The invention discloses a handheld portable illumination observer for a limited space and a dark environment. The handheld portable illumination observer comprises a tubular observation part, a lighting part axially arranged around the observation part, and an external connection part, the lighting part comprises a panel, an LED bulb lamp, a conduction copper plate, a soldering tin contact, a fastening thread, a bottom cover, a manual switch knob, a lighting part structural body, a first objective lens, a stainless steel internal thread, a sealing strip fixing buckle, a water stop sealing strip, an LED bulb lamp thread fixing base, a battery clamp, a battery, an inner partition plate and a conductive metal base; the observation part comprises an eyepiece, a stop card, an observation part structural body, an aluminum reflection mirror surface inner cavity and a second objective lens; and the external connection part is used for externally connecting an observation device, a detection device and a video recording device, so that additional detection and video recording functions besides illumination observation are realized, and corresponding activities are carried out. The observer has the advantages of small size, simple structure, convenience in prefabrication, less material consumption, short manufacturing and processing period and low processing cost, and the raw materials and parts are semi-finished products and are convenient to purchase.