Swift Dual Light Microscope
SW200DL
Why buy this microscope?
A note from Amanda (Owner of Sparking STEM)
I've been using microscopes since the 1990s and teaching children to use them since 2010. Over the years I have tried (and returned) many microscopes as they have either not provided a good enough quality image for children to feel inspired, or have been flimsy and too difficult for children to keep steady whilst viewing. Many have not been robust enough to cope with transport or outdoor work. This model is now always my first choice to use with children and for my own personal use. I now have fifteen of them that I have been using to teach microscopy to children from age 4 to GCSE level, since 2019.
Its robust metal casing makes it sturdy enough to use without wobbling, without being so bulky you can't easily transport or handle it. It can run from the mains or by batteries, making it great for taking outdoors. The objective lenses and eyepiece lenses provide a clear and large enough view to be great for inspiring and teaching, at the same time as providing high enough magnification and resolution to see structures suitable for teaching biology up to GCSE level. The dual light function means you don't have to choose between having an optical microscope or stereo, this does both, meaning that you can use it to view thin specimens such as cells on slides, or large opaque structures such as moss, coins, stones and so much more. Unlike many similar microscopes, it has both coarse and fine focus wheels, allowing a much finer control when looking at highly magnified images. There are two features in particular that I find really helpful for supporting children with microscopy: The eyepiece has a pointer needle, so that you can direct a viewer to see what you want them to see, and the 360 degree rotating turret means that you can easily turn the eyepiece to show someone else what you're looking at without risking jogging your specimen and having to start all over again. There are many other features that help this microscope to work well for all ages, such as the dimmable transmitting light, rotating light condenser and spring-mounted stage clips which keep your sample steady.
All in all, if you want a microscope that will serve your students or family in their home-education journey, from a young age all the way up to GCSE, for education and for all ages to enjoy, you really couldn't want more than this provides.
A note from Amanda (Owner of Sparking STEM)
I've been using microscopes since the 1990s and teaching children to use them since 2010. Over the years I have tried (and returned) many microscopes as they have either not provided a good enough quality image for children to feel inspired, or have been flimsy and too difficult for children to keep steady whilst viewing. Many have not been robust enough to cope with transport or outdoor work. This model is now always my first choice to use with children and for my own personal use. I now have fifteen of them that I have been using to teach microscopy to children from age 4 to GCSE level, since 2019.
Its robust metal casing makes it sturdy enough to use without wobbling, without being so bulky you can't easily transport or handle it. It can run from the mains or by batteries, making it great for taking outdoors. The objective lenses and eyepiece lenses provide a clear and large enough view to be great for inspiring and teaching, at the same time as providing high enough magnification and resolution to see structures suitable for teaching biology up to GCSE level. The dual light function means you don't have to choose between having an optical microscope or stereo, this does both, meaning that you can use it to view thin specimens such as cells on slides, or large opaque structures such as moss, coins, stones and so much more. Unlike many similar microscopes, it has both coarse and fine focus wheels, allowing a much finer control when looking at highly magnified images. There are two features in particular that I find really helpful for supporting children with microscopy: The eyepiece has a pointer needle, so that you can direct a viewer to see what you want them to see, and the 360 degree rotating turret means that you can easily turn the eyepiece to show someone else what you're looking at without risking jogging your specimen and having to start all over again. There are many other features that help this microscope to work well for all ages, such as the dimmable transmitting light, rotating light condenser and spring-mounted stage clips which keep your sample steady.
All in all, if you want a microscope that will serve your students or family in their home-education journey, from a young age all the way up to GCSE, for education and for all ages to enjoy, you really couldn't want more than this provides.
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The only downsides I have found with this microscope are:
Forceps Mounted needle Single cavity microscope slides Triple cavity microscope slides Plastic slides |
My FREE Introduction to Microscopy lesson will show you how to use and care for your SW200DL microscope. You'll be guided to prepare and observe two slides and to observe a solid object, such as moss, with the surface light. You'll learn the names of the microscope parts and learn how to use them to navigate and observe the details of your specimen. You may also learn a little cell biology along the way! All ages may benefit from this lesson. Younger children (around eight or younger) would benefit from adult support.
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Specification:
- Monocular eyepiece at an ergonomic 45 degree angle on a fully rotating head - this allows you to easily show each other what you're looking at without disrupting the specimen
- 10x Eyepiece lens (Wide field)
- 25x Eyepiece lens (Wide field)
- Coarse and fine focus wheels
- Spring attached stage clips - helps with more controlled movement of the specimen
- 95mm x 95mm stage with rack stop - prevents slides being crushed by lenses
- Transmitted LED lower light source (for viewing thin specimens on slides)
- Three objective lenses (4x, 10x, 40x) giving a total magnification with the eyepiece lenses ranging from 40x to 1000x)
- Operating with by batteries (3 x AA included) or mains (100-240V, 50/60Hz UK plug)
- Weight: approx. 1.8kg
The microscope link is an affiliate link. This means that if you click on it and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support is appreciated and helps fund the development of free and low-cost educational resources from Sparking STEM
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