FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: My M150 manual says H214E and I cannot download the manual. What do I do now?

A. The code actually uses an upper-case "i". If you use an upper-case I instead of a 1, it will provide you with the manual via PDF.

Q: How do I get a formal quote or proforma invoice?

A: If you need a quote, please send us an email providing the following information.

Please email us the following information to customerservice@amscope.co.uk.

SUBJECT: In the email Subject field please put “RFQ” (request for quote), or if you need a Proforma Invoice, put that in the Subject field instead.

Bill To: please provide the billing information including company name and or personal contact, email and phone number

Ship To: please provide the full ship to information, ie. company you’re shipping to, personal contact, physical address (we do not ship to PO boxes), and phone number.

SKU: please provide the SKU(s) you would like quoted.

Quantity: please let us know the quantity of each sku you’d like quoted.

Pricing: The price will be as shown on the website, unless you’re buying 10 or more of one SKU. If you buy in bulk, we may be able to offer a better price, but it’s on a case-by-case basis.

Voltage: If it’s an international quote, please specify if you need a 110V or 220V.

Once we receive the email, give us about a day to reply back to you. If you need a need a proforma invoice instead of a quote, please specify that in the request and we’ll be happy to provide that for you. We appreciate your interest and look forward to completing your order!

Thank you for your interest in AmScope’s products. Whether you’re a hobbyist, reseller, government entity, or educational organization, AmScope is happy to provide high quality equipment at the best possible prices. We’ll get your formal quote/proforma invoice to you as soon as we can!

Q: I'm interested in a microscope but I want to see it. Can I come by your location to see the unit? Or do you have a representative in my area that can do a demonstration?

A: Unfortunately neither are possible. We're an online only company located in Irvine, California, U.S.A. We do not do Will Call pick ups on orders because we do not have a retail store, we do not have a showroom on site, and we do not have traveling sales representatives that come to your location. Everything is in factory sealed containers but our sales reps are available during working hours to speak with by phone if you have a question about a specific product or need troubleshooting help. If you require in-depth information about multiple SKU's, or have an issue that requires more scrutiny and time, it's best to email us at customersupport@amscope.co.uk so we can give the matter the attention it deserves. Our small staff deals with a high volume of calls, emails, and LIVE chat, and we want to ensure you never feel rushed when trying to get assistance from us.

Since we are the only source of AmScope brand microscopes, we only do online sales to keep our prices as low as possible for our customer base. We pride ourselves on offering economical units, allowing people from all backgrounds and budgets to delve into the world of microscopy and further their interest in science.

We do have a thirty (30) day inspection period that begins the date you take receipt of your unit however, as we do understand that making online purchases can be quite difficult without trying the unit out. If for any reason it does not suit your needs, please email us with your order number requesting an RMA number for a refund within those 30 days (minus our original shipping and handling costs of shipping the unit to you). Our full policy can be found by clicking here.

Q: I didn't receive a manual with my microscope or camera. Where can I get one?

A: Many of our products have recently received new or updated manuals. Since not all of these have made it to print to be included with our units, from time to time they do get left out. If you did not receive one, or did not receive an insert with a download link to get one, please contact us at our contact us page with the model number and we will send it to you. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to give us a call and we will assist you with your unit.

In regards to a camera, the software typically includes a manual if using an MU series camera. For other manuals, please contact us here.

Q: Does my eye piece come with eye guards?

A: It depends on the model. For those that do, many of them will come already installed on the end of the eye piece and simply need to be unrolled. See below:

Q: How do you buy eye guards for your eye piece if you need replacements, or your eye piece does not come with them?

A: We sell two different eye guards.

EG-SM This eye-guards fit all AmScope SW, SM and ZM. They fit any eyepieces with 33 - 35mm O.D (top end, not mounting end).

EG-SE This eye-guards fit all AmScope SE300 and SE400 series stereo microscopes. They fit any eyepieces with 33.5 - 35mm O.D.(top end, not mounting end).

Choosing a Microscope

Q. I've never used a microscope before but am interested in getting one. What should I be looking for?

A: What kind of microscope you're looking to get depends heavily on the application you have in mind. For example, if you plan to look at microscopic organisms, like pond water or bacteria, you want a compound, high power microscope that uses slides. Alternatively, if you are looking to view opaque objects at low magnification like coins, stamps, or bugs, you will want a stereo microscope with a top light.

Once you've determined what kind of microscope you need for your application, you would then want to determine how much magnification you need for your sample. Generally, for coins or stamps you'll want low magnification levels (5x to 45x are typical levels) because you will want to see more area (larger field of view), but for something tiny like a paramecium, you'll want a compound high power microscope (40x to 1000x is standard for this kind of microscope) to be able to visualize your sample. There is some variety of available powers within each type of microscope, so you will want to figure out what you desire before looking for the unit that will work best for you.

For more information about how to select a microscope, please feel free to visit our guide to choosing a microscope by clicking here.

Q: What if I'm not sure what kind of microscope I need for my application?

A: We do have a vast knowledge of our microscopes and the capabilities of each, however even with our knowledge of the microscopes there are still some specific applications that are beyond our knowledge The world of microscopy is a vast one that is constantly changing and adapting for specific needs and requirements, and sometimes they are so specific that we do not know exactly what will work for your needs.

For common applications we can typically make a recommendation for you and walk you through what to do, however if you have an advanced application that we may not have knowledge about, our best suggestion is to contact someone who is working within your specific field with a microscope who may be able to give you an idea of what you need prior to contacting us. With their specialized information, our technicians can guide you to the correct microscope capable of viewing what you're looking to see.

If you have a question about an application, feel free to send us a message or give us a call from our contact us page by clicking here.

Microscope Cameras

Q: What is the difference between the MU, MA, MT, and MD series CMOS cameras?

A: The MU series microscope cameras are our most up to date, stable, and compatible microscope camera models. If you're a first time purchaser, we recommend getting an MU series.

The MA series used to be our only Mac OSX compatible camera series, however with the release of new software for the MU series, this is no longer true. The MA cameras offer the same great quality and compatibility as the MU series cameras at this time, although the MA is a little more stable on Mac OSX systems.

The MT series is actually an older version of the MA series. We list these items still simply for our valued customers that already have these cameras in use and simply want to replace their camera with the same type since they're used to the user interface of the software.

And finally, the MD series is our oldest series of microscope cameras. While still certainly viable cameras, we no longer are carrying much of our MD line due to their age. Some of our student microscope packages will come with our MD35 or MD200 camera, which are the only ones we're currently still distributing.

Q: Can I use one of the USB cameras on a monitor?

A: The short answer for this question is no. A direct connection of one of our USB microscope cameras to a USB port on a monitor or TV will unfortunately not produce an image. These devices are software dependent, which means you will need to connect them to a PC running a compatible version of Windows (or Mac OSX when listed as compatible). Without running the software and installing the driver, the camera will not have anything to interface with nor will it be able to be operated.

You can, however, use the camera with a computer, and then have the computer's display connected to a larger monitor, projector, or other display. That will then allow you to use the USB cameras on a PC while still projecting the image and retaining your image and video capture functions--great for teaching purposes!

Q: What is the calibration kit? Do I need it?

A: The calibration kit is a micrometer slide that is used to calibrate the microscope USB cameras to take measurements in real distance via the camera and software. If you plan on making measurements with your unit, you would certainly want to get this kit. Please note that the microscope packages including cameras do not include this kit. It is available separately as model number MR400.

Q: I installed the software for my camera and connected it, but it isn't being recognized. What do I do?

A: Our cameras as a general rule also require the driver to be installed. The driver is the file that tells Windows what device is connected and how to interact with it. Without it, the system doesn't recognize the device as what it is and the software will not find the device it is looking for. Please be sure to install the driver as well as the software before you connect the camera. The camera should be recognized and ready to use. If not, please contact us by clicking here for technical support.

Mac OSX operating systems do not use drivers, so only the software needs to be installed to operate on that system.

Q: I don't want to use a computer with a camera, but need to display the microscope to a monitor or TV. Is this possible?

A: Yes. We do have several cameras that are capable of displaying an image directly to a monitor (CCD-MT) or to a TV (CCD-NP). The trade-off is that without connecting it to a computer, there is no way to manipulate the image besides making adjustments on the microscope itself. You also lose the ability to store images, as none of our microscope cameras currently have storage media of their own. These devices are live feed display only.

Q: Are your cameras compatible with my (Zeiss/Leica/Olympus/Nikon) microscope?

A: Since we only deal with our own product line, we unfortunately do not have the ability to test compatibility with their microscopes. Our USB cameras use four mounting sizes--23mm tube, 30mm tube, 30.5mm tube, or 1" (25.4mm) threaded C-mount sizes. If your microscope's trinocular port or ocular tube uses one of these sizes, the camera will be compatible. If not, you will need to source or make your own adapter to fit one of these sizes.