Handheld and USB microscopes

Handheld, pocket and USB microscopes are the smallest and cheapest way to magnify something, and they have a place. A pocket microscope goes on a walk and shows a child the scales on a butterfly wing. A USB microscope plugged into a laptop lets you inspect a stamp or a circuit board at 50x without clearing a desk. Our range starts with the Levenhuk DTX 30, a 2 MP USB microscope with a tripod, and the two paragraphs below explain where these microscopes fit and where a bench microscope is the better buy.

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What they do well and what they don't

Handheld microscopes are for quick looks at solid objects in the 20x to 60x range, held against the thing you're looking at. They're light, cheap and need no setup. What they can't do is hold focus steadily at higher powers, light a slide from below, or give you the working distance to use a tool under the lens. If you want to look at cells, you need a compound microscope; if you want to work on something while you look, a stereo microscope; and if you want a stable image on a screen, a digital microscope with a stand and display.

Handheld microscope FAQs

Is a USB microscope any good?

For inspection at low power, yes, and they're a cheap way to try the hobby. The common complaint is a flimsy stand and a magnification figure that counts digital zoom. Our digital microscope guide compares USB models with screen models.

What's a good pocket microscope for a child?

One with a built-in LED light and a magnification in the 20x to 40x range, which is what nature-walk viewing needs. Higher numbers on pocket models are rarely usable.

Not quite right?

Other types of microscope