Candice LandauLast Updated on March 26, 2025 by Candice Landau
During the COVID-19 pandemic, my fascination with the natural world took an unexpected turn when I discovered hobby microscopy. It began with Instagram, where I fell into a rabbit hole of photos and short reels showing bizarre and beautiful micro-creatures (those diatoms!). Biologists and non-biologists alike were documenting the hidden world in their own backyards, and I was hooked.
Over time, that casual interest grew into a full-blown obsession. These days, I refer to microscopy as “micro diving,” because it gives me the same feeling I get when scuba diving: that thrill of descending into an unknown world full of critters I’ve never seen before.
Today I can wield a real microscope better than most biology majors out there (spoiler alert, I don’t have a science degree). My only regret is that I didn’t discover this obsession earlier, as I might then have delved head first into science and the natural world that I have come to love. Still, it could be worse as now I get to consider myself a writer, a naturalist AND a gear tinkerer, which leads me to the reason you clicked into this article…my review of the ultimate in portable microscope technology, the Diple II.
From Desktop to Portable
My first microscope (purchased in 2020) was a $300 Swift 380T from Amazon—solid for a beginner. Later, I upgraded to a $3,000 Motic Panthera C2. I still love my Motic, but it has one fatal flaw: I can’t bring it with me—it’s a behemoth. Not on field trips, not on dive trips (where I often encounter extraordinary aquatic plants and microorganisms), and not really anywhere beyond my desk at home.
>> Related Reading: Love Scuba Diving? Buy a Microscope
I’ve searched for a portable solution for years, testing various Chinese-made Amazon microscopes along the way. Most were disappointing. That is, until I discovered the DIPLE II, created by SmartMicroOptics, an Italian company founded as a spinoff of the Italian Institute of Technology. Their goal? To make scientific tools affordable, portable, and accessible to all.
Enter The DIPLE II Microscope…
The DIPLE II is the first portable microscope I’ve found that is both good and actually portable. Don’t let the compact size fool you—this isn’t a toy. It’s a serious scientific instrument capable of being used in the field for everything from educational outreach to professional diagnostics.
To be clear, this is not a sponsored post. I’m writing this review because I genuinely believe the DIPLE II fills a much-needed niche for curious hobbyists, field researchers, divers, and educators alike. SmartMicroOptics simply sent me an early version ahead of their Kickstarter launch (because I reached out)—and I’ve been testing it ever since.
Quick Specs: What You Should Know
- Price: $95 USD / €90. For the price, the DIPLE II is a steal. Its image quality rivals that of a professional desktop scope, and it comes with features like darkfield and polarized illumination—add-ons that would cost hundreds more on my $3,000 setup.
- Magnification Range: 25x to 1500x.
- Optical Resolution: Down to 700 nanometers. With magnification this high, DIPLE II punches far above its weight for something that fits in a backpack.
- Weight: Less than 2 lbs (1 kg). That includes the full kit with accessories. If you only bring what you need for brightfield imaging, it’s even lighter.
- Microscopy Modes: Brightfield, darkfield, polarized light, and reflected light microscopy, making it suitable for both transparent and opaque samples.
- Device Compatibility: Works with any smartphone or tablet with a built-in camera.
- Where to Buy: Available now via Kickstarter.
First Impressions
The microscope kit arrived in a hard-shell, zip-up case—perfect for travel. When I first unzipped it, I was a little intimidated. It looked completely DIY, as you’ll see in the photos. And while I’m a creative and a maker, I’m definitely not an engineer.
I think this might have been helped with a few more colors, a bit of labelling and a more user-friendly instruction manual. That said, the instruction manual isn’t bad, it’s just light on the details, though there is enough to get set up if you have a vague inkling of what you’re doing.
It would certainly be easier if you already knew how to use a stage, how objectives worked, how different illumination techniques worked, and well, how to focus. These details could certainly be added to make the whole thing more accessible to complete newbies, if just in an article or blog post on the company’s site (directed to with a QR code).
That being said, once I laid everything out on the table and started going through the instructions, it became more straightforward. In fact, much of what’s included isn’t even required for basic operation, though I’ll list both the complete kit and the stripped back MVP (at least as I see it).
What’s Included in the Box
Each DIPLE II kit includes:
- 4 objective lenses (silver, red, gray, and black).
- A fine stage with scroll wheels
- A black base housing with LED light
- Polarized and darkfield flashlight attachments
- Sample slides, coverslips, tweezers and pipette
- A glass microscope ruler (for measuring micro-specimens)
- Smartphone stabilization feet
- A prism and polarizing filter for polarized illumination
- A screwdriver and allen key for micro adjustments
- A hard-shell carrying case
Basic Setup: What You Actually Need
For a simple brightfield setup (the standard illumination using an LED light), here’s what you’ll need:
- The black support box
- The fine stage
- One of the objective lenses (start with the silver or red)
- A screw to attach the objective lens
- The internal LED light source
- A sample slide with pre-prepared specimen
- The instruction booklet
- A phone or tablet with a built-in camera (you supply that of course)
That’s it. Everything else in the case is optional and can be added later once you’re comfortable.
If I were rewriting the instructions, I’d start with an introduction to basic microscopy and illumination methods. (There are QR codes linking to YouTube videos in the booklet, which is helpful). But some foundational context would go a long way for beginners, as would an explanation of what each of the components does (for example, what an objective lens does) and how to do simple things like focus, place samples on size, etc.
The instruction booklet includes labeled diagrams, but I found the images small and not always easy to read (the illustration lines are very fine). That said, it’s great that the instructions did include images. Labeling the zip-lock bags or adding color-coded stickers directly to the parts would be a welcome improvement, especially for parts that require you refer back to the book frequently (as with setting the rotating step the objective lens rests on).
Of course, for the sake of a review, I’m being necessarily nitpicky. The company did let me know that my user manual (part of an early prototype) was created with a desktop printer so future versions will likely be much easier to read.
Build Quality
The overall build quality is solid. Most components are made from sturdy plastic, glass or metal, including the objective lenses, which are the most important parts. While it may not win any design awards—it’s not a sleek, Apple-style microscope—it’s robust and functional, the optimal get-it-out-the-gate-and-into-the-hands-of-users design.
It might look like a DIY gadget at first glance—but once set up, DIPLE II proves it’s anything but a toy.
Field Test: Putting It to Work
For my first test, I used the sample slides included in the kit: one zoology slide, one histology slide, and one botanical slide. I recommend starting here rather than jumping straight into prepping your own wet samples. I did this later with the bright yellow tree pollen that is currently blanketing North Carolina.
If you really “get into” microscopy, I suggest buying yourself a complete kit of prepared slides so that you can familiarize yourself with how things like plant cells and blood cells look under a microscope. This way, when you later investigate real samples from the world around you, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re looking at. Of course, a good identification book never goes awry. And if you only had money for one, I’d suggest buying “A Guide to Microlife” especially if you intend to investigate the moss, ponds and soil around you. This book is marvelous!
Alright, back to the review…
I set the microscope up on a table in my living room with good natural light. You’ll need a smartphone to use the DIPLE II—it works with any smartphone that has a built-in camera. While the company does have an app, it’s not required unless you’re having trouble focusing.
How to Set It Up
- Start with the black box—remove everything else from inside it.
- Insert the LED light source into the box (there’s a perfectly-sized space for it) and turn it on.
- Slot the fine stage onto the black box so the light shines through the small hole in the middle.
- Place your slide between the two slide arms, centering the sample over the light. Use the scroll wheels to adjust positioning or do so manually.
- Next, choose an objective lens. I recommend starting with a lower magnification (like 25x) and working your way up.
Depending on the lens, you’ll need to rotate the middle “step” to the appropriate height platform:
- Lowest step: black or grey lens
- Middle step: red or grey lens
- Highest step: silver or red lens
At first, I didn’t know that little rotating square had three differently sized steps on it. If you look closer, however, you’ll see it does. It and the two smaller squares that hold the objective in place seem a little “loose” when you first open the box. I tightened mine slightly with the screwdriver (only slightly) though I don’t think you need to do that.
First Images
Seeing crisp cellular structures through my phone screen? I didn’t expect to be this impressed. I honestly expected something more along the lines of the digital scopes I’d found on Amazon. This, however, was not that!
Here are a few screenshots from that first session using the provided Stem of Lime Tree slide and each of the four objectives:
I have an iPhone 13 Pro, for context. I did go into my settings and scroll all the way down so turn “Macro Control” on. I also turned macro off in my photo app. I’ll share the screenshots here so you can see. This helped with focus. And, I zoomed in 3x (using the iPhone’s setting) so the picture would fill my screen.
There’s a little shake as you move the slide and adjust focus, but that’s expected with a smartphone sitting directly on the objective. The stabilization feet help. It’s a minor inconvenience for dry samples, though slightly more noticeable when working with wet samples like pollen or aquatic life.
What I Loved
- Portability: You don’t need to carry the full kit with you—just the essentials.
- High-quality optics: The image quality rivals my $300 desktop scope—and even includes features my $3,000 microscope doesn’t have.
- Glass ruler slide: A thoughtful bonus no other microscope company has sent me.
- Modular flashlights: Clever mounting options for both darkfield and polarized microscopy.
- Versatility: Works with transparent and opaque samples, ideal for field biology, botany, soil science, and even numismatics or fiber inspection.
At last, a high-quality, field-ready microscope I can pack for dive trips and beachside sampling.
What Could Be Better
- Labeling: Color coding, stickers, or part IDs would dramatically improve usability.
- Instructions: Larger diagrams and a better intro to microscopy for beginners would help.
- Light switch access: Currently you have to lift the stage to turn the light on/off. A simple remote switch or lever would fix this. You can use a screwdriver and sort of wiggle it around (the instructions say as much) but this still very much feels like something to improve on.
- Phone platform: A more stable platform above the objective would reduce wobble during slide movement.
What I Still Need to Experiment With
I’ll admit I haven’t given the other illumination techniques too much love just yet (largely because I need to pop out and buy some batteries for the external flashlights) but also because I wanted to master the basics first. I’ll update this review once I’ve played more with polarization and darkfield illumination.
Final Verdict
Would I buy it? Absolutely. For $95, it’s ridiculously affordable. Honestly, it’s a great gift for a diver who loves macro life, for a kid or teen interested in science, or for anyone who works in the field and needs a reliable diagnostic tool. If universities on a budget don’t buy DIPLE II or require students to—frankly, they might be insane.
If you’re someone who geeks out over tiny things—whether you’re a scientist, teacher, diver, artist, or just a curious human—the DIPLE II might just change your game. It’s the first microscope I’ve tested that truly balances portability, image quality, and modular design—without breaking the bank.
More testing and adventures are ahead, but so far, this little scope has earned a spot in my travel kit—and maybe even in yours. Again, if you want your own, head on over to the Kickstarter and lock it in!
