Hobby Focused—Useful and fun for students, collectors, testers, and anyone interested in exploring the microscopic world
Transmissive and Reflective—Inverted microscope with allows larger objects such as petri dish cultures or metallurgical samples to be viewed. Built-in dimmable LED illumination above and below the stage for both reflected and transmitted lighting modes.
High Definition - 2.0 Megapixels, up to 800x magnification (Note—Final magnification corresponds to monitor size)
Broad Compatibility—Uses a webcam chipset and sensor to support nearly any operating system using standard webcam software. Users with an Oculus Rift may require additional setup
2-Year Coverage, Lifetime Support—Every Plugable product, including this Inverted Digital Optical USB Microscope, is covered against defects for 2 years and comes with lifetime support. If you ever have questions, contact our North American-based team - even before purchase
Explore the World at the Microscopic Level With Plugable’s Inverted Digital USB Microscope!
Great for kids, hobbyists, and professionals, the Plugable 800x Inverted USB 2.0 Digital Microscope (USB2-MICRO-800X) allows you to work quickly and effectively at the microscopic level. Common uses include classroom exploration, observing plant and animal cells, fiber analysis, surface inspection, and much more.This adaptable tool can be used for either surface inspection or slides with both transmissive and reflective lighting. The rugged plastic body makes it ideal for children, classrooms, or industrial applications.
Features
Built-In Lighting
The Microscope includes built-in LEDs both above and below the stage that can be dialed through a range of brightness levels to properly illuminate your subject.
Transmit light through translucent samples using the top LED with single lens condenser, or reflect light off opaque subjects with the bottom LEDs. With this versatility, no discoveries are left in the dark.
Multiple Viewing Options
Unlike a standard compound microscope that can only view thin slides, this inverted microscope design can also accommodate larger subjects like metallurgical samples and petri dish cultures.
Placing microscopic objects in just the right spot can be difficult, but the position adjustment knobs make it easy to set the stage for seeing small things in a big way.
No Host Device Neccessary
Simply extend the built-in 800x optical eyepiece to view samples without the need for software.
Installing 3 AA batteries (not included) allows you to unplug the detachable USB cable and leave your computer behind.
Compatibility
Windows
USB Video Class (UVC) support is built in to all versions of Windows from XP and above. This includes Windows 10, 8.x, 7, Vista, and XP. Companion software is available on our website that allows finer control of the device, or any other video capture software can be used.
macOS and OS X
Mac computers with OS versions 10.4.2 and above have built-in support for USB Video Class (UVC) devices. Companion software is available on our website that allows finer control of the device, or you can use any video capture software, including Photo Booth (with limitations).
Linux
Linux distributions with kernels 2.6.26 and above have built-in support for USB Video Class (UVC) devices. Works on Raspberry Pi with Raspbian Jessie. We recommend using Cheese or GTK+ UVC Viewer.
Chrome and Android
Works on all Chrome OS devices with the built-in Camera application. Many newer Android devices support the microscope using an OTG cable and a viewing application. Select Android devices many not, and it's up to the device manufacturer to support external cameras.
iOS
iOS devices (iPhones, iPads) are not compatible with external cameras.
Fine Focus
The focus adjustment knobs on either side of the microscope provide precise control over the position of the focal point, allowing a clear view of the individual layers of a sample.
250x Magnification
Adjust to 800x magnification to see the microscopic world! See cells and particles not visible to the human eye.
In the Box
1x Microscope body
1x USB Cable
1x Petri Dish
1x Dropper
1x Tweezers
3x Specimen Slides
4x Blank Slides
1x Accessory Box
1x Quick Start Guide
Specifications
Interface
4ft USB 2.0 Cable
Magnification
800x Fixed
Lighting
Transmissive (above stage) and reflective (below stage) LEDs
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Some specific device classes, such as USB cameras, are handled differently by operating system privacy/security settings. If you aren't seeing an image output from the microscope, or you see a message that your "Camera is being used by another application", you may need to change these privacy/security settings.
Instructions for Windows
Press the or click on the Windows key to open the Start Menu, and type "Settings" into the search bar.
Then, click the gear-shaped icon to open up the Settings menu.
In the settings, click Privacy.
Click Camera, on the left hand side menu.
Now, we can see that the ability for the system to Allow access to the camera on this device is off. We also see that the ability for the system to Allow apps access to your camera is off as well. Please note, one or both of these options may be off for you.
Click Change, to turn on the ability for the system for the system to Allow apps access to your camera. Then, click to Allow apps to access your camera, click the little button to toggle it from off to on.
Now, we should see that the Camera access for this device is on, and the ability for Windows to Allow apps to access your camera is on as well.
We can double check this by scrolling down on this page to make sure the Digital Viewer software is listed.
Restart the computer after confirming the privacy settings are on. Once the computer reboots, please open the Digital Viewer program only. We want to make sure to leave other programs closed so we have a clean environment to test the microscope.
Click on the gear-shaped icon in the in the top left corner of the Digital Viewer window to enter the Settings. Then, click on the drop-down menu for Device, and pick the USB Microscope. Then click Apply to make the change.
Now, you should see the USB Microscope is set as the default device. Feel free to change the resolution or other settings, and start examining things!
Click Here, to see an official article from Microsoft if you'd like to get further details about privacy and security settings.
Instructions for macOS
Click on the Apple Menu icon in the top left of your screen, and then click on System Preferences.
Click on Security & Privacy to open more options.
Click on Privacy, and then on Camera. You should see a listing for the Digital Viewer, and may see other other camera programs and capable apps listed as well.
Check the box next to the Digital Viewer listing. Depending on your settings, you may need to click the lock at the bottom of the screen and put your password in to authenticate changes. Restart the computer once the Digital Viewer is checked.
Restart the computer after confirming the privacy settings are on. Once the computer reboots, please open the Digital Viewer program only. We want to make sure to leave other programs closed so we have a clean environment to test the microscope.
Click on the gear shaped icon in the top left corner of the Digital Viewer window to enter the Settings. Then, click on the drop-down menu for Device, and pick the USB Microscope. Then click Apply to make the change.
Now, you should see the USB Microscope is set as the default device. Feel free to change the resolution or other settings, and start examining things!
Click Here, to see an official article from Apple if you'd like to get further details about privacy settings for your Mac.
We hope this was helpful! Feel free to reach out to us directly at support@plugable.com if you have any questions or concerns, and we'll be here to help you.
When choosing a docking station or USB hub, it's important to understand the difference between Power Delivery (PD) and Pass-Through Power Delivery. While both terms refer to charging capabilities, they function differently and impact how power is distributed to connected devices.
What is Power Delivery (PD)?
USB Power Delivery (PD) is a fast-charging standard that allows devices to negotiate power levels dynamically. Key aspects include:
Enables higher power transfer (up to 100W or more, depending on the device and cable).
Ensures efficient charging by dynamically adjusting voltage and current.
Commonly used in USB-C chargers, docking stations, and hubs that provide power directly to laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Example: A USB-C docking station with PD output can charge a connected laptop while simultaneously powering other peripherals. Additionally, these tend to come with their own AC adapter.
What is Pass-Through Power Delivery?
Pass-Through Power Delivery refers to a hub or docking station that does not generate power itself but instead allows power to pass through from an external power adapter. Key aspects include:
Requires a dedicated power adapter (e.g., a USB-C PD laptop charger) plugged into the docking station or hub.
Typically, a portion of the incoming power is allocated to the dock’s functionality (such as data transfer and peripheral connections), and the remaining power is sent to the connected laptop or device.
May reduce the total power available to the laptop compared to direct charging.
Example: A USB-C hub with pass-through PD allows a laptop's original USB-C PD charger to be connected to the hub, which then distributes power to the laptop while also supporting external peripherals.
Choosing the Right Option
If you need a docking station that can directly charge your laptop, look for one with dedicated Power Delivery (PD) support.
If your laptop already has a high-wattage charger and you want to maintain power while expanding connectivity, a pass-through PD hub may be a better choice.
Be mindful of power limitations with pass-through charging, as some hubs may reserve power for their own operation, reducing the power available for the laptop.
Some examples of hubs with PD pass-through would be our USBC-9IN1E with 140w pass-through charging or our smaller USBC-4IN1 with 100w pass-through.
On the flip side, we have our docking stations that power your devices by themselves. Examples such as our UD-7400PD which is capable of 140w of charge and 5 displays.
Understanding these differences will help ensure you select the right docking station or USB-C hub for your setup. If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com