Omano Microscope Quality (or Meiji) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 09:54:11 pm
content: My old eyes aren't doing it anymore and neither is my magnifying lamp. I'm looking for a decent microscope. The AmScopes seem too good to be true. I would like a Meiji, but the price tag new is too steep. The few that are used are pretty war-torn or too close to new money. I'm looking at the Omano clones of the Olympus microscopes on Microscopes.com. Does anyone have any feedback on the Omano? I don't do professional repair, so I won't be on a scope all day every day. At the same time, I don't want to be stuck with mediocre optics that make me wish I bought more.What say ye?This is the one:http://www.microscope.com/stereo-microscopes/industrial-inspection/boom-stereo-microscopes/omano-om99-v6-zoom-stereo-boom-microscope.html

author: HiTech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2015, 08:00:02 pm
content: What about used ones off eBay? They all can't be that whooped.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2015, 08:06:13 pm
content: I've had hundreds of microscopes from Olympus and Leica down to some old Mexican Iroscopes and can say that if all you want one for is occasional soldering, even down to 0201 then you can get away with the cheap manufacturers without worrying.If you really want something beautiful for electronics then a Leica MZ6 or 12 is a wonderful tool. So much more clarity than anything else I've ever looked through.If you're mechanically competent then they aren't that difficult to take apart, clean and realign, it just takes care and patience.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2015, 12:46:41 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on April 30, 2015, 08:06:13 pmHave you worked with the Leica A60? While not ultra configurable, it looks like what I want and the price is reasonable.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2015, 01:30:13 pm
content: Quote from: LabSpokane on May 14, 2015, 12:46:41 pmI've not used an A60, however the specs look good, if you can pick one up for a good price then go for it. Bear in mind that the working distance of 122mm might be a little restrictive for some operations and it's not trinocular so the only way to take a photo is to remove one of the eyepieces.

author: Docholiday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2015, 05:02:35 pm
content: I had the leica ms5 but sold it and bought the Nikon instead, but the one made in Japan. It had better resolution and most important to me a wide field of view and the working distance of 4 inches to 6 1/2 inches. The scope also accepts lens filters just like a camera. I bought a clear glass filter to protect the primary lens from the burning flux. I did eventually add another filter, this time a polarizing filter. That made a huge difference! The filter cut down the reflective lighting and reduced eye fatigue.Sorry, I almost forgot. Get some eye cups / eye guards they will cut down on distracting perphial light between your eyes and the occular lens. They also keep the pupils from roaming.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2015, 09:55:12 pm
content: Quote from: Docholiday on May 16, 2015, 05:02:35 pmThanks! Resolution, field of view, and depth of field are why I keep shopping "uptown" for a microscope. It's just hard for me to believe that you can get that for a few hundred $.I like the filter idea! Worst case, I can make an adapter for a 35mm lens for whatever I end up with. The Hoya MRC filters have virtually no reflection at all.

author: Docholiday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2015, 10:39:53 pm
content: Good,I paid $800 dollars for mine, but it was used and in perfect condition. Used in a lab environment. The only thing extra I bought was a LED ring light as I did not like the fiber optic light and power supply. It was just to hot. I do love the Hoya filters, both my clear and polarizer are Hoya. If you find one and the working distance is to small and you have to get a bellows for it. Walk away, been there and done that. The bellows solution does work but at a cost. That is you will experience a significant loss to your field of view. You end up with two circles of view. The inner circle being in focus with the outer circle out of focus – really annoying. Better to increase by upgrade to the objective lens and/or the oculars. I use 10X oculars and sometimes 20x. Never have gone beyond that, but that is up to individual preference.Nicholas