i've found a 10x will do just as well and provides a better view as any shaking gets magified too and the higher power mags are all but impossible to see anything with any slight breeze. i found one with a 10x on one half and 20x on the other end on ebay for under 20 bucks but there are all sizes to be found there. radio shack puts out a pocket microscope for about 23 bucks also that works very well under controled conditions...even comes with its own light!