{"id":329,"date":"2021-01-23T18:16:59","date_gmt":"2021-01-23T18:16:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scopedetective.com\/?p=329"},"modified":"2021-01-23T21:52:59","modified_gmt":"2021-01-23T21:52:59","slug":"amscope-b120c-microscope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/amscope-b120c-microscope\/","title":{"rendered":"AmScope B120C Microscope \u2013 My Initial Thoughts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color: #fafafa; border: 1px solid #7a7a7a; padding: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; overflow: auto; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/chris-152.jpg\" width=\"70\" height=\"70\" \/><strong>About this Article:<\/strong> I researched 9 microscopes before buying one (not this one).\u00a0 If you want to see all the microscopes I researched, see my article on the <a href=\"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/best-compound-microscope\/\">9 best compound microscopes<\/a>. This information was for my personal circumstances only and is not professional advice to you. Read more on the website\u2019s disclaimer page. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/AmScope-B120C-WM-Magnification-Illumination-Double-Layer\/dp\/B00A9ALAB4\/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&amp;keywords=amscope+b120c&amp;qid=1611425550&amp;sr=8-7&amp;linkCode=li3&amp;tag=scopedetective-20&amp;linkId=04223acf9d8ac0f5cbc7e91c5139ac2c&amp;language=en_US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=B00A9ALAB4&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=scopedetective-20&amp;language=en_US\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/AmScope-B120C-WM-Magnification-Illumination-Double-Layer\/dp\/B00A9ALAB4\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&amp;keywords=amscope+b120c&amp;qid=1611425550&amp;sr=8-7&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=scopedetective-20&amp;linkId=7d7816c6bee60f82b74d41a6dd8ad220&amp;language=en_US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AmScope B120<\/a> is an impressive yet affordable microscope from the top manufacturer in the industry.<\/p>\n<p>Overall I think this microscope would be a good pick for students anywhere from middle school all the way up to college level.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s what I really like about these mid-level compound microscopes: you can do beginner all the way up to advanced experiments with them, but they don\u2019t break the bank either.<\/p>\n<p>There are some great features that tick my boxes here, like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Siedentopf head<\/strong> (doesn\u2019t lose focus when adjusting the binoculars)<\/li>\n<li><strong>The mechanical stage<\/strong> (makes it easy to scan your specimen)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Good magnification range<\/strong> (including for high magnification oil immersion experiments)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Industry standard brightfield Abbe condenser<\/strong> (you\u2019d want to get a darkfield stop to do darkfield microscopy though)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If there were one hesitation I\u2019d have about this microscope it\u2019s that it doesn\u2019t come with a camera. This isn\u2019t a deal breaker for most people, but as someone who shares their experiments on YouTube and with students, I like to be able to record and show the results. You could easily buy a 2MP camera such as the MD500 to attach to the eyepiece, though.<\/p>\n<p>The other thing to keep in mind is \u2013 for younger children \u2013 you might be better off going with a model like the M150C-MS which is an affordable and good quality scope that\u2019s a little less intimidating than this one.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #7a7a7a; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left;\">\n<p><strong>My Verdict: <\/strong>This microscope ticks just about every box for a model in its category. If you\u2019re seeking an intermediate level microscope that\u2019ll be sufficient from middle school all the way up through university biology, this is a good bet.<\/p>\n<p>The only question is whether it\u2019s too advanced (for kids) or if you\u2019d prefer a trinocular model for the camera port (for teachers or enthusiasts who like to take photos!).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/AmScope-B120C-WM-Magnification-Illumination-Double-Layer\/dp\/B00A9ALAB4\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&amp;keywords=amscope+b120c&amp;qid=1611425550&amp;sr=8-7&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=scopedetective-20&amp;linkId=7d7816c6bee60f82b74d41a6dd8ad220&amp;language=en_US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">You can buy the Amscope B120C microscope from here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>AmScope B120 Review<\/h2>\n<p>I\u2019ll review the microscope from top to bottom.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Siedentopf Viewing Head<\/h3>\n<p>Many binocular microscopes don\u2019t have a Siedentopf head. This means they will lose focus when you make mild adjustments to the binoculars. When you adjust the binoculars, you usually change the interpupillary distance (distance between the eyepieces), which changes the focus of the microscope.<\/p>\n<p>The Siedentopf head solves that problem by allowing you to change the interpupillary distance around a central axis without affecting the focus.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In layman\u2019s terms: this microscope doesn\u2019t change focus when you adjust the binoculars for comfort, leading to better user experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On top of this, the head can swivel 360 degrees when sharing it between people.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, between the swivelling head and Siedentopf binoculars, this is a great \u2018sharing microscope\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>A\u00a0diopter is also available on the left ocular tube, which is good for people with different vision in each eye. You can use the microscope without having to wear your glasses if you calibrate it correctly.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Optics and Magnification<\/h3>\n<p>The magnification for this model is achieved through two 10X &amp; 25X eyepieces (23mm width \u2013 remember that if you buy an aftermarket camera), as well as four 20mm DIN standard achromatic objectives.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure you get a microscope (like this one) with DIN standard objectives. This will make it easier to buy replacement objectives in the future.<\/p>\n<p>The four objective lenses magnify at 4X, 10X, 40X and 100X.<\/p>\n<p>This gives total magnification potential of: 40X, 100X, 250X, 400X, 1000X &amp; 2500X.<\/p>\n<p>Note that the 2500X magnification is likely going to require oil immersion techniques to get best quality vision (that\u2019s normal). The 100X objective is ready for oil immersion.<\/p>\n<p>The 40X and 100X objectives both have springs in them, which helps to protect them in case they bump up against the slides. This is a differentiating factor between quality microscopes in this intermediate compound microscope category. Some competitors don\u2019t have these springs for their 40X objectives.<\/p>\n<p>To help protect the objectives, only use the fine focusing knob when working with the 40X and 100X objectives engaged.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Stage<\/h3>\n<p>As you\u2019d expect of a stage on a decent quality binocular compound microscope, this one has a mechanical stage. A mechanical stage allows you to scan around your specimen by moving the stage on the X-Y axis. I find this really useful if I have a larger specimen that I want to explore. It\u2019s not a deal breaker, but definitely helps with user experience.<\/p>\n<p>The stage, of course, also adjusts vertically using coarse and fine focus knobs to obtain focus on the specimen. Remember to only use fine focus when using higher magnification objectives to prevent hitting the stage up against the objective.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Lighting<\/h3>\n<p>The AmScope B120 is illuminated by LED sub-stage lighting mounted on a fly-eye lens. This is a good setup in my opinion, and far outstrips the quality of some of AmScope\u2019s own lower-end microscopes like the M30 and M40.<\/p>\n<p>While there isn\u2019t above-stage lighting, I wouldn\u2019t expect that for a microscope such as this one. Above stage lighting is usually only used for opaque objects viewed through stereo microscopes.<\/p>\n<p>You do find some lower quality compound microscopes with above stage lighting, but higher quality models usually have sufficient sub-stage lighting. In my opinion, the AmScope B120 has good enough sub-stage lighting and shouldn\u2019t have above stage lighting.<\/p>\n<p>The light is further controlled by an industry standard Abbe-Rack &amp; Pinion condenser that also has an iris diaphragm. Ticks all around here for me. You should be able to do quality brightfield microscopy, but will need a darkfield stop or darkfield condenser to do darkfield microscopy with this microscope.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Accessories<\/h3>\n<p>You don\u2019t expect too many accessories with a microscope such as this one. The beginner kids\u2019 microscopes often come with experiment cards and starter kits, but more intermediate and advanced models like this one tend not to.<\/p>\n<p>What you do get is a blue color filter, which can be really useful if you feel the colors from the lamp are too warm. This does happen at lower light intensities, so keep the blue color filter handy to secure a cooler and more neutral color when needed.<\/p>\n<p>There is also a bottle of immersion oil to get started with oil immersion microscopy at 2500X magnification.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also a dust cover, which I\u2019d encourage you to place over the microscope when not in use to protect the lenses.<\/p>\n<h2>Buyer Considerations<\/h2>\n<p>You\u2019ll be able to tell by now that I\u2019m a fan of this microscope. I think it\u2019s good quality for the intermediate-level category and would be satisfactory for a beginner all the way up to intermediate-advanced student of microscopy.<\/p>\n<p>But there are some things you might want to consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Do you need a camera? <\/strong>People who like to teach or capture their experiments will want a camera. Personally I like cameras because it makes microscopy a lot more fun. You can either get a trinocular model which allows you to use a camera and look through the microscope at the same time. Alternatively, you can get an aftermarket camera like the MD500 and attach it to the AmScope B120, but you won\u2019t be able to use the camera and viewfinder at the same time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is it too advanced? <\/strong>Some younger children fare better with monocular compound microscopes like the Amscope M150C-MS, which are simpler to use but not as powerful.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do you need to do darkfield microscopy? <\/strong>If you need to do darkfield microscopy, you\u2019ll probably want to get a darkfield condenser or darkfield stop. You can buy these as addons to make adjustments to this microscope.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>My Final Verdict<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0Overall, I\u2019m very impressed by the Amscope B120 and was <em>strongly <\/em>considering getting it. I think it\u2019s a great microscope because it\u2019s not going to burn a hole in your pocket, can be used by beginners, and can continue to be used for higher-end experiments as your scientific curiosity grows.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, I went with the Amscope T490B instead, which is a similar microscope but has a trinocular head for photography.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;d like the Amscope B120C, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/AmScope-B120C-WM-Magnification-Illumination-Double-Layer\/dp\/B00A9ALAB4\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&amp;keywords=amscope+b120c&amp;qid=1611425550&amp;sr=8-7&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=scopedetective-20&amp;linkId=7d7816c6bee60f82b74d41a6dd8ad220&amp;language=en_US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">buy it here<\/a>. If you want to see the microscope I chose (The T490B), you can <a href=\"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/amscope-t490b-microscope\/\">see my review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The AmScope B120 is an impressive yet affordable microscope from the top manufacturer in the industry. Overall I think this microscope would be a good pick for students anywhere from middle school all the way up to college level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":98,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[4],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=329"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scopedetective.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}