Do you have a little explorer at home? If so, you must be curious about which microscope would be the best option for your kid. Have you heard about a brand Digital Blue, specialized in making microscopes for kids?

To help the kids get to know a microscopic world, Digital Blu offers two microscopes with features that can compare to more serious ones.

Keep reading for more information about the two models and a bit more about how they work.

About Digital Blue Microscopes

About Digital Blue Brand

The brand was founded in 2001, and it’s one of the pioneers in the modern microscope word dedicated to kids. They’ve decided their focus on only two models of microscopes, and they make them to this data, the famous QX3, and QX5. The main goal of the brand is to get the kids interested in the world of microscopes.

Where to find Digital Blue Brand?

Digital Blue Brand often cooperates with popular entertainment corporations like Disney, Lego, Warner Brother. The easiest way to get their product is thought different online shops, including Amazon. Their products are a good value for money, as they offer many nice features that can be useful even in the adult age.

Software & Compatibility

Since the Digital Blue has been producing microscopes for over 15 years, they’ve started with the software that was available back then, and they made it available only for Windows. Since almost nobody anymore uses OS like Windows XP and Vista, the company moved on to new microscope software with its new model.

Modern Windows OS

Today, their QX5 model uses software that is compatible with most of the modern-day OS, such as Windows 7 and Windows 10. Digital Blue has also updated its software to be compatible with more powerful computers, those with both 32 and 64-bit drivers. Unfortunately, Digital Blue microscope software is still not available for Mac OS. 

Top 2 Digital Blue Microscopes

Digital Blue USB Microscope

Digital Blue QX5 Microscope

About QX5 Microscope

One of the first microscopes connected through USB and showed the images on the screen. Digital Blue QX5 is still one of the popular models when it comes to the kids’ microscopes. If you’re looking for a microscope with good magnification and a nice set of accessories, look no further. 

How does it work?

QX5 microscope connects to a computer via USB and it’s easy to control with an included software, that supports all the newest Windows OS. With it, you can see all the images and edit them. You can even create videos, and with this model, you can study still and moving objects. Additionally, you can take it out of its base so you have more mobility while exploring.

Some technical characteristics

Even though it’s meant as a children’s microscope, it has some pretty nice features. With magnification up to 200x and a super bright LED light, there shouldn’t be any problems viewing any microscopic thing or creature. Regarding the image itself, the highest resolution is 640 x 480. This portable microscope can even make a small video with 15 frames per second. 

Accessories

QX5 computer microscope comes with standard accessories, which include specimen jars, sample slide tweezers, eye dropper, slide clip. There is also a CD and USB to install the software and to control the microscope. The software is easy to operate and install, so childer can quickly use it on their own. 

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Digital Blue Digital Microscope

Digital Blue QX3 Microscope

About QX3 Microscope

QX3 is mostly an entry-level digital microscope. It has enough features and it’s compact enough to bring it anywhere with you, as long as you have access to the computer. Like the model above, it connects through USB and it’s controlled by the included software. Also, it’s very budget-friendly.

What exactly can it do?

This small model has a few magnification levels (it can magnify things up to 200x). When connected to the compers, it shows the images or the videos you made. With the software, you can edit the pictures, and even add some special effects. To get the most out of your exploration, you can also detach and use it in a handheld mode. 

What’s the software like?

Unfortunately, the software of the Digital Blue QX3 microscope is not up to date. Besides not being compatible with Mac OS, it also only works on the old Windows version (XP, Vista, Me, Windows 95). Further, it’s not made for the computers that have 64-bit drivers. The software itself has its limits, but it’s fairly easy to use. 

Accessories

To make it even more interesting for the kids, there are some accessories included. Together with a guide book you also get 2 specimen jars, 2 containment dishes, sample side. To use those tools efficiently you also get tweezers, eyedropper, and slice clips. Basically, everything an educational microscope kit for kids’ needs. 

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Digital Blue Microscope Replacements Parts & Accessories

These two Digital Blue microscope models don’t have many parts that can be replaced. Considering they connect through USB you could get a replacement USB, but that’s about it. They come with many accessories, but if you would like to get some more info on more accessories for your microscope, read my other article about most common universal parts and accessories.  

Digital Blue Microscope Manual & Instructions

Both models operate with similar software so there is only one manual I have found for both models. But there shouldn’t be any problem operating this software, just make sure you get the model that’s compatible with your OS.

Conclusion: Which Digital Blue Microscope Model Is Better?

Considering the very important factor that model QX3 doesn’t support Windows 7 and 10 OS, and the fact that the model QX5 has much better features I would definitely recommend the Digital Blue QX5 model. 

For more options read my article about the best microscope and get your to kid the best one by reading more about the best microscope for kids. To get your kid’s interest since the beginning, I also wrote an interesting article about toddler microscope.