Just before Christmas in 2005 and again last year the discount store LIDL had stocks of a Bresser Biolux NG microscope at less than £40. Current list price is £100.00. The microscope comes with X10 and X16 eyepieces and X4, X10 and X40 objectives. There is built in illumination via a LED and brightness is adjustable.

Optical quality is very good. Also supplied is an ‘electronic eyepiece’ really a webcam so images can be viewed on your PC. The 2006 model also had a mechanical stage and came in a wooden box. If available again this year no doubt there will be further improvements. It is a lightweight instrument so suitable for taking on holiday and I have adapted the lighting on mine to run from two AA batteries. No guarantee the LIDL will have them again this year but worth looking out for...