Need a budget microscope recommondation

[Spare time]

I am looking to identify my dino species but can't really spend a whole lot on a microscope. I am not exactly sure what magnification I would need but I was guessing 400x (4000 times) in order to properly see them. My main concern is price but also that I won't waste my money on some shakey blurry garbage.

 

[shwareefer]

AmScope 150C is around $75 and has 40X, 100X, 250X, 400X & 1000X magnifications. I personally haven't used that model but we use their larger stereo scopes at work and the build quality and optics are good considering the low price point compared to Olympus etc.

 

[Spare time]

AmScope 150C is around $75 and has 40X, 100X, 250X, 400X & 1000X magnifications. I personally haven't used that model but we use their larger stereo scopes at work and the build quality and optics are good considering the low price point compared to Olympus etc.

Do you think that would function protests? Enough to identify algae/protists? I literally know nothing about microscopes other than some bio labs I took haha so I have no clue what makes a good microscope other than the maginifcation.

 

[shwareefer]

This article has some interesting examples and most magnifications are 400x or under.
https://reefs.com/magazine/hunting-with-a-microscope/