This is a very important point!
While I don’t disagree with anyone - and many good points have been made - I still think that the beginner needs to achieve fascination for his subjects without too many technical difficulties. Mastering high magnification is very rewarding, but not where you should start, because the struggle to produce good (or even acceptable) results when inexperienced can make you give up.
My points are still the same:
1. There is no such thing as a “best size objective!”
2. A good 20x will produce good results with minimal effort. 40x and above requires more skill, but should not be excluded in the long run. Therefore, I recommend good objectives of 4x, 10x and 20x for the beginner.
3. Higher magnification isn’t “better” - do not aim for high power just because it exists.
4. Find out what you are aiming to study, and choose your equipment accordingly.
5. When you are comfortable with low power objectives, and have learnt to use the condenser and illumination - move on to higher power and unleash its capabilities.
And finally - Don’t give up! This community is very helpful. No question is stupid, When you ask a question you think is stupid, you are asking a question that others also have, but dare not set forth. You won’t get answers to questions you dare not ask.
... not being ungrateful mind you, thanks and merry christmas!