Amscope Kids M30-ABS-KT2-W Review

If you are looking for a kid's beginner microscope stem kit that provides high magnification for educational applications at a reasonable price, then look no further than this model from AMSCOPE. The included 52-Piece accessory set is the icing on the cake and has all the necessities, making it possible for kids to start exploring right out of the included case. More than just a toy, the AMSCOPE is an entire experiment kit.

One of the things that set the AMSCOPE-KIDS microscope apart is the accessory kit. The microscope comes with glass slides, a shrimp hatchery, and brine shrimp eggs, a petri dish, and 5 prepared slides to name a few of the items. 

Microscope features include six levels of magnification (120x, 240X, 300X, 480X, 600X, and 1200X), a reflecting mirror for natural illumination, and a battery-operated (2 AA batteries included) built-in LED light for direct illumination. 

The microscope is ideal for young scientists aged 7 to about 12. While we are still partial to the slightly higher-priced My First Lab Duo Scope, the value pricing of this kit makes it the perfect purchase for the parent that wants to see if their child takes to science before making an investment in a higher quality instrument. 

AMSCOPE-KIDS M30-ABS-KT2-W Microscope Kit Review

In and Out of the Box:

The Amscope-kids Microscope comes in a very nice plastic case that snugly holds the scope and the accessories. Opening the case reveals the microscope and all the accessories. Everything is firmly recessed.

The microscope had a coarse focus knob and a rack-and-pinion focus mechanism for more precise focusing. The lens quality is fine for elementary-age kids who are looking at plants, dirt, fabric, or basic forms of life, but not quite sharp enough if you are looking at items such as bacteria. Don't expect perfection in a microscope at this price point. 

Construction and Specifications:

I found the Amscope-kids Microscope to be durable. The metal body microscope is well made, but it does have plastic parts. The built-in LED illumination system is built-in and turns and off with a turn of the switch. All of the supplied tools are also plastic, but will get the job done (plastic tweezers, stirring rod, containers). 

Microscope Advanced Features:

• 120X, 240X, 300X, 480X, 600X, and 1200X six magnification beginner microscope with metal arm to support the unit

• Body Type: quality microscope with durable metal construction..

• Eyepiece: holder type single.

• Stage: 70 x 65mm.

• Slide Holder: dual spring clips.

Overall, the microscope is a well-made microscope for kids aged children 7 to 12. Young scientists can easily explore basic items such as crystals and cells. 

Using the Amscope-kids Microscope:

The Amscope-kids microscope is very easy to use right out of the case.

The microscope has a monocular viewing head (one eye can look through the eyepiece) and LED mirror illumination to make sure items are bright enough to see. The forward-facing rotating turret provides 300x, 600x, and 1200x magnification. 

The Amscope-kids Microscope gives you everything you need to make your own sample slides. We suggest starting with the smallest magnification and then when focused, moving on to higher levels of magnification. You cannot move the specimen stage, a feature in other higher-priced models, so you will need to move the slide itself. This is a factor that will not bother elementary-age users. 

We suggest first using the microscope using the corn root prepared slide, making it easier to see when you use the included blue filter. 

There are a few reviews for this microscope that indicate that users have had trouble focusing on the instrument. We did not have that problem and found the level of magnification and clarity to be reasonable at this price point. You can see specific cells and even the nuclei of the cell. Just be sure to keep the slide in the center of the aperture more the lightest and best-viewing experience. Again instruct your child to start with the lowest level of magnification and then move up to higher levels. 

Turning on the light was a bit counterintuitive and involved flipping the mirror.  There are built-in stage clips to hold the slides.

Accessories

The Amscope-kids microscope comes with some great accessories, including everything you need to start making your own slides. The included materials are:

• 1 shrimp hatchery
• 1 specimen slicer

• 5 prepared slides

• 7 blank slides

• 1 petri dish

• 7 slide covers

• 1 plastic tweezer)

• 1 graduated cylinder

• 1 spare bulb

• 7 statical slide covers

• 7 slide labels

• 1 plastic scalpel

• 1 plastic spatula

• 1 gum media in a bottle

• 1 brine and shrimp eggs (very cool idea)

• 1 sea salt

• 2 collecting vials

• 2 AA batteries
  
  
• Microscope book 

The tools are made out of plastic, but sharp enough to get the job done. Many kids microscopes don't have a scalpel for safety reasons, so it is nice that one is included here.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Sturdy construction with real glass optics

• Comes with many useful accessories

• Produces good images for the price

• Easy to use

• Great entry level price that offers a lot more than equally priced kid's microscopes

Cons:

• Some complaints online of difficulty focusing the unit

• Light source requires that slides be centered

Summary

This is one of the most popular Amscope kids microscopes. It is perfect for an elementary-age scientist or for basic home-school applications. It is a good starter microscope and comes with everything needed to see if your child takes to science. As you can see from other reviewers on Amazon, this is an introductory product for young children to start exploring STEM projects when they are beginning scientists. Do not expect the best optics found on a premium microscope, but more than good enough for a beginner.  

The case makes everything self contained which is another plus since you can see immediatley if anything is missing.  The cons were very minor and have to do with having the right set of expectations. This unit is one step ahead of being a toy. If you have a more serious student or have a need for more advanced applications that require higher levels of focus, then we suggest considering a higher-priced model such as the  Amscope M150C, the student educational best seller.

Recommended For:

The Amscope-kids is designed for kids aged 7 to 12. It is the perfect lower-priced gift for an inquisitive beginner. Your child will have hours of fun viewing supplied specimens slides and everyday objects.