Best 5 Carson Microscope Models For Sale In 2022 Reviews
If you’ve been interested in a world of small, usually unseen details, you’ve probably heard of Carson Optical and their world-famous microscopes. Between many products and companies in the market, you’re probably wondering is Carson microscope really the best option for you?
Keep reading, because everything you needed and wanted to know is in this post.
Information about Carson Brand & Their Products
What Does Carson Optical Manufacture?
The company was founded in 1990 by Richard Cameron. As business blossomed, their target market expanded, and besides binoculars, they began making magnifiers and microscopes, which will be the topic today. Today, they are number one manufacturer of US magnifiers and one of the leading suppliers of binocular.
Where to Buy Carson Optical Products?
Carson’s workshop is currently located in Ronkonkoma, Long Island, but heir product can be found in various sporting good stores, office supply retailers, and even pharmacies and craft retailers. You can also buy their products in several online shops, including Amazon, Walmart, Optics Planet, etc.
How To Use A Small Microscope in Everyday Life?
The common uses are coins, stamps, and insect studies. Some of the other uses are lice, ticks, thread or fabric, industrial coatings, plants, and even skin. However, you can use it for as many small things you can think of.
What’s The Price Range For Carson Microscopes?
Carson is known for its first-rate quality and reasonable prices. The price of their microscopes is usually budget-friendly, depending on whether you’re looking for a more serious model with more effective magnification and lighting, or a simple, beginner microscope.
If you want to know more about specific models to decide which one would suit you the best, further in this post you can read more about the pros and cons of most popular Carson microscopes models.
Best 5 Carson Microscopes Reviews
Carson Digital Microscopes
Carson eFlex Digital Microscope
About eFlex Digital Microscope
The eFlex Digital Microscope is quite powerful and simple to use. It captures an image or a close focus video with only a click of a button. The magnified image, 75x/300x magnification, appears right on the computer screen.
How to use eFlex Digital Microscope?
To connect with the computer, it needs to be plugged in via USB 2.0 or 3.0 port, and it doesn’t require any batteries. Also, it’s compatible with all MAC, and most Windows OS. In case there is any problem with Carson’s eFlex, the one-year limited warranty is included.
What Makes eFlex Digital Microscope?
This model comes with a few accessories. A small flexible neck stand with a suction cup adapter can attach itself on any smooth surface. In addition to that, there is also a graduated base on which you can attach the neck stand and measure your subject in centimeters and inches. To make your observations even better it also contains adjustable LED and focus knob.
The Characteristics
The microscope itself is 1.25” (L) x 1.1”(W) x 3.45” (H), so it takes a small part of your desk. When focusing on your subject, make sure it’s as still as possible, otherwise, the image may not be clear, so it may not work so well on the living subjects. Also, when focusing, it’s recommended to have a white background.
- Great value for the price
- Very detailed
- Easy to use
- It can be hard to focus
- It only has 2 powers
Carson Handheld Microscope
Carson zOrb Microscope
About zOrb Microscope
Small and egg-like, zOrb Microscope is very easy to use everywhere with access to a computer. Simply connect it to your computer with a USB port and set up the program with a CD (or from Carson website) to your PC or MAC. Unfortunately, this model is not compatible with tablets.
Close focus and good magnification power
With a 65x magnification you can capture all sorts of images, and even more, close focus videos. Of course, the bigger the screen, the better the magnification power. Like most Carson Microscopes, this model also comes with a one-year limited warranty. It’s currently available only in surf blue.
Materials & Technical Characteristics
The resolution of the camera is 2 megapixels, and to ensure a detailed and bright image, this model contains internal LED illumination. It’s very useful for dark areas that need good illumination. It’s very light and compact, 14.4” x 7.5” x 5.6” in dimensions and only 2.55 lbs heavy. Since this model has limited options, it’s best for home and basic use.
- User and kid-friendly
- Can make close focus videos
- Light and compact
- Limited options
- Low power
Carson Camera Microscope
Carson zPix Camera and Video Capture Microscope
About zPix Camera and Video Capture Microscope
If you’re looking for a powerful magnification microscope, zPix is a model for you. With 86x – 457x effective magnification this microscope is perfect for capturing detailed and clear images and recording close-up videos.
Compatible with MAC and PC
To connect with the computer USB 2.0 or 3.0 is required, and it’s compatible with MAC and PC (but not with tablets). It’s fairly easy to set up, all you need to do is download the software, and the future updates from Carson’s website. They also provide a one-year limited warranty for this model.
Accessories Are Included In The Package
Together with the microscope itself, there are some accessories included: specimen base, 3 blank slides, 1 prepared specimen slide, forceps, eyedropper, and USB cable. You can use the base to view prepared slides or simply place the microscope on any surface you wish to explore.
Technical Characteristics
Although it looks a bit bigger, it’s only 4.9 oz and 3.1” x 3.1” x 5.1”. Moreover, the picture resolution is 1600×1200, which is clear for even the smallest subjects. That being said, this model is the most professional amongst the others.
- Good magnification
- Reasonable picture
- A bit pricey
Carson Mini Microscope
Carson Microbrite Pocket Microscope
About Microbrite Pocket Microscope
Carson Microbrite is a great introduction to the world of microscopes. It’s ideal for students, young explorers or anyone interested in small, invisible creatures and things. This model is portable, so it requires a 1 AA battery, which is not included.
Great for exploring outside
Other than that, it’s light-weighted, easy to use and you can take it anywhere with you. Make sure when you focus the subject, you turn on the light. Since this is a model with a battery, Carson provides a limited lifetime warranty.
Materials
As said, it’s very light and compact, merely 2.1 oz and 2.3” x 1.2” x 3.7”. For a small microscope, Microbrite has a fairy powerful magnification, 60x – 120x range. It also contains an LED illumination so you can use it even in dark places.
Technical Characteristics
Because of the unique shape of the lens, the distortion is eliminated, so you don’t have to worry about the bad focus or picture clarity. Additionally, it’s user-friendly, and the zoom is easily adjustable.
- Nice focus knob
- Light-weighted
- Battery-powered and portable
- The focal length & focusing tolerance is very narrow
Carson Compact Microscope
Carson MicroPen Microscope
About MicroPen Microscope
If you need the most compact and portable microscope, choose Carson Micropen. It’s a beginner microscope mostly for kids, although adults can enjoy it too. Since it’s so compact, it’s perfect to just put it in your pocket on your next trip to nature or stamp museum.
MicroPen Microscope is user-friendly
It’s designed to be used directly on the subject, and because of its shape, it easy to focus. Even the batteries it uses are small, 3-G3 button cell batteries, which are included. As always, there is a lifetime limited warranty in case it doesn’t work for the little explorers.
Materials & Technical Characteristics
The magnification is not as strong as usual, 24x – 53x, but the strongest feature of this microscope is compactness. It weighs only 0.7 oz and it’s as small as 0.5” x 0.7” x 5.2”. To focus on the subject more clearly, it has a built-in LED light for a more powerful image. Additionally, focus and zoom adjustments are great for the small details that usually go unnoticed.
- Compact and portable
- Great for kids
- Isn’t very powerful
- Hard to focus
Carson Microscope Replacements Parts & Accessories
Regarding the replacement parts, the only thing you really need is a USB port, in case you lose it or it breaks, and batteries. Make sure you get the right ones, some require 2 AA batteries and some cell batteries. Also, if you’re interested in how to make the most out of your Carson microscope, read my post about the list of the most common universal parts and accessories.
Carson Microscope Manual & Instructions
In case you encounter some difficulties in operating Carson Microscopes, make sure you get the right manual. Don’t worry, you can download it online on Carson webpage. Of course, every model has its own manual, except MicroPen (but it’s very easy to use so you wouldn’t need one anyway):
Conclusion: What Is The Best Carson Microscope?
Although all the models have their advantages, my recommendation would be Carson Microbrite Pocket Microscope. It’s compact, user and budget-friendly, and most importantly made of high-quality. Also, it’s portable so you can take it anywhere you want with you.
If you still can’t decide which is the best microscope for you, you can read more about digital microscopes. If you are a small microscope enthusiast, maybe you would even like to check out my article about a small microscope.