Please recommend me a head monted magnifying glass for PCB work - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: DC1MC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2018, 07:37:09 am
content: Hi, my eyes are not getting better, but these SMD parts and connectors are getting smaller and smaller, please recommend me a good qualitx head mounted magnifying glass that allows for PCB work (distance to focus >20cm).Unfortunately my desk space it's really small so these desk mounted ones are not an option.Thanks,DC1MC

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2018, 10:40:35 am
content: The best answer will be very personal, which implies some amount of trial and error.Any cheap option can give you useful information about what does and doesn't work for you. My preference is forhttps://www.maplin.co.uk/p/rolson-2-led-12x-18x-25x-and-35x-magnifying-visor-n70fkThey are widely available under many brand names.I like them because you can vary the magnification and use them with or without your spectacles. They also enable you to look at any angle into, for example, the internals of any large instrument you are debugging. You can't do that with a microscope.I sometimes use a *8 surface contact magnifier which also includes mm/thou rulers (0.2mm, 10thou resolution),https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/surface-contact-magnifiers/0544083/

author: Calambres
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2018, 08:02:32 pm
content: I use the Donegan Optical OptiVisor and am very happy with it.

author: jeffsf
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 12:55:03 am
content: I've got a Donegan DA-5 OptiVisor Headband Magnifier, 2.5x Magnification, 8" Focal Length and find it a good compromise between magnification and working distance. Haven't burned the tip of my nose yet...

author: thermistor-guy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 01:40:07 am
content: I use the Donegan DA-5 OptiVisor. Very handy.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 02:34:37 am
content: I picked up one like this :https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Headband-Head-LED-Lamp-Light-Jeweler-Magnifier-Magnifying-Glass-Loupe-Lens-J7A5/112510618642?epid=782816604&hash=item1a3227cc12:g:cz4AAOSwz7JZhT5CThe optical quality is much, much better then you'd expect for something around the £5-£7 mark and it's very light and comfortable to wear.

author: DC1MC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 02:51:45 am
content: Thanks for all the suggestions, keep 'em coming please !!!The intended usage in a bit more detail is soldering and measuring (relatively) small components boards, as one poster have said, without burning my nose.The problem is tha many of this head-mounted lenses have been made for the small Asian girls with a little head and small distance in between the eyes, and I have a rather large pumpkin, so most of the glasses like ones are too small from the start and if somehow I manage to fit them, the optical center is way off.I need something with an elastic or adjustable band and with the lenses either individually positionable or wide enough.Thanks again,DC1MC

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 02:56:51 am
content: I have had one of these for 3 or 4 monthshttps://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Headband-Head-Mounted-2-LED-Lamp-Light-Jeweler-Magnifier-Magnifying-Glass-Loupe/262484671095?epid=841674280&hash=item3d1d4e3a77:g:izUAAOSwLjxaUdFRThe 1.5X for general use with my reading glasses works well and bump it up a little for reading the writing on some of the SMD components. BTW Take the BS LED light and place in the binDon't worry about the band sizeI struggle to find hats to suit my boofhead and this one has room to spare in the band.I have just about sorted out a MS Lifecam/DIYHK camera and lense setup too but it will take some practice to get used to the camera viewpoint.

author: LaurentR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 06:49:51 am
content: In the US, the aforementioned Donegan Optivisor is a staple. It's of good quality, comfortable, reasonably inexpensive and comes with a choice of magnification and glass lenses (they also have cheaper plastic ones).They run about $20-40. It's very common to see those worn by craftspeople, jewelers, engravers...https://smile.amazon.com/Donegan-OptiVISOR-Headband-Magnifier-Magnification/dp/B0068OSIISI personally use a 1.5x for general work (to take care of my declining near vision). You can wear them with glasses, so I find that glasses + 1.5x is a good general use combination.I also have a 2.75x. IMHO the working distance at 2.75x is not comfortable enough to do a lot of work under, but I use it for inspection and the occasional difficult rework.Donegan has a working distance table here:http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optivisorBudget permitting, I would suggest also grabbing 2 different magnifications, one for general work, the other for higher magnification, close-up work.A separate company makes a great lighting add-on that consists of 6 LEDs spread around the glasses. These are much better than the off-axis single lights and provide a nice, uniform, shadow-less illumination. These enhance the usefulness of the Optivisor by a lot. Highly recommended.https://smile.amazon.com/Quasar-Led-Lighting-System-Optivisors/dp/B0058ECQ46/

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2018, 06:54:04 am
content: I have tried most of the solutions here. So far my go to solution are reading glasses. I have 2x and 4x pairs. Probably also the cheapest solution.

author: natman69
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 09:22:03 am
content: I use Donegan OptiSight. It's a light and less expensive version of the well known OptiVisor.http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optisightIt comes with 3 interchangeable acrylic lens (3x, 4x, and 5x) and it can be worn over prescription glasses.I've bought Donegan OptiSight on Amazon UK at a reasonable price (about 35 euro shipped).I've also a chinese magnifying glasses (the same suggested by Cerebus in message #5): optical quality is surprisingly good, my only complain is that the mounting clip is a bit weak and glasses are prone to rotate.