Microscope opinion please - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2015, 10:21:25 pm
content: Been looking at some microscopes recently and am considering the one below for a little SMD work and to properly view solder joints etc. I usually just use a good Belomo 10x eye-piece, or a headband magnifier but neither are really up to the job for anything more than a few minutes work.Anyone used the one below, or have any opinions or alternatives for around the same £300 price?Thanks allhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New-ST50B-Stereo-Microscope-20X-Mag-PCB-Inspection-Mobile-Phone-repair-/151509320945?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2346a8c4f1

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2015, 10:28:29 pm
content: X20 is probably too much magnification.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2015, 10:38:07 pm
content: X20 is too much magnification, between 5 and 10 is fine down to 0201.I'll have a rummage in the back of the storeroom and see what I've got, but £270 for that is too much, and it has too much magnification for soldering. Brunel microscopes do a similar model for a lot less.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2015, 10:43:24 pm
content: I had really good luck with microscope.com. Others have had good success with AmScope.com. No clue about your side of the pond... The owner of Microscope.com is a Brit ex-pat, so he might be able to guide you.And 20X is far too much mag for general use. I use about 3-5X to work under. More for inspection. What's more important to me than the magnification is the field of view, the clarity, and the nice boom stand.

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2015, 10:55:31 pm
content: Ah ok .. Thanks for the feedback guys.. I wasn't sure about the magnification so I'm glad you enlightened me there.KJDS.. As you mentioned... I've just seen what looks like that very same microscope on Brunels website for £175 +VAT. (Different branding?) If it is the same'ish microscopeI'll get one from there.. and just buy the necessary lens/eyepieces to make X5/X10 magnification.Is about £250 a reasonable price?.. Which includes VAT & the extra X5 eyepieces I'll need to order (halving the magnification to X10)http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/longarm.html

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 09:08:54 am
content: I've had a rummage and the only cheap microscope I have is a Kyowa, good Japanese brand on a stand that looks like it's been built in a school class by someone that want's to fail the style element. It's got some surface rust but does work ok. This is an inspection scope, so has either X1 or X3 from the head, adjustable by rotating the ring at the bottom of the head. It is fitted with Kyowa HFW10X eyepieces.As it is it has a working distance of 90mm and a field of view of 7.5mm for 3X or 23mm for 1X.Usually the bottom of these is threaded to accept a barlow lens, but this one is smooth. I taped a 0.5X barlow lens in and found that the working distance increased to 105mm and the field of view increased to 13mm or 39mm depending on the zoom selected.Pics below, it's available for £140 including VAT with shipping another £20 as it will need to be in two boxes to ensure that it arrives safely. If you're anywhere near Leicester then you're welcome to collect. Price includes the Barlow lens.I also have an Olympus SZ30 zoom head in a double arm boom stand with a 0.5X barlow, Kyowa HFW15X eyepieces and I'll find a light to go with it. £400 including the VAT.

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 09:51:53 am
content: The first Microscope you've linked to is sold in a very similar format from the company Bresser in Germany. The main difference being that they've tidied up the overhead lamp to a less "in the way" place. It sells for €289 (about 205GBP) and they'll ship it to the UK for about 15 quid:http://www.ebay.de/itm/BRESSER-Mikroskop-Biorit-ICD-CS-Einsteiger-Allround-/361327489239McBryce.

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 09:59:07 am
content: Thanks for the offer KJDS but I think I'll stick with the type from Brunel for £250.. Mainly because of the 230mm working distance, plus it looks like I would be workingon top of the 'school class' baseon the microscope in your pics, which I guess would induce extra movement.Thanks very much for the kind offer though.

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 10:00:55 am
content: Quote from: McBryce on June 26, 2015, 09:51:53 amHaving a look at that as we speak McBryce.Thanks very much for the info & link

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 12:08:20 pm
content: You might want to consider that Olympus. It's a really nice scope.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 12:41:53 pm
content: Quote from: LabSpokane on June 26, 2015, 12:08:20 pmIt really depends on the requirements. If you're only soldering down to 0603, have decent eyesight and won't be doing more than half an hour a couple of times a week then the long arm solutions do ok.If you're regularly doing hour+ sessions, or 0402 or smaller then a better microscope makes life a whole lot happier.

author: Circuitous
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 12:45:42 pm
content: As mentioned earlier, check out AmScope. For more information just search on amscope in the forums.I use the zoom model, with a 0.5x Barlow lens, set to a total magnification of 4x for most work, and zoom to 10-15x for close inspection.Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 01:16:12 pm
content: Quote from: Circuitous on June 26, 2015, 12:45:42 pmWhich is fine, but shipping from Amscope is usually a dealbreaker when you're in the UK.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 02:24:06 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on June 26, 2015, 12:41:53 pmI have an Olympus clone, and the double arm boom stand plus the nice, wide, field of view really helps speed up SMD work. It minimizes workpiece repositioning. It really would be worth the extra premium over that fixed magnification scope.

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 06:25:48 pm
content: Thanks again for all the helpful opinions etc guys, I appreciate it. Not sure what to do now though.I'm actually thinking now that if I wait a while longer & save up an extra few hundred £'s this wouldopen up the options a little for me. At present I feel (and know) that I'm looking at the bottom of the range here as far as microscopes go, and I don'tlike that feeling. Waiting a whilst and having a slightly wider choice seems the sensible thing to do I guess.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 06:53:10 pm
content: Quote from: orbiter on June 26, 2015, 06:25:48 pmIf you're near Leicester then you're welcome to have a look through a few microscopes to see what would and wouldn't work for you.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 07:16:20 pm
content: Quote from: orbiter on June 26, 2015, 06:25:48 pmUntil then get a good quality visorhttp://www.doneganoptical.com/wp-content/uploads/OptiVISOR.jpg

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 07:21:29 pm
content: Thanks very much for the offer KJDS... Unfortunately I'm a couple of hundred miles away from ya mate.Do you stock just used microscopes or new ones also?@ zapta.. Thanks buddy but I already have one of those.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 08:29:01 pm
content: Quote from: orbiter on June 26, 2015, 07:21:29 pmJust used. I did look into getting some new made in China, but to make it worthwhile I'd need to fill a complete container, which would cost about the same as a Lambo, and I'd rather have the Lambo. Unfortunately, I can't afford either, so it's just whatever I can pick up at auction.

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2015, 09:22:53 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on June 26, 2015, 08:29:01 pmLOL... Understood mate, UnderstoodThanks again

author: icon
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2015, 04:22:40 pm
content: I have the Brunel microscope. It's the one with the vertical head, and I'd rather have the angled head, but it came cheap off eBay, so beggars can't be choosers. I've made a base to replace the one that comes with it - it attaches to a baseboard with wing nuts so I can swap it to my watchmaker's lathe which sits on a baseboard with suitable holes. The vertical bar is much longer than the one that comes with the microscope - I found I was stacking it on top of books to get clearance sometimes.I have x5 and x10 eyepieces, and x1, x2 and x3.5 objective lenses. I must say I find the optics excellent. I can work on it for hours at a time without strain. I use it for watchmaking, soldering, inspection, darning, picking brass swarf splinters out of my skin, you name it.I can easily get watchmaker's screwdrivers under it, so a soldering iron (which is usually at an angle) is no problem.HTHJohn

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2015, 04:36:51 pm
content: @icon.. Thanks for the pictures.. they do indeed help, and give a good representation of the working distance that can be expected from the Brunel (and similar named microsopes.) I've not completely shelved the idea of one of those yet. Just not decided fullyThanks again

author: dcarr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2015, 05:46:22 am
content: Take a look at the Bausch and Lomb Stereozoom. I've used several of these and they are generally inexpensive and work very well. Most will adjust from 3x-30x magnification, too.David

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 05:00:47 pm
content: Another UK based microscope newbie here, looking for advice. The Brunel long arm like @icon has look good. Is just wondering what the advantage is over this style of microscope (also from Brunel). The bit to hold slides looks ideal fit holding PCBs and the working distance looks OK to me. They're cheaper too.http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/stereomicroscope.html

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 05:07:16 pm
content: That sort of stand is fine if you never want to work on a board bigger than about four inches.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 05:41:46 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on November 05, 2015, 05:07:16 pmYup. The stand matters.I ponied up for a ball bearing boom arm stand. It is just fantastic. The stand is as important for usability as good glass as far as I'm concerned.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 05:47:30 pm
content: Do you find that a long boom stand wobbles?It's the biggest problem I find with combined magnifier / desk lamp units; lighting is usually OK but they wobble all over the place which makes them just horrible to use. I can only imagine wobble being even worse with higher magnification.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 06:12:57 pm
content: I've seen some cheap single arm boom stands that aren't brilliant. Decent single arm and double arm ones are fine. Generally it's far less a problem than expected for soldering as magnification tends to be low. High mag is a different matter.

author: plazma
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 06:32:29 pm
content: 5-25x magnification is a good range. Working distance should be at least 10cm. Check for mislabeled items at ebay. That is how I got a cheap unit.I have to check one cheap unit at work. It is quite good for a 100€ unit. It got about 15cm work distance and quick change lenses for different magnifications.Some times you really need the 25x magnificationhttp://plazma.kapsi.fi/pictures/temp/BGA_proto.jpg

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 06:43:48 pm
content: That reminds of a WCSP device I have right here on my desk... somewhere...

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:41:04 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on November 05, 2015, 05:47:30 pmMine weighs maybe 20kg or a little more. It is rock solid even at full extension which is where I use it most. I got it from microscope.com (which is owned by a British expat) and the owner said it would be great. And so it is.Mine is the double arm with the ball bearing slide. Made in China, but better quality than what Meiji includes with their scopes.

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:43:44 pm
content: Some useful info. Thanks, guys. So - it sounds like it's worth the extra for the version with the arm then. I can't really justify spending loads, but definitely don't want to regret penny pinching.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2015, 07:45:40 pm
content: This is what I ended up with.I'm not sure how old you are, but now that my close vision is going, my microscope purchase has really panned out for me. I use it for far more than electronics.