SWIFT SW380B 40X-2500X Magnification, Siedentopf Head, Research-Grade Binocular Compound Lab Microscope with Wide-Field 10X and 25X Eyepieces, Mechanical Stage, Ultra-Precise Focusing

excellent optics, with clear resolution across the entire field, well-constructed and durable, stage moves smoothly, coarse and fine focus also smooth and stable

Steep learning curve. Right off the 4X & 10x objectives are super clear. The 40x requires some careful Adjustments of the condenser to see clearly and I am only beginning to figure that out. Amazon sells a book for the 380T that works for this and it’s essential because the manual that. One’s with the microscope assumes you know what you’re doing.

I bought a different Swift microscope (SS300B) last fall that I liked and ,in fact, ended up donating for a school charity thing. Saw the new model that came out, decided to give the SW380 a try, and I'm pretty blown away by the quality, especially at this price point. I'll take some of the features point by point: -Optics: can't believe the level of detail I can get on this microscope, even at really high magnifications where cheaper microscopes tend to start getting blurry edges or losing definition. It's clear to me that Swift doesn't skimp on their glass for the objectives. Getting two different magnification eyepieces bundled with the microscope is a great bonus too for expanding the range of detail I can see. -Focusing: I can see why the product description calls the focusing knobs on this microscope "ultra-precise." The fine focus is exponentially better than all other microscopes I've tried at this price range. Super smooth and actually makes a visible difference. The inner fine focus knob moves independent of the coarse knob, which for every single style used for this level of microscope moved together. This let me easily bring the right layer of the slide into clear focus. -Body/build: I love the triangular base on the SW380 and the curved arm handle. Looks sporty and modern. It's nice when companies pay attention to these kinds of design details. It reminds me of a 2-3K Zeiss. The built-in power supply is also a smart upgrade since it makes the power cord less bulky. It's really clear that a lot of thought about the user went into these changes and they weren't done just for an upsell. -A couple knocks on packaging: the included manual was clearly not written by an English speaker and leaves a lot to be desired in terms of actual instruction. Also, the revolving nosepiece was a bit loose when I unboxed the microscope. I had to tighten it manually so it wouldn't spin when I was switching objectives. Works fine now but still not a great look. Overall: really incredible microscope, unbeatable price point. I continue to be impressed by Swift!

Decent scope. Easy to use. Only complaint, no case to house scope and tote with you, hence 4/5 stars

This microscope is surprisingly well built feels very high quality and solid, the optical quality has very little Chromatic aberration even on the edges and view is clear through out! Bacteria are well defined in there shape and aren’t difficult to see they become just barely visible at 400x and 10x eye pieces and extremely visible at 1000x still on the 10x (pictures are of Algae and pond water) bacteria are like little moveing cylinders Absolutely recommend to high schools students or a curious person.

I am very pleased with this microscope. I am using it as a hobby, but I think you could use it for more serious work, too. The positioning of the slide/specimen on the stage is precise and convenient. With just a slight twist of the x- or y-adjustment knobs (horizontal or vertical in the view), you can move the slide around to get the specimen into perfect view. The focusing is amazingly smooth and precise, too. The coarse adjustment gets the specimen into basic focus, and then the fine adjustment allows you to fine-tune the focus, or even to move the focus up-and-down through a thicker specimen. The binocular view with the two objective lenses is surprisingly helpful. I like being able to see the specimen with both eyes. You can even swivel the objective mount around to share the view with someone next to you or even across the table! It locks into place with a set screw knob, when you get it into position. The LED illumination of the specimen is bright or not so bright, completely under your control. You even have some control over how concentrated the light is on the specimen, by using the Abbe condenser that is between the LED and the specimen. I'm still learning what exactly the Abbe condenser does, but it appears to be a useful adjustment. :-) Highly recommended.

When this arrived and I was setting it up, I felt like a kid at Christmas! This microscope is very simple to use and exactly what I needed at the ranch to aid in diagnostics when I do not have time to run samples to the vet. I did not get the option with the cell phone attachment, and now I wish I would have. You can still take pictures with your phone through the lens, but it takes a bit of patience and practice (I remembered how from Undergrad).

There are equivalently powered, quality microscopes, with much better resolution, camera, LCD screen, and hard carrying case from other manufacturers at the same price point. However, I NOW suspect the Swift 380B I received was a damaged return (for many reasons; but hindsight is 20/20). The resolution and image quality simply isn’t very good at any magnification or by any adjustment therein. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until I purchased a microscope from VB and compared the image quality side by side (slide by slide), that I realized as I wasn’t tripping. By that time, the return period for the swift had long since lapsed. Rating 3 stars since it’s unclear whether or not I simply received a damaged item and was unaware, or if the Swift is actually operating to specification.