Saxon ScienceSmart Stereo Microscope 20X ( 312101)

The Saxon ScienceSmart Stereo Microscope 20x is an excellent introduction to examining the fascinating details of objects found around the home, garden and natural environment. Unlike biological microscopes that require thin specimens mounted on glass slides, this microscope allows you to place small solid objects directly on the stage and examine them with minimal preparation.

At 20x magnification, there's plenty to investigate. Examine the compound eyes and wing structures of insects, the crystal formations in minerals, the detailed patterns on coins, or the tiny components and connections on electronic circuit boards. Leaves, seeds, feathers and different fabrics also provide interesting subjects, revealing surface structures that are difficult to appreciate with the naked eye.

The fixed 20x magnification combines a 10x widefield eyepiece with a 2x objective lens, providing a useful balance between detail and field of view. Rather than dealing with multiple lenses and magnification settings, simply position your specimen and adjust the focus. This makes the microscope particularly approachable for children and anyone new to microscopy.

A practical feature is the reversible black-and-white contrast plate. Light-coloured objects are often easier to examine against a black background, while darker specimens stand out against white. This simple adjustment helps distinguish the edges, shapes and surface details of different objects.

The microscope has a 45-degree inclined eyepiece for comfortable viewing at a table, with a straightforward focusing mechanism and pillar stand. It uses natural daylight or room lighting to illuminate specimens, so there are no batteries, power connections or software requirements.

For children developing an interest in nature or adults wanting a straightforward way to examine small objects, the ScienceSmart 20x offers an accessible and enjoyable introduction to microscopy, backed by a three-year limited warranty.

Why Choose the Saxon ScienceSmart Stereo Microscope?

• Discover fine details at 20x magnification: Examine insects, minerals, plants, coins, fabrics and electronic components without complicated specimen preparation.
• Easy for beginners: Fixed magnification and straightforward focusing make it simple to start observing.
• No microscope slides required: Place suitable solid objects directly on the stage rather than preparing thin specimens.
• Widefield eyepiece: Provides a useful viewing area for locating and examining small objects.
• Black-and-white contrast plate: Choose the background that makes lighter or darker specimens easier to distinguish.
• Comfortable viewing: The 45-degree inclined eyepiece allows convenient observation when seated at a table.
• No batteries or electricity required: Uses available daylight or room lighting, making it practical for use in different locations.
• Three-year limited warranty: Backed by Saxon's three-year warranty for added confidence in your purchase.

FAQ's

Is this a good first microscope for children?

• Yes. Its fixed magnification, simple focusing and ability to examine everyday objects without preparing slides make it particularly suitable for children beginning to explore microscopy. Younger users may appreciate some assistance with positioning and focusing specimens.

What can I see with 20x magnification?

• At 20x, you can examine the compound eyes and other structures of insects, the surface texture of minerals, grains of sand, feathers, seeds and fine details on coins or circuit boards. It reveals small structures that are difficult to appreciate with the naked eye while retaining a useful overall view.

What is the difference between this microscope and a biological microscope?

• This microscope is designed for examining small solid objects and their surface details. A biological compound microscope uses higher magnifications and transmitted illumination to examine thin specimens on glass slides, such as plant cells, blood cells and microscopic organisms.

Does this microscope provide a three-dimensional image?

• Although marketed as a stereo microscope, this model uses a single eyepiece rather than the two independent optical paths of a conventional binocular stereo microscope. It is useful for examining the shapes and surface details of solid objects, but does not provide true stereoscopic depth perception.

Do I need to prepare microscope slides?

• No. Most suitable specimens can be placed directly on the microscope's stage, making it convenient to examine insects, small rocks, plant material and everyday objects.

Does the microscope have a built-in light?

• No. It uses natural daylight or room lighting to illuminate specimens. Positioning the microscope where there is good lighting will help reveal finer surface details, particularly when examining darker objects.

Can I use this microscope to examine bacteria or blood cells?

• No. Examining these requires a biological compound microscope with substantially higher magnification and suitable specimen preparation. The ScienceSmart 20x is intended for studying larger objects and their surface structures.

Can I take photographs through this microscope?

• Photographs can be taken using a suitable separately purchased smartphone microscope adapter. Saxon has demonstrated this model with its ScopePix smartphone adapter, although photographic results depend on the phone, adapter and alignment.

Images below were taken with:

saxon ScienceSmart Stereo Microscope 20x coupled with saxon ScopePix Smartphone Adapter. 

Granite @20x	Scorpion Tail @20x	Centipede Legs @20x	Scorpion Head @20x
Crab Legs @20x	Crab Eye @20x	Centipede Legs @20x	Centipede Head @20x

Download the manual