Microscope reviews from Reddit

Summary

We analyzed 169 Reddit reviews across 25 subreddits and 75 posts to rank the best Microscope brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/microscopy, r/soldering, r/microbiology, r/consolerepair, r/mycology. Top-rated brands include AmScope (4.1/5), Olympus (4.4/5), Amscope (4.5/5).

Stats

Reviews169

Subreddits25

Posts75

Brands64

Products56

Top communities

r/microscopy75 r/soldering23 r/microbiology9 r/consolerepair9 r/mycology7

169 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

AmScope

4.1

(38)

"AmScope T490B-3PL-LED"

"Personally I would recommend the AmScope T490b-3PL-LED."

"100% recommended both for compound scope and stereo scope."

"Amscope is the right tool for the job. It's the bees knees and will help you immensely."

"Absolutely great quality for the price point."

"I use AmScope SE400-Z Professional Binocular Stereo Microscope that I bought for less than $160 USD."

"I've bought quite the gambit of cheap microscopes, this one is good."

"For a reasonably priced, and good enough quality microscope, try Amscope."

"I recommend checking out amscope they have something in each price point range and it's all very decent quality for the money"

"Perfectly reasonable microscope for the cost. AmScope are a decent entry-level brand."

Olympus

4.4

(14)

"Look for a used Olympus BH-2 or Nikon Optiphot."

"The BH2 is an excellent scope."

"I highly suggest getting them over swift or amscope."

"Especially look out for Olympus Bh-2 and Motic BA310. Both of these microscopes are one of the best in the market."

"These 1980's scopes were built to last forever and still have much better optics than most 'bargain' scopes you can buy now."

"I love my Olympus, got it second hand."

"The general consensus here seems to be that the Olympus CH-2 is the best option."

"I found this seller on Ebay with a bunch of Olympus CHT CH-2 microscopes in your price range."

"I have an Olympus BH-2, got it for $350 shipped."

"The Olympus BH-2 seems to be the go-to for many people here."

Amscope

4.5

(11)

"I got an Amscope B120 used on ebay for $150. After cleaning it up, it works like a charm!"

"I was very surprised at the quality and number of features. It's a good intermediate microscope."

"The best you can get for your budget."

"This IQCREW inverted microscope from Amscope is the very best one to give to kids that age."

"I grabbed a b120 from Amscope off their website for my first one and it's been amazing."

"The B120 model is highly recommended for its quality and features."

"I was looking at the B120 myself. A little more advanced than the M not much more expensive."

"I was using an amscope t340b at the time."

"I just ordered an amscope 490t for $300."

"I'm torn between the Omax M82 and the amscope B120."

Swift

4.4

(9)

"Get one of these, they’re amazing for the price. Comparable image quality to the Swift SW380t."

"We bought the Swift SW380B listed here, and the quality is fantastic."

"I got a Swift for like $375 and it is perfect with a max 100x objective."

"I LOVE my microscope and was already using a Swift at my work (vet clinic)."

"Swift SW380T 40X-2500X Magnification, Siedentopf Head, Research-Grade Trinocular Microscope Compound Lab with Wide-Field 10X/25X Eyepieces."

"I have this one is pretty good, and cheaper."

"For beginners any of the swift/amscope/omax microscopes in that price range should be perfectly good and all of similar quality!"

"These things have held up over 14 years now."

"Any recent Swift models would be a good choice."

Zeiss

4.3

(9)

"A stereo microscope is essential for work with bryophytes."

"If it is not defect or damaged then I would definitly buy it."

"It's an excellent deal for a Zeiss Standard 16 with phase contrast condenser II Z."

"Try Zeiss. They are pricey but worth every penny."

"Zeiss Axiolab would be the best, but it's very expensive."

"I bought a used student microscope on ebay for $150. Then added an apo objective for sharp photography for another $100 and an SLR adapter for $20. It's doable."

"Zeiss branded microscopes are also worth looking for in Europe."

"Zeiss eyepieces are easy to look through and provide vivid colors."

"Zeiss feels and performs like cheap junk, regardless of price tier."

Andonstar

3.7

(7)

"I now own the andonstar ad246s-m which I bought used for 100€ off eBay and I'm more than happy with it!"

"I've heard good things about andonstar but never used one myself."

"Currently using the AD409 Pro. Both have served me well, and there's no notable delay."

"Used the Andonstar AD407 for some time and recently upgraded to the AD409 Pro."

"Andonstar"

"Another one i used was an andonstar. This one was a lcd screen that is slightly t"

"Brought a andostar D210 from Aliexpress. It is ok."

Nikon

4.4

(5)

"Olympus BH2, Nikon Optiphot, Zeiss Axioskop."

"The 160 MM Nikon 20X PLANAPO produces the sharpest and most accurate color rendition of any lens I have ever encountered."

"Any of the big four manufacturers should be fine- Nikon, Olympus, Leica, & Zeiss."

"A fluorescence scope, used units often come with pretty high end objectives."

"You could get a Nikon Labophot (entry level lab grade) or Alphaphot (educational grade) on eBay for $500."

Unknown Microscope

3.5

(6)

"Its reviews were good except for a stand."

"Try to find something name brand used if you have the budget."

"Gamble on getting a higher quality, used one that functions."

"Your best bet will be eBay if you're looking for a scope with phase contrast at that price."

"Go with quality for like a 16th birthday if he is still interested."

"I'd avoid those with a mirror as the light source."

Mantis by Vision Engineering

5.0

(3)

"The Lynx and Mantis have a 'viewing window', rather than eyepieces. For someone like me with glasses it's the only way to use a microscope."

"As optical (rather than camera-based) microscopes go, the Mantis or the Lynx are amazingly good."

"Get a used Mantis by Vision Engineering. They're not cheap, even used, but you'll never look back."

#10

Motic

4.3

(3)

"I highly suggest getting them over swift or amscope."

"I understand that Motic has a decent inverted scope for $69 or so."

"I would definitely get a used one if possible, save lots if you can find one like a Motic BA200-300."

#11

Vevor

4.0

(3)

"Vevor has a nice one with a solid arm you bolt to the work bench."

"Amscopes are good if you are gonna put your work on YouTube but I got mine from VEVOR.... a whole lot cheaper and will get the job done."

"I have a Vevor here with very similar specs, might even be the same thing from another brand."

#12

Amazon

4.0

(3)

"They have some good ones for like $20-$40 that are pretty good that would be perfect for kids."

"Get the 2k 7 or 10 in screen microscope from amazon. out of your price range but you'll get way more out of it than the cheap ones."

"There's quite a few on Amazon, starting at $35 up."

#13

National Geographic

5.0

(2)

"Also comes with pre-prepared slides."

"The nat geo one is pretty awesome tbh."

#14

Bresser

4.5

(2)

"Super happy with it. They seem to have less problems according to a lot of user reviews."

"I went for the Bresser DST-1028 which was available with Amazon Prime at 140.00 Euros."

#15

Optivisor

4.0

(2)

"I wear a pair of 3.5 x optivisor magnifying glasses with a light source on it."

"I tried a digital microscope and much preferred Optovisors."

#16

Leica

2.3

(3)

"Older Leica microscopes can be a good deal if found in research labs."

"Leica also feels like cheap junk, similar to Zeiss."

"Leica sucks. Avoid."

#17

Minsvision

3.5

3.0

(1)

"I have a koppace microscope and it does the job."

#64

Sterline Opticals

1.0

(1)

"Don't. Waste of money. Get a used binocular microscope from ebay."

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