Review: MicroViewer 200x and 500x by Learning Encounters

Written on Jun 21, 2011 by RuthJS and filed under Learning Encounters, Reviews

Learning Encounters has come out with the MicroViewer 200x and the MicroViewer 500x, each of which amount to a small, portable, digital microscope. These microscopes link directly to your computer via USB and allow you to view, photograph, and video specimens with ease and clarity. The MicroViewers are very cool, and our testers thoroughally enjoyed them.

Overview

Both the MicroViewer 200x and the Microviewer 500x are very similar, the main difference being the magnification they are capable of showing (20o times and 500 times that of the naked eye respectively). Their price points reflect the magnification gap ($60 for the 200x and $100 for the 500x). Otherwise, their styling, packaging, and accessories are identical. And, both are intended for children ages 8 and up.

Out of the Box

After opening the box, setup was very simple. I popped the software disk into my computer, installed the viewing/photographing/videoing software in just a couple of minutes. Then I simply plugged the viewer into a USB port, attached it to the included stand, and I was ready to look at feathers, rocks, skin, you name it, close up. The whole process took about 5 minutes.

Now, if I had been using a MAC, I would have just been able to plug the MicroViewer in and I’d be ready to go. On a MAC the viewers use Photo Booth and don’t require any additional software to get full functionality.

To get you started viewing, Learning Encounters has provided some specimen samples with each MicroViewer. Excited users who don’t want to take the time to go find their own leaf, paper, acorn, or arm can use the included rock, feather, circuit board, fabric, and color wheel. Once they’ve exhausted these specimens, then they can take a break to forage for fun things to view.

The MicroViewers are not like the standard, old school microscopes that I grew up with  in that you see the image on your computer screen. This allows users to move the microscope and see parts of larger samples without preparing slides. And, there is no limit to the range of the viewer if it’s connected to a laptop; it can go anywhere, providing endless viewing options. Furthermore, pictures and videos are captured digitally and can be edited, manipulated, and shared like other digital pictures.

Speaking of sharing pictures and videos, the MicroViewers come with a membership in the Leo Science Club where young scientists can share their pictures and videos, find projects, and even research scientists and discoveries from the past. There’s even a section with lesson plans for teachers and parents to guide their young explorers.

Play Time

As with everything I’ve seen from Learning Encounters, there are very detailed, helpful instructions. A quick read-through told me everything I needed to know about focusing (simply turn the blue band around the viewer), lighting (each viewer has a built-in LED light activated by a blue switch on the unit), and pictures (simply press the blue button on the unit that allows you to capture the image from your viewer).

Both the 200x and the 500x were equally easy to use. Both my testers and I found that it could be a little difficult to get a crisp image using the focus wheel while trying to keep the MicroViewer pointed at the same spot. Fortunately, the included stand helped a lot with keeping the viewer still while we gently turned the wheel. After a bit, we got the hang of it and were able to adjust the focus without losing our place on the specimen.

The photo quality of each viewer was comparable, but, of course, I was able to capture more detailed images with the 500x since it had the higher magnification. From a usability standpoint, I should note that you need to be very careful not to shift the viewer while you are capturing an image or the result will be a blurry mess. In fact, I ended up re-taking several pictures to get a clear image.

Below are some of the images I snapped using both MicroViewers to show the difference.

Rock

Arm Skin

Circuit Board

In a Nutshell

The MicroViewers were very fun. The ease of use and image quality were excellent. Several of my testers spent literally hours playing with the viewers, capturing images, and making videos. Once we figured out how to adjust the focus and snap a picture with a light touch, there was no stopping us. The MicroViewer 200X and 500X are some of our favorite toys we’ve reviewed. I had one 9-year-old beg to take the viewer home.

We happily give both the MicroViewer 200x and Microviewer 500x:

5 out of 5 stars

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