Why did early compound microscopes often produce worse images than simple microscopes?

Early compound microscopes often produced inferior images compared to simple microscopes primarily due to the magnification of optical aberrations. While both types of instruments were susceptible to chromatic aberration—where different wavelengths of light fail to focus at the same point—compound microscopes compounded the problem because their multiple lens systems magnified these distortions along with the image itself.1

In contrast, simple microscopes, such as those masterfully crafted by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, utilized a single high-powered lens. Although these were difficult to use due to their extremely short focal lengths, they avoided the additional layers of aberration introduced by the complex lens arrangements found in early compound designs. It was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that significant advancements, such as the development of achromatic lens combinations and a deeper understanding of geometric optics, allowed compound microscopes to overcome these initial limitations and surpass the performance of simple magnifiers.12