[colarris (OP)]

Can anyone recommend an simple, affordable microscope that I would be able to view things like Tardigrades etc?

[evan_au]

These days, you can get quite cheap and portable microscope attachments which:
- Clip onto the camera of your mobile phone, to provide an optical close-up lens
- Plug into the USB port of your computer. These sometimes have built-in illumination of the subject
- Both of these allow you to take photos and videos, without an expensive camera attachment required by "traditional" desktop microscopes.

Holding the device steady, at the right distance from the subject is a real challenge. Look for one with a built-in spacer (which doesn't block the light).

[charles1948]

These days, you can get quite cheap and portable microscope attachments which:
- Clip onto the camera of your mobile phone, to provide an optical close-up lens
- Plug into the USB port of your computer. These sometimes have built-in illumination of the subject
- Both of these allow you to take photos and videos, without an expensive camera attachment required by "traditional" desktop microscopes.

Holding the device steady, at the right distance from the subject is a real challenge. Look for one with a built-in spacer (which doesn't block the light).

 
This shows how the science of microscopy has advanced!

These days you can do it with a mobile phone  Without an actual microscope!  Is that good?

[Colin2B]

Tardigrades are quite big, from a microscope point of view. You will need between 20x and 50x magnification and direct top lighting rather than the through lighting that you see in a traditional microscope.
The type @evan_au mentions should be adequate, but make sure you have really good lighting eg led desk lamp.
If you really get into it and want a ‘proper’ microscope I would recommend a secondhand dissecting microscope

This was taken with iphone + adapter but many usb ones are just as good and real cheap.


4B5EDF7C-09EA-4978-91E7-EA3055B026BB.png (100.72 kB . 306x298 - viewed 4422 times)

[charles1948]

Obviously things have moved on since I last used a microscope, with the traditional lenses.

I suppose that's progress.  I was inclined to complain. But the sharp full-colour image taken by Colin, above, with mobile phone,  has silenced my complaint.

[colarris (OP)]

Thanks, will check them out.

I also see a lot of cheap microscopes that are aimed at children on Amazon etc. Would they be good enough?

[Colin2B]

I also see a lot of cheap microscopes that are aimed at children on Amazon etc. Would they be good enough?

I’m afraid it’s a case of you get what you pay for. That said, there are some cheap microscopes which are surprisingly good quality at lower magnification - up to 200x which is plenty for your application. Often resolution is best at centre of field with some colour fringing at the edges, but you can usually improve that by using a blue or green filter to make monochrome light.

Worth noting that most cheap usb microscopes are little more than close focussing webcams. Often the magnification quoted is for digital zoom, which mean poor quality at high mag. Still ok around your working requirement.

I do know of one model which focusses, I’ll send you a link.

[colarris (OP)]

Thank you.