Which HDMI Microscope Camera and Zoom Lens for soldering - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: dredd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 10:15:02 am
content: Hi.I got profoundly lost choosing the camera and lens. My target application is PCB inspection and soldering of 0603 SMD components.I already have HDMI 7" FHD LCD monitor, and stands are plenty. USB latency is too bad. Example of what I'm looking for:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007438433358.htmlI tried Eakins Stereo 7x-45x zoom microscope last week, purely optical, returned, exit pupil was so small I could hardly see with both eyes.Requirements:- True 1080p @ 60Hz HDMI output, I heard that 30Hz is not enough for soldering. Probably some cameras fake 60Hz by copying 30Hz to 2 frames.- Working distance from 130mm- Zoom. I see crazy zoom numbers, so cannot put a number here. From 5mm of subject visible I reckon.- Budget A$150 - A$300 for the set.Autofocus is bonus, but probably not needed. I think lens has to have two adjustment rings - zoom and focus ?Anyone has a setup they are happy with?Thanks!!!

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 11:01:46 am
content: No experience yet, but I'm waiting for one I ordered.https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005007549402242.htmlI ordered the 4K USB HDMI one with solid stand. It should arrive on September fifth at the latest.I do have a small 7inch microscope with camera and it works for soldering and inspecting but the view is small and for good zoom the distance to the object is also small making maneuvering with the iron more difficult. Hopefully the ordered on will make things better.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 11:13:59 am
content: I use a 2X glass lense visor for 603 and larger. I also wear +2 diopter reading glasses underneath (I am 80+ years) and haven't tried smaller. For detailed inspection, I use a zoom optical stereo microscope (aka dissecting scope). If you raise your work area relative to where you sit, it is easier to control.

author: dredd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 11:19:51 am
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on August 27, 2024, 11:13:59 amDo you have a pic of this? I tried some visor (lens) glasses from Amazon, working distance (WD) was too small, with my face literally on the table lol

author: Phil1977
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 12:55:52 pm
content: My own experiences with the chinese microscopes:- Manual focus is better than a bad autofocus- Full HD (1080p) at 60Hz seems to be a sweet spot. 4K at 60Hz is tricky and you can see the difference between 4K and Full HD only when the object is perfectly flat and in the focal plane.- The lenses as shown in your offer often only have one adjustment ring for the zoom ratio. Focus is only set by the height adjustment.- The non-zoom lenses usually have a focus ring so that you can also have different magnification ratios by changing the focus. But this means you can't zoom into the object without refocussing.- FOV is often more important than magnification. Do not choose the lenses with too high minimum magnification.- Latency over HDMI was absolutely okay with the units I know. Latency over USB mostly was just bad.

author: dredd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 01:12:40 pm
content: Thanks a lot! Everything you said matches my thinking.With all this in context, what should I buy, please? :)

author: Phil1977
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 01:46:38 pm
content: Can you open this link?https://de.aliexpress.com/item/4001194556375.htmlI´d take the set with the 200x-lens.If you want to spend more money you could try to find something with an image sensor a little larger than 1/2.3", like 1/1.8" . But for this I currently do not find any good offer.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 03:08:32 pm
content: My visor brand is OptiVisor and it has a glass lens plus a loop on one side for added magnification. It looks like this:https://www.amazon.com/OptiVisor-Optical-Glass-Binocular-Magnifier/dp/B0015IS6K2/ref=asc_df_B0015IS6IY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692875362841&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16440620769943199314&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015557&hvtargid=pla-2281435180058&mcid=f187e504b3c33a3a9e8090925a6d4ed6&hvocijid=16440620769943199314-B0015IS6IY-&hvexpln=73&th=1Be sure to get a glass lens, and with a single lens, too much magnification will give a very short working distance. Mine is 2X and the working distance of 10" seems about right. I would not recommend a lighted visor either.

author: csuhi17
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 05:21:25 pm
content: The high resolution version of yihua does not return a nice picture, it is very pixelated. I think the lower resolution is more usable.There are several videos about them on YouTube.maybe check it outhttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000965179949.htmlmy mistake, it's not HDMI, it's USBWhat bothers me is that there is no protection on the sensor, but that can be solved with a small lens protector. e.g. phone camera lens protector.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 08:40:46 pm
content: Correct forum is here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/Previous threads:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/more-on-soldering-microscopes/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/suggestions-on-a-decent-electronics-microscope/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/andonstar-digital-microscopes/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/microscope-for-soldering-sony-imx-comparison-fullhd-1080-vs-4k/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/digital-microscope-289630/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/are-digital-microscopes-any-good-for-home-soldering/https://forums.overclockers.com.au/threads/eakins-hdmi-microscope.1295341/

author: EvgenyG
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2024, 01:12:01 am
content: I've done some extensive research back in the day and I think that HAYEAR is a pretty decent brand for the price. I've been to Electronex 2024 and could compare my camera to the multi thousand dollar cameras on display, it is obviously not as good, but you're only paying a fraction of a cost. I've been usingthis onefor about 2 years, very happy with it and no have absolutely no issues. The lens included with that lot is pretty good. The link is to their official store, they have cheaper cameras like mine and more expensive that have Panasonic sensor.

author: CaptainBucko
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2024, 02:05:56 am
content: For what it is worth, I can't solder under a 2D microscope camera. I can inspect, and I can touch the tip of an iron onto a joint, say to do a minor fix.But getting the hand/eye co-ordination of tweezers/solder/soldering iron, is too hard for me, and actually it gives me a really bad headache.The 3D stereoscopic microscope at work I can use all day for soldering, no problems.Others say they can make it work with practise, so maybe I am not trying hard enough....

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2024, 03:12:24 am
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on August 27, 2024, 03:08:32 pmI use a genuine DA-4 (i.e. 2x mag version) glass-lens Optivisor too. I can wear them for hours with no problem, and the amount of magnification feels just right for a lot of SMD work.Another benefit is that it often doesn't need to be moved (much) out of the way when looking further away, because you can just tilt your head up a bit, and peer just beneath the lenses.

author: dredd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2024, 12:52:22 pm
content: Found this table with optical data for a typical lense:https://www.yydag.com/en/productsd.php?tid=40&pid=781Yydag is OEM for Eakins optical line, so the data is more accurate here, makes more sense. Apparently there are two attachments to main zoom body:- eyepiece (top), can be 0.35X, 0.5X, 1X. I think it should match sensor size: 0.5x for 1/2" sensor, 0.35x for 1/2.8" sensor. Also called "camera adapter".- Aux lens (bottom). I guess it is barlow lens. 0.5X, 1.0X, 2.0X. 0.5x reduces magnification and increases WD by factor of 2. Also called "objective lens".

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2024, 06:39:43 pm
content: I received my camera today and hooked it up to a monitor via HDMI and I'm very pleased with how it works. At first I thought wow what a crappy image, but it was set to black and white.Have to do some playing around with the lights to get the best results for soldering, but with the two lights on the base that have swan necks it works better than with the LED ring around the lens. The camera can sit high up giving a wide view of the board and still allow for good magnification of the component areas. With the digital zoom it is also easy to capture a smaller area of the PCB. Goes up to 5x.I feel that it will improve soldering a lot for me due to being able to sit up straight and look at the monitor instead of the PCB and still maneuver easily with the soldering iron. A real live test has to prove this of course. Need to clear my soldering desk and make a proper setup for this though.The only down side is that the supplier forgot to add the power supply for the camera in the package, so I have to see what kind of discount I can arrange based on that.As a proper electronics hobbyist I have loads of power supplies so not a big deal though.Will see if I can post some pictures of the camera in action in a couple of days.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2024, 07:45:24 pm
content: Follow mode

author: EvgenyG
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 04:07:06 am
content: Quote from: pcprogrammer on August 29, 2024, 06:39:43 pmIt will save your eyes, back and neck, too. You will also easily see any small defects that you won't normally see. The other fact: an average/okay looking job under magnification will look great without it.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 05:43:51 am
content: Also interested in purchasing a unit but what is up with that magnification? 200x? Then you can only see a single 0603 resistor. With my stereoscope I work mainly with 3x-10x magnification.My guess is that those numbers are not the same unit.Can someone please take and show a picture of a board with their 200x unit ?

author: Phil1977
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 05:48:24 am
content: Quote from: Kjelt on August 30, 2024, 05:43:51 amMagnifications are phantasy numbers and absolutely not comparable to classic optical microscopes our loupes.Look for the specified field of view (FOV) or image area. These numbers usually are correct.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 07:00:18 am
content: Quote from: EvgenyG on August 30, 2024, 04:07:06 amThat is what I implied with sitting up straight.I used to do it with a smaller camera with build in 7 inch display but that still required bending down a bit causing back and neck pains. Having Fibromyalgia does not help with that either.Quote from: Kjelt on August 30, 2024, 05:43:51 amThe one I received has a 1x - 150x lens, but it depends on the height of the camera what the magnification can be, this due to focus. I will take some pictures later today and post them here.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 07:11:33 am
content: Sensor must be Sony only. And I'm too greedy to buy it yet. Expensive. But all another is crap.Any cheap one will do for YouTube videos, but you won't be able to work with them.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 08:02:22 am
content: As promised some pictures.The stand is 580mm high but from the front of the lens to the work surface it is maximum about 500mm. The stand has a fine tune knob to move the camera 20mm up or down from the center position.The one I got uses a Panasonic cmos sensor. (With a Sony sensor it is ~20 euros more) For me the quality is good enough.I made pictures at three different heights of the camera and on one of them I also used a digital zoom of 2x.Have not yet put a SD card in the camera so no images shot with the camera itself.Also did not verify the measurement cross on the screen.And yes the room looks like one from a hoarder, but it just needs a tidy up.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 08:09:09 am
content: Quote from: pcprogrammer on August 30, 2024, 08:02:22 amCrap.The Eakins store on Aliexpress has a demo video of the Sony camera, it works exactly as it should. But it's expensive.

author: Phil1977
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 08:13:09 am
content: Quote from: pcprogrammer on August 30, 2024, 08:02:22 amCan you tell something about latency? I have one Eakins with a panasonic 1080p sensor that has no perceptible latency at all. Then I worked with a Hayear 4k (with Sony sensor) setup that was only set to 1080p and latency was not terrible but also not really good.Of course latency has more to do with the image processor than with the sensor manufacturer - but I think it´s one of the key features for a soldering microscope.@Postal2: Can you live out your general life frustration somewhere else? Why do you call setups of other people crap even if they are satisfied?

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 08:25:21 am
content: Quote from: Phil1977 on August 30, 2024, 08:13:09 amThese people are not satisfied, but try to deceive others by pushing bad solutions.Quote from: Phil1977 on August 30, 2024, 08:13:09 amIt's no use if the eye is blind. I have a camera whose latency is fine for me, but it has poor sensitivity and that's enough.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 08:29:08 am
content: Quote from: Phil1977 on August 30, 2024, 08:13:09 amI will have to do some tests, but it does not feel to bad. It of course is based on my perception as I do not have tools nor experience in measuring the actual latency.

author: Phil1977
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 08:41:55 am
content: Does it feel not bad or not perceptible? I´m really quite astonished by the Eakins, I didn't measure it either, but at least I do not feel any delay, movements on the screen look nearly as smooth and instantaneous as with an optical setup.(And it´s sensitivity is more than enough for a microscope. Most of the time the ring-light is not even needed to get good image quality. But I really don't want to discuss this, I'll just ignore further comments on this.)

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 08:48:03 am
content: Quote from: Phil1977 on August 30, 2024, 08:41:55 amYour reluctance to discuss will not prevent me from commenting. I can also say that my shitty camera has good sensitivity. But I don't want to make fools of anyone. If you want to achieve acceptable depth of field, then the sensitivity is not enough.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 09:15:59 am
content: Just popping it to say I have a pair of HDMI microscope cameras, one auto-focus and one not, one on an optical microscope and one standalone as here, and so far as I can tell the thing that makes the quality good or bad is typically the monitor. My microscope one feeds a small 12" monitor and is not very good - no HDR so gradual transitions of shade don't exist and shadows (or glare) that really aren't that bad turn into black holes (or white ones!). The same make camera feeding a BenQ 22" is much, much better in that respect, and not so much care has to be taken with the lighting.

author: eleguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 09:32:55 am
content: I have been pretty happy with Andonstar AD407. However, if buying now for the same use case I would some likely pick AD409 "Max" in order to get more working distance. The bonus(?) here is that you can solder also without external monitor as these come with screen. This works better for me as I dont have to turn my head while seeing the whole board or the small area that has been zoomed by the microscope.

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 09:39:23 am
content: I got an Adonstar 409max since this week and although the picture quality is more than good, the magnification is too much as in the overview of the DUT is very, very small.Putting the camera higher makes it hard to follow on the display as it is then (way) above my head.I have been asking if there exists a Barlow lens but that does not as the diameter of the camera is different from what exists in Barlow lenses.Once I have a better monitor, I’ll try with the hdmi connector.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 10:00:07 am
content: I found the right microscope that I wanted (and want) to buy.https://aliexpress.com/item/1005006778425225.html

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 10:13:56 am
content: I'm using a 24 inch iiyama PL2483H monitor directly connected to the HDMI output of the camera.The motion on the screen feels smooth and instantaneous. When focused on the PCB I can put my finger on it sideways and on the tip of the finger the print is sharp, but the top side starts to blur a bit. But with an ic the depth perception is good enough to read the writing on the IC and still see the traces on the PCB.All in all for me it will be a great improvement over the stand alone 7 inch one I used before. Attached is a picture of what that looks like with a RPI PICO.And the same PICO under the new one. Even with the whole board on screen it still is big enough to work on. See the watchmakers Philips screwdriver tip near the RP2040. Also notice the difference in height between the two cameras.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 10:24:09 am
content: I see in the Eakins store that the cameras I need are made on the IMX385 sensor. However, I am interested in the one with autofocus, it is 2 times more expensive. Externally, the cameras are the same, but without autofocus the power supply is 5 volts, and with autofocus - 12 volts.Actually, I like cheap solutions if they solve the problem. Unfortunately, in the case of the microscope, everything depends on the sensor. I have already tried cheap solutions, and I do not understand the enthusiasm about this junk.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 10:51:02 am
content: Autofocus is a double-edged sword. For PCB work I couldn't get on with it, but for other stuff it is useful. Main issue I had was if, say, your soldering iron or tweezers got in the target for autofocus then the thing you're actually trying to see (the PCB) is out of focus but the view of your tweezers is great!Also, and not sure if it's just this camera or all of them in general, when turning on initially it would go to one end of the focus range and stick there until something it could latch onto persuaded it that was the wrong end. Not end of the world but irritating.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 11:01:23 am
content: Quote from: PlainName on August 30, 2024, 10:51:02 amYour camera is different. As for the Eakins IMX385 sensor camera, I have seen videos of it in action. No other camera comes close to what I have seen.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 12:20:51 pm
content: Triply impressive that you know what my camera is despite my not giving any details, that you believe the demo videos aren't designed to show the very best that can be achieved in perfect circumstances, and you've used every other camera available.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 12:27:52 pm
content: I don't understand why some people are used to assuming that the opponent is a fool. Of course, I know about the video, and I didn't watch what they showed me, but what interested me.The presence of autofocus will allow me to turn various knobs twice less often, which will save time, and I am ready to pay for this. But I haven’t paid yet.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 12:57:13 pm
content: QuoteThat's your problem, I think. I saw you as someone that might appreciate hearing some actual experience of autofocus for real work. It is you that thinks 'opponent'. I wasn't even arguing since there was nothing to argue about, just showing that the grass isn't always greener over there.So instead of taking that onboard and saying, if anything needed to be said, something like "Oh, thanks, I'll bear that in mind" you instead trash it based on my choice of camera (hint - autofocus isn't based on sensor type) despite not know what it is. And then note that the Eakins will be the answer to everything and has no faults.Seriously, and since you seem to run up against an awful lot of 'opponents' here, I would suggest it's your attitude, or at least the way you present posts, that's the problem.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 02:43:10 pm
content: I meant "opponent" - this is "interlocutor".I know about the autofocus issues, and at first I wanted to save money by looking at a camera without it, since it was cheaper. Then I watched a video of the rotating side-view lens on this camera, which had autofocus. The autofocus worked so well that I decided not to buy without it.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 06:46:18 pm
content: I did some more "tests" with the microscope to see what the magnifications are.The in the sales add mentioned x150 for the lens is actually correct. At a distance of ~5.5 cm from the PCB the magnification is near 150. (1mm in real life measures as ~150mm on the screen) The lens is then turned to its extreme, and the camera height needs to de adjusted to make the image sharp.On the other end of the lens setting the pole of the stand is to short to get a good image, and going on the sales add the distance has to be a meter for a x1 image.At the top of the pole, with the lens at a distance of about 50cm from the PCB the magnification is just over 7. (10mm in real life measures as ~70mm on the screen)So to get a good image at a certain magnification the height of the lens has to be set and then the lens has to be tuned to make the image sharp. For a soldering job you probably do this only once at the start of the job, and maybe readjust to later inspect the work.For close up the LED ring works better than the two swan necked LED lights, but the mounting is a bit flaky near the end of the lens. Not sure if I will be using that often. Also the fit of the swan necked lights on the base is not that solid. It needs something extra between the clip to make it firm.A magnification of 7 to 15 works very well for soldering, at least for me, just by what I have seen so far. Have to do an actual soldering job though.I don't think that a camera with a Sony sensor will provide a much better result. I feel it depends much more on the quality of the lens, and as a hobbyist this one is good enough. Maybe when you have to solder day in and day out and make a living with it, it could be justified to spend 5 or 6 times as much money.As a final note, if you like it to be a bit cheaper, you can consider one with a x1 - x130 lens, since you most likely won't be needing the extra magnification.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 06:56:36 pm
content: Can you not get a zoom lens? That would save you having to move it up and down the pole (although you might still need to play with focus).

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 07:08:31 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on August 30, 2024, 06:56:36 pmI'm not an expert on lenses and cameras, but is the lens I have now not a zoom lens going from x1 to x150 and is sliding along the pole just adjusting the focal point?But like I wrote, most of the time it will just sit at a fixed height to do soldering jobs. With a magnification of 10 it already allows for a good inspection of the soldering joint and still have a large part of the PCB in view.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 07:18:13 pm
content: No, a zoom lens will adjust the magnification via a ring. You focus by moving it up and down a rack, but only a little bit. More expensive ones have the focus and magnification as rings - just like you get on a camera (you don't walk towards or away from your subject to focus those!).

author: Phil1977
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 07:57:12 pm
content: You can buy both types of macro lenses.The prime lens type with fixed focal length but adjustable focus does its job as pcprogrammer has described. The other zoom-type does it as mentioned by PlainName. Unfortunately the sales people at Aliexpress or co often neglect correct terminology.One thing to mention: The image quality of the cheap prime lenses is often much better than of cheap zoom lenses. The highest magnification with the prime lens has a very small distance but often astonishingly good sharpness. The sharpness at the highest zoom level of these entry level microscope lenses is often compromised.

author: Feuerbard
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 08:45:57 pm
content: Anyone tried 3d hdmi microscope ?https://youtu.be/CGgf_B2hzSM

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 11:57:55 pm
content: We have Eakins IMX334 and IMX307 autofocus, both are claimed 1080P 60FPS. Autofocus was absolutely worth the $65 difference in price between the two.- IMX334 130ms latency- IMX307 60-70ms latencyMonitor is going to be ~10-30ms of that total.I would never use these for soldering personally. If you want to sit up straight you can get an ergo microscope or a mantis. But its not as cheap.Quote from: Feuerbard on August 30, 2024, 08:45:57 pmThis is for inspection only, no use for soldering at all.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2024, 06:30:17 am
content: Quote from: PlainName on August 30, 2024, 07:18:13 pmThe lens I have uses a ring to adjust what I think is the zoom (magnification) but can only become sharp at the correct height needed for the set magnification. To do both magnification and focus at the same height it would indeed require two rings on the lens.Quote from: Phil1977 on August 30, 2024, 07:57:12 pmBut reading the above suggests the lens to have adjustable focus? This would mean that the magnification is based on the height. Have to study the theory on lenses again to refresh what I learned about them.At the shortest focus able distance the image does look quite sharp and is magnified ~150 times.Even if the terminology in the sales ad would have been correct I would not have understood the meaning of it without research.Quote from: thm_w on August 30, 2024, 11:57:55 pmNo idea what the perceivable latency is for the human eye. Hearing can be as fast as 5ms (real sharp musicians can detect shifts in notes with that kind of delay) With old movies at 25 frames per second (40ms) it is already seen as smooth, so triple that should be noticeable, but with my setup I don't have a problem when moving something under the lens to position it where it needs to be. The shacking on my hand is more of a problem. At 60 years old it is definitely not as stable as it was 30 or 40 years ago.Quote from: thm_w on August 30, 2024, 11:57:55 pmA friend of mine has a microscope with eye pieces and to me that felt very uncomfortable and still required bending the head forward a bit. The benefit of it being stereo made not that big a difference for me. It will be a matter of getting used to it.And yes the mantis would be perfect, but at more then 10 times the price of what I have now, way to expensive for a hobbyist like me.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2024, 06:36:19 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on August 30, 2024, 11:57:55 pmIMX385 claimed 120 Hz speed (sensor speed) and much more sensitivity.Quote from: thm_w on August 30, 2024, 11:57:55 pmI agree. So I hope that a normal camera will give such an opportunity. But there are doubts.

author: dredd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2024, 11:00:32 am
content: Well. Fark Aliexpress and "Eakins Store" in particularstore Id = 836673EDIT: I found the piece I forgot to ship back with the stand, bracket that connects two pillars. They were totally right issuing partial refund. My bad.I ordered "Industrial Binocular Trinocular Microscope Camera Stand" US$99 and "Trinocular Stereo Microscope Head" (their Choice program) US$150Tried to return both because exit pupil was so small it was unusable. The head (Choice item) was refunded in full. But stand was partially refunded, just US$76 out of $100. Support in two separate chats said "yea, we'll fix it, have a nice day sir", Nothing was fixed. $75 refund came through, Appeal button resulted in "the newly updated proof from the local warehouse. Since the item you return is different, we cannot arrange refund for you.". I sent it back exactly as I have received it./rant lolI have cheap 20x/40x stereo and it works much better and for infrequent use it'll do. Maybe I'll duct-tape 0.3x barlow to it - my very last aliexpress purchasehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/0-7x-barlow-lens-for-this-stereo-microscope-possibleNo model names, no brands (everyone and their dog is reselling the few OEMs that-cannot-be-named), missing or confusing specifications, 300 combinations - "Colour" of same things - save your time and don't shop at Aliexpress!

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2024, 11:18:56 pm
content: Quote from: pcprogrammer on August 31, 2024, 06:30:17 amProper ergo eyepiece would mean you have a straight neck, its hard to find.Quote from: dredd on September 04, 2024, 11:00:32 amYou can link to the item in question to help us out. Was it this one?https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806802179634.html$99 is very very cheap for a microscope head. You can't expect quality at that price.I don't know what "exit pupil was so small" you are talking about the field of view?The link above has 10x20mm eyepieces, so a 20mm FOV. Which is OK, though its worth spending a few more dollars for 10x22 or 23mm.

author: dredd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2024, 11:34:50 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on September 04, 2024, 11:18:56 pmHead was $150https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005006095323834.htmlStand was $99https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005006854434184.htmland partially refunded.Exit pupilis not Field of view, its size of usable light circle that enters your eye, you have to "catch" it by moving your head around eyepiece.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2024, 12:29:31 am
content: Quote from: dredd on September 04, 2024, 11:34:50 pmDid you try measuring it using a piece of paper so we can compare?https://www.visioneng.us/uncategorized/how-exit-pupil-diameter-effects-operator-performance/I tried all 3 microscopes I have access to, they are all almost exactly 2mm (WF10x22), lower end amscope/eakins models. I'll check more when I get a chance.

author: dredd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2024, 11:38:42 am
content: Maybe it was not the exit pupil, just poorly designed rubber cups of wrong height. I don't have it anymore. I just remember I could not use it as easily as my cheap one.

author: JimboJack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2024, 01:03:59 am
content: Buy yourself this camera it pretty much the min required and the goto starting place.4K 1080P Autofocus HDMI USB UHD Digital Video Microscope Camera Sony IMX334 1/1.8" CMOS Sensor Measurement Aids C Mount Lenssaves you on having to adjust focus it all the time, i use it with a trihead setup, but would be the same with mono lense setup.Its is 1080p at 60fps and something like 4K at 30fps, later on you buy a x0.35 adapter and add it to a trihead setup,that way not lost any money. if you want to upgrade later on.J.