Make: magazine is recommending Adafruit's 5.0 Megapixel USB Microscope with stand ($79.95 USD). Make: magazine notes that "it has technical specs where they count, but leaves off the frilly package puffing you don't really want to pay for."
The specs are:
Image Sensor: 5.0 megapixel w/high-speed DSP
20x/220x axis micro-lens
Adjustable focal length, from 10mm-50mm
Snapshots via software or pressing the button
Image capture: 2560x2048 (5M Pixel), 2304x1738 (4M Pixel), 1600x1200 (2MPixel), 1280x1024 (1.3MPixel), 1280x960, 1024x768, 800x600, 640x480, 352x288, 320x240, 160x120.
Video rate of 30f/s at a brightness of 600 lux
Flicker control for 50Hz/60Hz
Video format: AVI
Photo format: JPG or BMP
8 white LED light, 40000mLux
20x/200x magnification
USB port powered
TWAIN compatible
Size: 112mm long x 33mm diameter
Package comes with a USB microscope with 4.5ft/140cm long cord and adjustable stand.
Here's the link to Adafruit:
http://www.adafruit.com/products/636
