First of all,
we applaud Mattel and Intel for trying
to provide a good, inexpensive
video microscope. At least they got the inexpensive
part right (compared to other video microscopes)
and the QX3 is an impressive device if used
to examine opaque objects (like bugs) using
overhead illumination.
However, if you are
considering getting a QX3 for
viewing microscope slides using
transmitted light, we feel you will be
disappointed. The images below compare
the best QX3 image we
could get against the same subject as viewed
through the
PS-150 PocketScope®.
This is a direct comparison, we didn't
degrade the QX3 pictures
or enhance the PS-150 PocketScope®'s photos.
(The sizes of the images have been adjusted
slightly
to enable comparison).
|
|
QX3: Arranged
Diatoms (200x) |
PS-150: Arranged
Diatoms (150x) |
|
|
QX3: Onion Root
c.s. (200x) |
PS-150: Onion
Root c.s. (150x) |
|
|
QX3: Stained
Pollen Grains (200x) |
PS-150: Stained
Pollen Grains (150x) |
|
|
QX3: Radiolarian
(200x) |
PS-150: Radiolarian
(150x) |
|
|
QX3:
Spirogyra Algae (200x) |
PS-150:
Spirogyra Algae (150x) |
If you would like to see other
unbiased comparisons of the QX3 image
quality, visit
Molecular Expressions: Science, Optics
and You. This web site shows you
how scientists at Florida State University
(FSU) have figured
out how to modify a QX3 to improve its transmission
image quality. They show how to build an
apparatus that provides better illumination
for the QX3 and they show comparison images
between the standard, off-the-shelf QX3 and
the modified version. To see for yourself,
compare FSU's modified QX3 images of pollen,
spirogyra, diatoms, and onion root to the
corresponding PS-150 photos above. (These
pages will open in a new browser window -
look for the new window on your Taskbar if
you don't see it immediately.)
A few other points about the QX3. Focusing
at 200x is very jumpy and difficult, and
slide positioning is challenging and confusing
since there are no stage clips and the orientation
of the QX3 affects the direction of image
movement on the screen. The QX3 is an indoor
scope - you won't be taking it on field trips.
There is no eyepiece - it is stricly a computer
peripheral. It can only be used with a computer
that has a minimum of a 200 MHz Pentium processor,
USB port, 75 Meg of free disk space, and
32 Meg of memory.
If you are interested in an
inexpensive, high quality video microscope,
we recommend you get the PS-150 PocketScope®,
the PocketLum™ Illuminator,
and the Philips ToUcam Pro webcam.
The illuminator and the webcam
convert the PocketScope® into
an excellent USB computer video microscope,
but the PocketScope® can
also be used without the computer peripherals.
For example, take the PocketScope® on
your field trip, look at diatoms at the beach,
then take them home and document them using
the Philips ToUcam Pro to
capture digial images and even AVI video
into your
computer. The total
cost is slightly more than that of the QX3,
but you'll have the best of both.
 Learn
how to make video
As you might be able
to tell, we are proud of the PS-150
PocketScope® and
how it performs. In our opinion, no other
microscope
compares to the value it provides at such
a low cost.
One last note: if you
do get a QX3, we recommend
that you don't try to subject it to the PS-150
PocketScope® durability
tests, unless
you like the sound of shattered plastic!
QX3 is
a trademark of Mattel, Inc. Pentium is
a trademark of Intel Corporation. |
