What sort of magnification would you need to see sperm cells?

Question

Okay, say a particular friend of mine happened to have a very strong urge to ejaculate onto a slide and put it under a microscope.

Hypothetically speaking of course.

What sort of magnification would it need to be for him to be able to get a decently clear image of the little wriggly guys with the tails?

Answer 1

A good 100x microscope should work out fine.

Answer 2

Even a 40X (4X objective with 10X oculars) would be enough to see.

However, I suggest you find a phase contrast microscope with 10X and 20X objectives (total mag is 100X and 200X, respectively).  20X might be too much magnification.  You will be able to see the motility easily.  You can use an upright or inverted microscopy.  Make sure you have focused the condenser properly (use Kohler illumination methods).

Suspend the sperm in a saline solution containing glucose.  Do not put a coverslip on right away.