Other Microscope Choices
• Proscope
http://www.proscopehr.com/buy.html
This is also a hand-held digital microscope with computer interface. Primary used as a hand-held device that one holds in proximity to a specimen. In this mode, it is somewhat easier to use than the QX5 when it is off its stand. Reason is that the Proscope has a plastic cone that set at the focal plane of the lens- so kids can hold it in their hand, place on specimen, and it will be in focus. With QX5 they have to get the right distance by moving it up and down (but not too hard). The Proscope might be easier for younger kids (like kindergarten, first grade), since they do not have to use a focusing knob or hold a “big” QX5 steady with small hands.
However, the QX5 with a stage is an advantage for imaging many smaller specimens that work well when placed on a stage (you do not have to keep holding the microscope with your hand). Also, with QX5, you can easily change magnification with a dial on the front of the scope. With Proscope, you need to unscrew one lens and replace with another, which is slow and thus you cannot quickly see what a sample looks like at different microscopes. A major disadvantage of Proscope is that it is hard to keep the object in focus at higher magnification. This is easier done with a specimen on a "stable stage" as is the case for QX5. Time lapse imaging is also easier on a stage than holding the microscope by hand (although the Proscope also sells a stand as well).
The major disadvantage is the price difference. At minimum, the Proscope costs $500 with 10 and 50x lenses (hard to buy 10 of these for a classroom). You probably would want to get the one with a 200x lens, which is ~$800. I compared the Proscope (50X) and QX5 (60X). I did not find a major difference in the quality, although the colors are somewhat different. Also, the magnifications look more different than one might expect due to the way in which these mags are calculated by the two companies. See images below of the same samples taken with the two scopes. The QX5 image of the onion skin was taken with bottom illumination (not available with Proscope). So the $80 QX5 performs pretty well against the more expensive Proscope. Also, I was not impressed with the Proscope software that comes with the microscope. If you get a Proscope, it is worthwhile to purchase miXscope which is far better.
http://www.microscopestore.com/info.asp?itemid=100992&c=199