How to buy the
Right Microscope

The Vision $399

(Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price $499.)

Features:

The Vision is a professional level instrument with superb optics, suited for the needs of the demanding hobbyist to those of the exacting professional.

This well constructed instrument has superb optics, outstanding lighting, and the type of quality we are used to seeing in scopes costing much more.  This is one impressive instrument.

This scope takes the versatility of Paragon's pole mount, adds to it the convenience of the Achiever's dual lighting (with the upper light a wonderfully bright 20 watt variable intensity halogen), and enlarges the whole system with a significantly larger and sharper field of view.

Here are the technical details of The Vision:

• Dual 10x wide field eyepieces, fully adjustable for interpupillary distance, so that children and adults can both use with ease.  It also has diopter adjustment, allowing it to compensate for variations in users vision.

• Your choice of 10/20 power, 10/30 power, or 20/40 power (optional lenses take you even higher)

• The dual eyepieces with paired objectives result in amazing three dimensional (not flat) viewing of subjects

• Bright 20w variable halogen lighting from the overhead, and 5w Fluorescent lighting beneath the stage. The lights can be used independently or together, and the upper light can be dimmed and brightened as needed.

• Inclined binocular head rotates a full 360 degrees for comfortable viewing

• View objects on the stage from paper thin to as tall as 6 inches.  The pole mounted focus and optic system can be moved such that it is no longer over the base, bringing even greater flexibility (you can literally look at something off the edge of the table!).  

• 23mm Field of View at 10x  (This is about the width of a quarter.)

• Metal helical rack and pinion focusing gears for a lifetime of reliability

• Working distance of 110 mm allows four inches of space between the lenses and the object you are viewing...plenty of space for work and manipulation for viewing.  With the 0.5x optional lens, you'll increase that to 6.5 inches with a 50mm field of view at 5x!

• Heavy Duty metallic alloy construction

• Finished with acid and reagent resistant coating

• Protective vinyl dust cover

• Rubber eyeguards and lower glass lens protector included

• Frosted glass stage plate (fluorescent light beneath), black and white contrast stage plate included.  Specimen clips on stage.

• Built in a 9002 QUALITY certified factory

• Lifetime Warranty

• 110v AC

• 16 inches total height (pole height 10.5")- 10.75 by 8 inch base - 10 lbs.

Options:

• Boom Stand (Shown)

• Eyepieces to boost magnification as high as 100x:
        16x ($79)        20x ($89)        25x ($99)

• Supplementary lenses (can be used with optional eyepieces):
        2x doubler ($79)        0.5x reducer ($79)

• Carry Case available ($49)

See complete accessories list HERE.

Comments:

Because of the price, some will immediately think of our new Vision Stereo Microscope as the big brother to our popular Achiever, but a few minutes with this fine instrument prove it to be much more - actually - it turns out to be just a slightly less able Zoom Inspector, but at half the price!

Except for the zoom capability, this fine instrument keeps its paces with the Zoom - feature for feature its match.

The optical system on this fine scope is simply superb.  The image is sharp, crystal clear, all the way to the edge of the field of view.  A look through the Vision is nothing short of striking.

This professional grade instrument is prized by jewelers and gemologists, coin appraisers and archaeologists, and even some regular guys who appreciate solid quality!  While the hundred dollars more than the excellent Achiever is nothing to sneeze at, it buys a stereomicroscope that is professional in quality, ability, and options.

While the Vision does not zoom, it does support the full complement of lens options that the Zoom Inspector does. As a result, it can stand up with the big boys. With these options, the popular 10/30 model can be pushed as high as 150 power (with the 2x supplementary lens plus 25x eyepieces) and as low as 5 power (with the 0.5 power reducer). The 20/40 would give you a range of 10 to 200 with the same combination of lenses.  These helpful lenses start at $69.

You'll also notice that the Vision is pole mounted. Once again, this spells versatility. First off, the head and focus unit can be easily raised or lowered to accommodate your subject, whether it be a paper thin postage stamp or a baseball signed by oh, say Babe Ruth (actually, the Vision can look with ease at something up to 6 inches tall). But even beyond that, because it is pole mounted, the entire headpiece can be rotated away from its stage, and look at something flat on the table, or even over the edge of the table, as long as it is in the focal plane. (You'll want to be careful when doing this maneuver. Weight the base down or the sizable optical head will pull the scope right over. When set up normally, with the head over the stage, the scope is extremely stable.) Since the overhead light is built into the headpiece, it turns with it, lighting the way.

While the well-lit stand will be the choice of most, there is a boom stand available for the Vision. Its heavy base will hold the unit stable to the full reach of the boom.

Changing powers on this scope is simple. In the photo you'll notice a small black knob as you follow the eyepieces to the scope head. You'll turn this knob a simple half turn and you have done it. A half turn back and you have returned to normal.

If you opt for any options, the eyepieces just drop right in, replacing the standard 10x occulars. The supplementary lenses (2x and 0.5x) screw into place beneath the nose cone, just under the objective lenses. If you do use a supplementary lens, you'll remove the clear glass lens protector that comes with the scope- but it will twist off as easily as the lens will twist on.

If you still have questions about the Vision, please email us or call us toll free at (877) 454-6364.  We'll be happy to help in any way we can.

Why not order today?  This is a GreatScopes QUALITY instrument, with a Money Back Guarantee and full Warranty.

We do not print a catalog, but our webpages can be printed (landscape format recommended). Our webpages contain more information than any printed catalog we have ever seen!  Also available is a printable PDF Specification Sheet:

  Free PDF reader:

If you wish to order by toll-free fax or by mail, go ahead and use the shopping cart system. An option will be given to print your total order for faxing or mailing.

Phone Ordering

Click for information on ordering by phone.

• Purchase orders over $500 can be faxed to us at (800) 556-8270 for approval. Please prepay for purchases of $500 or less.

• We ship by UPS Ground. Shipping time estimates (subject to availability).

• In a hurry?  Give us a call, and we'll see what we can do.

• Shipping costs are higher to Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada.  Email us your zip code for rates.

• International Shipping available.  Click HERE for details.

• We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express, Checks, and Money Orders.

• Quantity Pricing is available.

• The Vision retails for $499.  You save $100!