Plugable USB Digital Microscope 250x, 2MP Micro Camera with Flexible Arm Stand - Handheld USB & USB-C Microscope for Adults & Kids, Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, Linux, Android, iPad Compatible

I've tried a handful of USB microscopes and this one is the best so far. Two things warrant mention. The first is the camera adjustments available under Windows and the other is resolution. The Plugable software (Windows version is all I've used), which requires download, can be set to auto adjust brightness but it can be manually adjusted too. My application requires locking exposure and this microscope can do it. That isn't the case for the other microscopes I've tested. It also isn't a feature mentioned by manufacturers. For my application, autoranging is undesirable. The ability to control exposure makes this scope stand out and why I like it so much. I am baffled by the magnification numbers given by manufacturers. This scope gives equal or higher magnification compared to others claiming 1600X. To change magnification, the scope is positioned above an object and focused. There is no zoom. All the others I've tried operate the same way. I've enclosed results at distances of 0, 20 and 40 mm from the clear plastic guard showing a 1 mm scale. I've also shown a penny's date at 0 and 40 mm. A penny is nominally 19 mm with 1 in the date being about 1.17mm or so. While the scope is great, I am not a fan of the flexible mount when operating at maximum magnification. Touching the microscope to focus or adjust lighting causes annoying movement. It is easy to get in a seemingly endless loop of adjust, move the object, readjust. I have a more rigid stand and find it to be far easier to use due both to rigidity and gears to move the microscope up and down. Circling back to software control, the camera app native to Windows can be used with add-on setting apps to set exposure and other options. Other USB microscopes have most of these setting greyed out whether in the Windows settings or in the apps supplied. They just aren't available.. I find the Plugable app does everything I want to do and does it quite nicely. Still pictures, videos and time-lapse are all available.

The media could not be loaded. I don't write reviews often, but after purchasing this USB microscope (my first), I was compelled to share my experience for those who are considering purchasing a USB microscope and may be on the fence about the quality and usefulness considering the low price compared to other similar products. I was also skeptical considering the low price, but after reading the mostly positive Amazon reviews, I decided to give it a try. I figured worst case scenario, it would make for a fun educational toy to show the kids if the quality wasn't all that great.The reason I purchased it was because I enjoy electronic circuits as a hobby and frequently solder and tinker with different circuits using various tiny components such as ICs, transistors, surface mount components, etc. Some of these components have part numbers printed on them and are hard to see because of how small they are. Even with a magnifying glass and perfect lighting at just the right angle, it can be a challenge to read the numbers. Also, as a beginner to the hobby, I felt it would be a valuable ability to be able to take pictures of my soldering work and take videos of my work for later review to make sure I didn't accidentally create solder bridges or not use enough solder and then go back and make corrections as needed.I included some pictures and videos I took using this microscope and it's viewer software. I have to say, I'm blown away with the quality of this device considering the price. It includes everything you see in the picture. The plastic board with printed grid lines is solid and sturdy and not a thin plastic mat that I thought it would be. The microscope suctions onto it and stays put with no issue. I really like the zoom control (the gray part). It has a rubber texture so it has a nice grip and it feels great when adjusting focus. It isn't loose at all and the rotation has some torque to it so you can really fine-tune the focus with ease and not have to worry about losing it by removing your hand from it.There is also a touch button on the back which was a welcome surprise, I didn't know it had this until I received it. There is a picture of a camera on the back end of the microscope and when you touch it, it snaps a picture of whatever you are looking at while in the viewer software and stores it in a folder for later view. It isn't a tactile button, just a touch-sensitive button which I really appreciate because I can take a picture of what I'm magnifying without worrying about shaking the microscope while snapping a photo. The pictures included in this review were taken using this function.The videos were also shot using the software and shows a close-up view of me soldering some header pins onto a couple of different components. I was in awe when I viewed the videos after I completed my soldering work.I really can't say enough good things about this microscope, its a great piece of kit for the price. I don't have anything to compare it to since its my first microscope, but if the more expensive ones can do things better than this one can, they must truly be magical devices because its hard to imagine anything doing it better than this one. I would have paid double the price knowing what I know now. Even if you are questioning whether or not you're going to use it a lot, just buy it. The uses this tool will provide will present themselves.

The media could not be loaded. Great camera. Video records in a lower resolution than regular pictures, but quality still looks good.

Works great, instructions could be better, but function is there and quality is very good.