Pictured here are hand lenses new and old. The oldest shown
is over fifty years old and has been carried around the world, to mountains and
beaches and places in between. Petrographers become very attached to their hand
lenses.
Just in case no one ever thought to give you pointers on this vital method, here goes: Take the hand lens and hold it right up close to your eye. Next, get the thing you want to inspect and bring it towards the lens until it is in focus. Basically, you hold the hand lens steady and move the object back and forth to focus. Adequate light is critical. Bright sunlight is ideal. Turn yourself around until the thing you want to see is out of the shadow. If you're in the field and wearing a big floppy hat, you'll probably have to take it off. Ditch the sunglasses for a moment. (You did remember the sunscreen?) Hand lenses are great; it's amazing what you can see with a hand lens.