Celestron 44302 Deluxe Handheld Digital Microscope 2MP Limited Time

The image quality is good and I can use this camera / microscope on my Mac under OS Lion with the Photo Booth application. The illumination is good and the sharpness is good. At higher magnifications, it is a challenge to focus since there is not a rack and pinion type of focuser. You have to just make small adjustments to the stand or what you are observing. Since depth of field is shallow this can be tricky. The device is not parafocal. That means that different zoom levels require different focus positions. Yes, these are problems but overall this is a great way to see small things on your computer with reasonable quality.

I bought this recently so that I could take close up images of sections on coins that are in my collection. I have read in several places online that it is difficult to focus this digital microscope. I can't agree with that. Mine focuses easy and takes great pictures close up on coins. If you are looking for an easy way to capture images of very small areas (such as the steps on Monticello of the Jefferson nickels), look no further, this product does a wonderful job at a very reasonable price.

The microscope works fine, and the interface with the computer is fine, but actually using the device to look at things is not easy. The zoom control is cumbersome to grasp and its movement is very stiff. Consequently, you must grasp the microscope with both hands - manipulating this stiff zoom control while simultaneously moving the thing around to get the subject in focus.