Eakins Simul-Focus Scope Decision - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Kerbalette
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 11, 2024, 08:41:00 am
content: Hi allNew here to both electronics and soldering. Used to do security research and now want to branch into hardware analysis. I am looking into two scopes. The Eakins 3.5x90x with various barlow lens 0.7, camera adjustment 0.35 or the 3.5x45xReally not sure which one is better for soldering, rework, IC chip removal with my ATTEN.. Any advice would be appreciated.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2024, 09:05:07 pm
content: If you are using hot air, usually you don't bother doing that under the microscope.Anyway here is a link to what I assume you are talking about?Eakins 3.5x90xhttps://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806398500136.htmlEakins 3.5x45xhttps://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806057327755.htmlBoth look fine to me.Its up to you to determine what style of stand you prefer. The second stand is easy to move but also can easily shake.You can read many threads we have here discussing microscopes.

author: Kerbalette
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 14, 2024, 05:00:40 am
content: Thanks @thm_w. Do you know if there are differences in the heads between these two models, or is it just changing the barlow lenses to alter the magnification. i.e. the heads are identical?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2024, 05:45:14 am
content: Be careful with the zoom ratings on those microscopes.I've not looked into this in a while so it could have changed, but the microscope heads used to be the same on all of them.eg7x - 45x Microscope head in stock form, i.e without a barlow lens.3.5x - 22.5x with a 0.5 barlow lens14x - 90x with a 2x barlow lensSo china sellers would merge the 0.5x and 2x barlow options together and take the best of both. Calling the microscope 3.5x - 90x when the head is only 7x-45x (Since the 3.5x - 90x range is possible if you swap barlow's around but not at the same time)For general electronics 3.5x - 22.5x is great, the 0.5x barlow lens makes the working distance awesome and 22.5x zoom is more than enough.For tiny things like cellphone PCBs no barlow lens is good, so 7-45. AFAIK very few people run a constant 2x barlow for electronic stuff, the working distance is like an inch.In addition to above, putting a lens on the camera port is needed otherwise the camera only sees a tiny % of the image you see. My scope has a lens on the camera that says AZMCTV1/2 (so 0.5). It's not 100% the same size image an eye piece see's but it's fine.Note that my scope is from Luckyzoom, not Eakins, but they are all made in the same factory.The threads on the camera port has changed though, so the adaptors aren't all compatible.

author: Kerbalette
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 14, 2024, 11:15:37 am
content: This is the one I am thinking of;https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005810635585.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis%21AUD%21AU%20%24536.78%21AU%20%24418.69%21%21%21355.60%21277.37%21%402103244817263121220632724e90e3%2112000036639348441%21sh%21AU%213851537984%21X&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_allItems_or_groupList.new_all_items_2007586033271.1005005810635585Ill likely just get the first option without the camera as all the the other options include the camera in the picture yet in the "whats included" the camera is listed as optional...dodgy

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2024, 12:52:11 pm
content: Quote from: Kerbalette on September 14, 2024, 11:15:37 amIMHO those Articulating Arm style of mounts are pretty bad, they shake a lot.Trying to get it to stop shaking to get a clear camera image is horrible. It's probably a bit less of an issue if you don't have a camera but still, I wouldn't get one personally.I much prefer the double boom arm type, which is solid, but can still be swiveled or pushed out of the way and wont shake.I've not looked into aliexpress sellers of these microscopes in a while but luckyzoom was always a reliable seller for me.The price will be higher with a double boom arm because it has a heavy weighted metal block to counterbalance it on the desk, which puts the shipping weight up a lot. The advantage of a Articulating Arm is they are light and easy to ship, they bolt to the side of the desk so dont need a counterbalance weight.Articulating Arms in general are hard to design right, even with the expensive ones. So cheap china ones can be quite problematic.Unless you know of someone else who has bought and used that exact one i would be quite suspicious of its quality.

author: Kerbalette
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 15, 2024, 01:53:55 am
content: Thanks psi. Already ordered sighnever mind. If it’s bad I’ll see if I can just get a double boom at a later date.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2024, 09:32:36 pm
content: It shakes a bit but if solidly mounted on a good desk it is very usable. You may need to reinforce the desk where it is mounted.It can be worth the tradeoff if you often switch between different sized items, or flip an item up and need to refocus far away. Or want to push it out of the way to get more bench space. Its what I'm using at the moment.