Bresser Analyth STR 10-60x Stereo Microscope

The Analyth STR 10-60x is the five-setting version of Bresser's Analyth stereo microscope. Three objective pairs, 1x, 2x and 3x, and two pairs of eyepieces, 10x and 20x, give 10x, 20x, 30x, 40x and 60x, so it takes in a whole beetle at the bottom end and the fine structure of a seed or a solder joint at the top. It's for hobby naturalists, schools, coin and stamp collectors and anyone checking small parts.

At 10x an object up to 20 mm across fits in the view whole, which is the setting Bresser recommends for children. The eyepieces have a 20 mm field of view and are held by a small screw so they can't drop out, eye spacing adjusts between 50 and 77 mm, and both eyes have dioptre adjustment. Working distance is about 50 mm and objects can be up to 35 mm tall. Focus is coarse only.

Lighting is LED from above and below, each switched on its own and dimmed from membrane buttons with a status indicator, and the top light's angle can be changed. Two stage plates come with it, frosted glass for light from beneath and black and white plastic for light from above, with clips. It runs from the mains adapter or three AA batteries (not included), and a carrying handle makes it easy to move between rooms or out to the garden.

One pair of rubber eyecups, a dust cover and the manual complete the box. Cells need a compound microscope, and our guide to microscope types explains where a stereo model stops. The Researcher ICD LED below it has 20x, 40x and 80x from a 2x and 4x objective; the Analyth STR 10-40x above it comes with a trinocular option for a camera. See the rest of our microscopes for collectables.