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

I was VERY skeptical about this little device, but I needed something to help me rework some old Macintosh logic boards and decided to give it a try. I was very impressed with the quality, ease of use and overall utility of the camera.I downloaded the viewer app from the manufacturer's web site and plugged it into my Windows PC and that was it. The camera provided crisp, bright images of the tiny surface mount components I needed to work on. The light and focus work very well at it's all powered from the USB cable so no additional power supplies or wires. The cable supports regular USB-A with a USB-C adapter so it will work with everything.The zoom from 50-250x is a bit of a misnomer. There is no zoom control; rather it works like a regular microscope where you move the object closer or further away to get the desired picture. The focus control then allows you to see the picture clearly at whatever distance you have decided to view from.It comes with a sturdy stand and mount that work well. Overall, a really nice product and a very good value.

In my search for an inexpensive, entry level digital USB microscope, I found thousands for sale on Amazon. I read many reviews and finally decided to give the Plugable Digital Microscope a try. Here's what I found....At the $35 price point, I certainly wasn't expecting "Dino-Lite" quality or performance, but I must say that I was not disappointed. The Plugable is all plastic, but appears to be reasonably well made. It was easy to setup and get the software installed. The drivers and software are not included, but there is a link to them in the included "quick start" guide. I prefer to download software and drivers to get the most recent versions.Once the software is installed and the microscope is assembled on the stand, just plug in the USB connection and you're ready to go.The software is easy to use and appears to provide just about everything you need to make the most of the microscope. You can take photos or videos. There is a button on the camera for photos, but you can also click on the software button to take a picture. Since the microscope is so sensitive and can be easily moved out of position, I found it much more beneficial to take photos by clicking the button in the software.Fact vs fiction???The specs state that the microscope will provide 10x to 250x magnification. I didn't see any way to vary the magnification so I contacted customer service. They told me that the magnification depends on the distance the microscope is from the object in conjunction with the focus ring. It's somewhat confusing and takes getting used to, but you will get "interesting" results. In reality, there is no way to even come close to guessing what magnification you're at.I have included some photos of a quarter at various "magnifications". As I said, it's just a matter of moving the microscope closer to the quarter and focusing accordingly. If you place the microscope right on the object and continuing turning the focus ring towards the "+", you will get two focus points, the later one being the highest magnification possible. Hopefully, the photos will demonstrate what I'm talking about.Overall, if you just want to have some fun and you're not doing serious research or lab work, this is worth a try. It won't break the bank and it's fun for "kids" of all ages. I'm 63, retired and always looking for new "toys".I did have to contact customer service regarding a minor issue I was having with the software. Sam, the customer service rep was very patient and knowledgeable and stayed with me until he reached a satisfactory resolution. His customer service made this purchase well worth the very reasonable price!

This is a really nice little scope for the money. It has helped in my coin hunting a lot. However, for me I think one with more megapixels is needed. It just does not have enough definition when I get zoomed in close on my coins. The pics are still a little grainy and that makes it difficult to identify some errors and varieties on some coins. I find I’m still breaking out my handheld loop to verify. Also, it does not go high enough to take a picture of a full Lincoln cent, let alone a quarter or half dollar. I have to put it up on a book to get a full coin shot. So a taller one is also in order.Nothing major wrong with the scope at all, it does everything advertised, I just didn’t know I needed more mega pixels that one that went taller. That’s just my ignorance on the subject.One issue It does have is a tendency to pop off the base if you adjust it with one hand. If you use two hands it is not an issue, but another annoyance.I like the scope, I just need one with slightly different features and parameters.