New Mirco Scope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: sintax69
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 07, 2019, 10:22:57 am
content: Hi all,Just wanted some view points on two micro scopes first I will only be using for hobby side not a pro currently using a digial with a small screen on it and looking to upgradeFirst one is the Amscope 10x 20x SE400Sec one is from aliexpress Eakins 3.5X 7X 45X 90X Simul FocalAny thoughts iplshttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/3-5X-7X-45X-90X-Simul-Focal-industrial-Trinocular-stereo-microscope-with-dual-arm-stand-56/32920713113.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.99999999.271.4c243c00nfJEoshttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/5X-10X-20X-Binocular-Boom-Arm-Stereo-Microscope-Light/32708109466.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.99999999.259.cb553c00N4Sxko

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2019, 03:16:39 pm
content: The small scope has fixed zoom, while the bigger has an adjustable zoom.I bought an Amscope (at least it says so on the label) from Ali a few months ago, very similar to the big scope you're pointing to and am very happy with it.When I was searcing for my scope I could not find reliable info if there is any difference between the Amscope, Eakins and a few other brands that all look similar. The bigger is a bit more expensive, but has a lot more flexibility and a more robust stand.It also comes with 2 screw-on barlow lenses. The scope itself has a zoom range from 7x to 45x and it comes with 2 screw on barlow lenses. a 0.5x lens and a 2x lens. The 2x lens is useless for electronics because it magnifies too much and the work distance is too small, but you can buy these lenses separately and they cost about EUR20 each, but even so, I'm glad I have the 2x barlow lens, because it's just fun to have the 90x magnification to look at very small things. For example I have a Router which works with 0.5mm mills and smaller, and I can look at the wear of the tungsten carbide mills. In 90x mode the work distance is reduced to about 3 to 5cm and the depth of view is also only a mm or so, so a bit fiddly to adjust and as I said before, unusable for soldering. With the 0.5x barlow lens the work distance is about 19cm above the table and the eye pieces are 45cm above the table.Without a barlow lens the 7 to 45 zoom range is excellent for electronics work, (from overview to detail inspections) but the inside of the scope is open and may get dirty easily from solder fumes, splatter, etc. The 0.5x barlow lens doubles the work distance, but it's so big that I have to sit with a very straight back to get my eyes high enough to look through the microscope. It feels a bit weird, but it's not really tiring, but even so, I think I prefer to have a 0.7x barlow lens. But as I said before, these lenses are sold separately, inclusive a 1x lens, which is just a flat piece of glass that prevents the inside from the scope from getting dirty. You can also screw the lens of to wash / clean it every now and then.The bigger scope also has a ring light, which ensures even lighting without shadows, which is a big plus when working with the scope.There are also versions which are only binocular (without camera port) and versions where you can switch the left eye between the eye piece and the camera port. I did want to have the camera port (It costs about EUR20 extra) but do not have a camera (yet) and therefore I bougt a version with a pin, which adjust an inernal mirror / prisma to switch between the left eye and the camera. The versions which send light to all 3 ports simultaneously have 30% less light to the eye pieces, so you need more light from the ring light to adjust for that.If you're on a tight budget you can buy the small one, but the bigger is much more versatile because of the interchangeble barlow lenses.If solder smoke gets into the black hood of the small scope it will also fog the lenses and those will be hard to keep clean, while on the bigger you can screw the barlow lens off and clean it, or even replace it if it gets damaged.Also note that the bigger one you're pointing to is not an "Eakins", but an "Ykins".As I said before, I have no idea of quality differences. I suspect that most of these buy separate parts (lenses, stands, plastic caps, etc) from the same manufacturers and screw them together in some garage shop.The big scope also has a much more solid stand.The small with the rectangular black shield is almost half the price though, but even so.A scope like this is a piece of equipment you will use for the rest of your life (30 to 60 years?), so a EUR 300 scope is only EUR10 or less per year.Unless you're on a very tight budget it seems silly to want to save EUR 100 for the cheap scope.

author: Ride the Lightning
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 08, 2019, 08:30:07 pm
content: You might be set on buying new but I've had some success buying used. I've been happy with my metallurgical Olympus BHM. Cobbled together from parts here and there as they come up on auction. While isn't a boom microscope and not so suited for soldering work, I can do inspections and take interesting bright-field dark-field images. What I'm trying now is to check regularly on Ebay for a boom microscope and using the closest first search option. Packaging a used microscope is labor intensive. If I can find one close, I might just throw out a best offer and save the seller the chore of packing.