely. I'll probably drag it out on walks with me to look at things since it's a lot more clear than my old pocket scope.
I do wish it had more than just one light on it. But I bet I can find a tiny ring light and modify it. :D
14/04/2023
I actually got this to check my houseplants occasionally for mites and thrips, because I bought a couple plants awhile ago that came with them, and I'd like to catch them before they get obvious.
So far, so good! This is easy to use and it's so light and handy. I've been looking at all sorts of things, and so far, no bugs spotted, so I have peace of mind. Make sure whatever you're looking at is on a solid table and won't move around. Like all things of this type, start with the zoom, then use the focus knob. If you're looking at plant leaves like I am, you'll need to remove a leaf from the plant first.
Since I didn't need the slides I gave them to a friend who teaches fifth grade science. She reports they are high quality slides and the kids love the gross ones especially (fly mouth, bee leg, mouse tail).
I recommend this cool little gadget. It's fun/educational for kids and adults alike. Five stars.
So far, so good! This is easy to use and it's so light and handy. I've been looking at all sorts of things, and so far, no bugs spotted, so I have peace of mind. Make sure whatever you're looking at is on a solid table and won't move around. Like all things of this type, start with the zoom, then use the focus knob. If you're looking at plant leaves like I am, you'll need to remove a leaf from the plant first.
Since I didn't need the slides I gave them to a friend who teaches fifth grade science. She reports they are high quality slides and the kids love the gross ones especially (fly mouth, bee leg, mouse tail).
I recommend this cool little gadget. It's fun/educational for kids and adults alike. Five stars.
14/04/2023