We have demonstrated ultrafast direct soft x-ray microscopy imaging. Microscopy images were acquired using an objective zone plate and a single strong high harmonic burst generated from He in a two-color laser field. This zone-plate-based microscopy system delivered real-space images directly without any data processing. The spatial resolution of the microscope was estimated to be about 140 nm from the image of nanoscale grating patterns. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America