Users can capture specimen images and manipulate them in a variety of ways, making using a microscope both educational and interactive. The Digital Blue QX5 microscope brings the microscopic world alive on the computer. Reports of colors sometimes appearing bleached out.The focusing knob does not always work so well.
The software doesn't work on a Mac, and some have reported problems with Vista.Comes with some nice accessories for your own experiments.Extremely versatile for use inside, outside, by children, or by adults.Allows you to take pictures and record video.Pros and Cons (Based on Our Experiences and Consumer Reviews) The 200x power is difficult to use when the microscope is on the stand.
Some users have also found that the software crashes with Windows Vista.Īdditionally, the focusing knob is made of cheap plastic and does not function as well as some would like. We were pleased to find that the installation of the software was easy, although we were a little disappointed to learn that it doesn't run on a Mac. Users report that the problem seems more pronounced with yellow colors, although it does not occur with the video-imaging feature. The software also controls the light source automatically, resulting in the automatic color balance sometimes bleaching images out by making them too light. However some adult users find the software annoying, as it produces a lot of zips, bleeps, and other noises that kids enjoy but adults may not have as much patience for. In addition to being a hit with kids, consumer reports state that this is a fun toy to have around for adults as well. The pixel and resolution ratios have been balanced in order to provide as clear an image as possible, no matter what the magnification power is. This can help the user get a closer look at the subject of interest. In terms of magnification, the Digital Blue QX5 microscope enhances specimens with levels of 10x, 60x and 200x.
It can also capture digital stills and videos of specimens. This works great for classroom environments where multiple viewers can see the image at the same time. There's no eyepiece with this baby, as it's a USB microscope that displays specimen images on the computer screen. The USB cable links the computer and microscope together, and the software loads easily in order to let the user manipulate the images they capture. The QX5 also comes with everything the user needs to connect the unit to their computer. It can be used on the stand or removed for some hand-held exploration. To begin, this Digital Blue microscope comes with specimen jars, slide tweezers, an eyedropper, slide clips, and even its own stand. Tools to get started (specimen jars, tweezers, etc).This unit has some nice features for a beginner digital microscope:
We'll be doing a review of that one at some point here too!) (Editor's note: since the release of this article, Digital Blue has come out with a more recent model, the QX7 microscope camera. It boasts better lighting, a higher resolution, and speedier video playback over the old QX3. The Digital Blue QX5 microscope was the result. Perhaps you've heard of the popular Intel Play QX3 microscope? It was discontinued some years ago, but was picked up and updated by Prima Creations.
The QX5 lets users view and manipulate images with their computer, offering hours of fascinating fun for both kids and adults. The latest Digital Blue microscope, the QX5, merges the microscopic and digital worlds into one complete unit.