AmScope SE400-Z upgrade - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Unleaded
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2020, 01:01:54 am
content: Hello. I am new here but no stranger to component level repair. I recently purchased a new AmScope SE400-Z, while this is a great entry level micro scope there was one restriction I found annoying: The field of view. My first attempt to increase the field of view was to purchase a set of 0.5x lenses. Big mistake. Sure, it dropped the magnification, but it was like looking through a keyhole. Fortunately, I only spent $17 on them so oh well. I was doing a search and this page popped up with a 0.5x objective lens. But no confirmation if it'll fit the AmScope SE400-Z. So I took the $90+ plunge and bought them. I can report that it does fit perfectly and it does increase field of view significantly. Your 10x will now act like 5x but that's not a bad thing. As soon as I figure out how to post images, I'll put up what lenses do what.

author: Unleaded
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2020, 01:35:49 am
content: This image is the 1x objective lens with the standard 10x lens.

author: Unleaded
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2020, 01:37:50 am
content: This is the same 10x lenses with the 0.5x objective lense.P.S. This is an old junk board.

author: Unleaded
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2020, 01:44:25 am
content: As an example here is the 5x lenses in with the 1x objective lens. Like I said, its like looking through a keyhole.

author: Unleaded
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2020, 01:56:22 am
content: This is the one I ordered. >https://www.gtvision.co.uk/GXM-05X-Slide-in-Objective-for-C2-D-Microscope-WD-250mm< The C2-D microscope sold in the UK appears to be a clone of the AmScope SE-400z.

author: Unleaded
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2020, 01:58:22 am
content: Please note, that after shipping an a slew of odd taxes, it'll cost you around $93 US. So, keep that in mind.

author: JDubU
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2020, 02:19:19 am
content: What did the 0.5x objective do to the working distance?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2020, 02:27:38 am
content: Quote from: Unleaded on February 07, 2020, 01:56:22 amAmscope do not make their own microscope, they slap their brand on microscopes that come out of a factory in china.I cant speak to every single case, but mostly if you see a microscope available in china or from another brand, and it looks the same as an amscope microscope, that's because they both came from exactly the same original factory in china.

author: Unleaded
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2020, 02:37:57 am
content: Quote from: JDubU on February 07, 2020, 02:19:19 amThe 0.5x objective lens working distance is approximately 13mm less than the 1x. Or roughly 1/2 turn of the focus knob. So you can use both without having to mess with the boom, just a turn of the knob will do.

author: JDubU
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2020, 02:51:07 am
content: Sounds good!

author: disco
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 10, 2021, 03:44:11 pm
content: What are the options if I want to go the other way: zoom in more while retaining wide field of view? 0201 components are way too small with x10 eyepieces. The x20 eyepieces that came with SE400-Z have even worse keyhole effect. Should I try to find x2 objective lens? What would happen to FoV with it?

author: FPSychotic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2023, 10:57:16 am
content: Hi, I got aobjective 0.5x for SE400-Z and it's siblings GT Vision and I think Bressler too.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155450160581?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=VAZ0hgEYR0G&sssrc=2524149&ssuid=VAZ0hgEYR0G&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPYI have one and best possible update, I sell it sealed and new.

author: kPATm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2024, 09:47:14 am
content: Hello. Do you happen to have any more of these 0.5x Lenses? Thanks

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2024, 11:08:56 am
content: The downside with the SE400-Z is its a different type of microscope to the common one most of us use. So i doubt it will have as many options for objectives and barlow lenses. Its also a fixed zoom microscope, it doesn't have a variable zoom adjustment knob on the side AFAIKIMHO its not very well suited to electronics work

author: uli12us
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2024, 06:31:54 pm
content: That you get the same picture but in different magnification is normal. The lens have only maybe 10° angle, after that you have the 5, 10, 25X magnification from the okular.But you can only magnificate what is delivered from the lens. A barlow lens changes the angle, before the lens, so you have a bigger angle, or smaller if you use a 1,5 or 2X bl.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2024, 09:33:33 am
content: Quote from: Psi on January 17, 2024, 11:08:56 amIt has the opposite of zoom. It has just one magnification: 10X with 10X eyepieces.QuoteThere is a third type of microscope used for electronics work, costing at least twice as much new, that companies buy even though they could make do with the common one that folks here are using. This has puzzled me. After reading this and the other current, single-power microscope thread, however, the financial profligacy is starting to make sense.I should start a thread along the lines, "Perhaps your next stereo microscope should be a ...." I need to first set up another one, however, to produce pictures to compare and contrast. The pictures in this thread were very helpful.

author: uli12us
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2024, 01:54:51 pm
content: But you can buy additional lenses for not much money. I bought a 1X from Ali for less than 10€. Just because my Microscope had only 2 and 4 times magnification, because with a 5X ocular I had 2 times the same magnification but in the middle nothing. With a 1 and 4x and a 5 + 10ocular I have 5,10, 20 and 40times magnification. With a 25 ocular I can reach a 100 times magnification, but that is meaningless. for this purpose a one lens microscope is much better.

author: JDubU
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2024, 04:00:50 pm
content: I'm using these 10X eyepieces instead of the ones that come with the SE400-Z:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OMK2JI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1High eyepoint and somewhat larger field of view. Excellent image for PCB work.

author: uli12us
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2024, 10:38:22 am
content: Here is a seller of the different lenses for the Microscope.https://de.aliexpress.com/item/4000930337932.htmlI think there are others as well.With a 1x and 4x lens and a 5x and 10x eyepiece you have 5x, 10x, 20x and 40x magnification.Unfortunately, the magnification is nat exactely that, what it should. so a zoom Microscope isbetter, but for more than double the price.

author: FPSychotic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2024, 07:27:20 pm
content: Mine is perfect for electronics, I even added dual camera autofocus, also you have much more room than others and is cheaper even with the cameras and RPI included. It has zoom control changing the height, as the eyepieces and the objective.I have 0.5x /1x objectives and 10x/20x eyepieces so I have x5, 10x (2 different fov)and 20x, plus a table panoramic with augmentation with the camera, that can be detached and make a bird view of the work area. All with autofocus, 64MP, RAW pictures, monitor and TV capture output, mine have two lights and was £180, plus £30 camera, £10 RPI and £70 0.5x objective.Many electronics companies, specially starters had it.It is a microscope for electronics mainly.

author: FPSychotic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2024, 07:29:34 pm
content: Please, delete your post , they doesn't fit, are different size, they look the same but they are not. Your post will make others waste the money

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2024, 10:00:20 am
content: I am adjusting zoom between min/max, and points in between, all the time when working under the microscope.So having adjustable zoom on a knob is must for me for electronics work.I have the typical 7-40x scope with x0.5 barlow. So that's 3.5-20x range that I use all the time.I don't recommend a fixed zoom microscope where you have to change lenses to change zoom for electronic work.