Portable microscopes

At a recent workshop on the identification of prints, we used a
number of battery-operated portable microscopes in the 7X, 30X and
50X range. They were quite inexpensive as they were purchased for
approximately US$12 each. Their quality was not very good. Some
could not focus properly, others did not offer a bright image, and
some didn't work at all by the end of our one-day workshop.

Can anyone point us towards better quality instruments?

Luis Nadeau
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:37
                 Distributed: Friday, October 17, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-11-37-009
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