old eyes are needing some assistance - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: lupinehorror
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 06:43:04 am
content: all.my passion for electronics has been rekindled over the past 6 months or so.probably been 20 years since i last soldered in anger and i'm rather pleased to find that the skill hasn't gotten too tarnished. my eyes are struggling however. can read fine with my glasses but am having difficulty with the wee stuff. got one of those magnifiers with the helping claws attached but it isn't cutting the mustard.now thinking something head-mounted with maybe some built-in illumination (got little bendy LED lamps at the moment). could anyone recommend something that has a decent value/quality balance? UK based would be grand.thanks in advance.

author: hexreader
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 06:49:13 am
content: I find a USB microscope really handy.Optical magnifiers just don't seem to do the job for me.

author: lupinehorror
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 07:22:43 am
content: thanks for the reply.that's something i hadn't considered. amazon here we come.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 07:43:33 am
content: When I was in a similar position, I ended up settling on Maplin's head-mounted visor.Benefits: can be used with normal glasses, a cheap experiment to help you discover what worksfor you, can also be used when peering sideways (etc!) into instruments.I do have a stereo microscope that works for me (the only ones I found that do), but I only use that very occasionally for "high" magnification PCB inspection.

author: lupinehorror
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 07:48:46 am
content: thanks for taking the time to reply.i might actually try both. the £15.99 number i saw on amazon won't break the bank (nor deliver stellar performance either i realise) and i'll check out some visors.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 07:58:07 am
content: You're welcome. One way or another you will pay for your experience, so you might as well make the initial scout-out-the-territory experiments cheap!For illumination I usehttp://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/lighting/wall-lights/tived-led-wall-clamp-spotlight-nickel-plated-art-10169692/since it is small, out of the way, and instantly movable to whatever positionand anglehappens to be right for the job.My other techniques are athttps://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/category/homebrew-pcbs/

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 08:04:51 am
content: My opinion for what its worth......If you can afford it buy a stereo microscope they are fantastic for old eyes. Go for a zoom microscope with 3.5 to 20 times or there abouts magnification.Otherwise buy a head band magnifier, one with large lenses so you don't lose your peripheral vision when wearing them.https://www.solidrop.net/photo-7/magnifier-glasses-led-headband-light-professional-head-loupe-for-eyelash-extension-repair-magnifying-eyeglass1-2x-1-8x-2-5x-3-5x.jpgThese ones restrict your peripheral vision too much.http://jsp.cc/images/itempictures/lo210.jpgPersonally i find USB microscopes utterly useless for soldering as I lose the depth perception.I also tried medical / dental style loupes built into spectacles and found them to be pretty hopeless as well.Cheap 2x or 3x reading glasses from the local dollar shop or chemist can be ok but the working distance can get too small.

author: lupinehorror
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 08:19:23 am
content: if only the dummy head were included!good info...thanks.

author: ruairi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 08:21:06 am
content: For head worn the Donegan Optivisor is very good, I like mine a lot and it was good value -http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optivisorI got several strength lenses.That said I stopped using the Optivisor entirely when I got a used Luxo Magnifier. The unit I got was about $450 new but I paid $100 on eBay. It is fantastic, probably my favorite thing on the bench. The only thing I would consider swapping it for is an LED magnifier.

author: Dr. Frank
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 09:21:23 am
content: Have the same problem since the age of 45..Depending, if you are far- or near-sighted, maybe strong spectacles with +3.0 diopter would be sufficient.I use cheap ones (4€ at ALDI, or better ones for 15€ at the optician), and they are good for through - hole soldering.For smaller parts, I use 200€ loupe spectacles, 2.5x from Eschenbach.Frank

author: lupinehorror
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 10:03:54 am
content: you've all been most helpful and there's some great ideas...thank you.the luxo units look very nice indeed.ripe old age of 43 by the way!

author: lupinehorror
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 12:59:29 pm
content: a couple of rather keenly priced (cheap) items have been ordered!a USB microscopehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/XCSOURCE-20X-800X-Microscope-Endoscope-Magnifier/dp/B00N4K22OA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505738241&sr=8-1&keywords=usb+microscopeand a head loupe type thinghttps://www.banggood.com/1_5X-2_0X-2_5X-3_5X-Headband-Magnifier-Magnifying-Glass-Loupe-With-4-Lens-p-984654.html?rmmds=myorderone will arrive a bit more quickly than the other...thanks again for everyone's input.

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 01:10:14 pm
content: Also......make sure that you have very good illumination. I would say at least 500 luxes of properly diffused light.For that reason I still use fluorescent tubes as the light source.

author: DuPe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 08:55:37 pm
content: hi,from this forum I got the tip to contact my optitian and order glasses with my near field lens strenght +3 dioptre.This was a good advice. Gives a good view for fine work with neat near field magnification.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2017, 10:09:51 pm
content: For too small or faded things, I take my Canon camera, set it to macro focus and take a picture. Then I view it on my computer and magnify as required. I can also manipulate the image as required.This helped retrieve some worn/faded out Windows license keys from the backside of the laptop.Not as convenient as some of the other solutions present, but I already have the camera and don't need to use this method very frequently.

author: lupinehorror
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2017, 06:16:18 am
content: @schmitt triggerlight isn't too much of an issue but as my setup grows i will have to get something decent sorted. at the moment i have two flexible LED lamps...not the best but very portable@DuPerecently got new glasses but will keep that in mind the next time i get a prescription@retiredcapsnice tip. i do have a 70-300mm nikkor zoom lens that has a macro mode

author: Assafl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2017, 08:39:58 am
content: 48yo. Electronics were becoming a blurry mess (couldn't even read resistor color bands).Donegan Optivisor was a life saver. Also got the loop attachment for when the SMD is too small (and which allowed me to use samller magnification which is both more comfortable and wider field of view), and additional purchased the Quasar LED lights for it which are really good.https://www.amazon.com/Quasar-Led-Lighting-System-Optivisors/dp/B0058ECQ46/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1505810209&sr=8-4&keywords=optivisorI can sit with this for hours.Also tried the Edsyn one which were not as good for me, albeit a great deal lighter.

author: lupinehorror
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2017, 10:11:32 am
content: those would probably fit the set i've bought! nice find. thank you

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2017, 10:42:34 am
content: I realised my eyes were not working as well as they used to when I had to ask someone for help adding a patch wire to a via.... it had crept up on me and I hadn't realised my eyes were getting old.First I went for a head thing... like this...http://www.argos.co.uk/product/2761976pretty good but depth of field is very narrow and you end up pretty close to the flux smoke.I also bought a cheap USB microscope... not bad... but very limited depth of field.For simple work I use some cheapo short sight fixing glasses (e.g. Clas Olson +2.0) and where necessary wear two pairs at the same time!I have also now bought a Zenith widefield microscope for SMD work...http://www.microglobe.co.uk/zenith-stl-80-x10x20-long-arm-stereoscopic-microscope-p-8276.htmlWith the microscope I can do things that do not look humanly possible. I love it.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2017, 10:54:37 am
content: A problem with eelctronic solutions is they can have latency - I have one of the Andonstar units for on-site work, and the latency is such that you can get an artificial hand tremor as the brain overshoots compensating for a delayed image.IME many of the cheaper magnifying solutions, especially things made for watchmaking etc. have too close a working distance to be useful for anything but inspection - you can't work under themIf cost is no object, nothing beats a Mantis.

author: eliocor
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 19, 2017, 11:08:41 am
content: May I suggest Eschenbach MaxDetail 2x goggles?http://www.eschenbach.com/e73b38e1-2849-4031-91b5-853513dd0494/products-telescopes-galilean-detail.htmEven if I own 2 zoom stereoscopic microscopes, I love those spectacles.The chromatic aberration is rather low, you can correct (+-3dioptr) your eye differences and your focusing distance is not so near as most of the previously suggested solutions.Surely they are not cheap (confronted with typical chinese products) but they work really well:https://www.amazon.com/Eschenbach-1624-51-MaxDetail-Magnifier/dp/B00481YIS2(but you can get them at lower prices)I can confirm everything the vendor says in this video is true:BTW: he correctly pronounce 'Eschenbach'

author: lupinehorror
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2017, 11:44:12 am
content: @NivagSwerdnagot the first two mostly sorted and will see how well they work out for me. i'd love a decent stereo microscope (have since i was wee) but funds forbid it at the moment. on day 72 of no tobacco so i'm going to try and put some cash by after the vape setting up is complete.@mikeselectricstuff i'm ok with most things but the really small stuff hurts. a mantis! hadn't heard of one of those beasties before...i bet the price would hurt...@eliocor those look great...a bit on the expensive side for me though. will check the video out later today...thanks.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2017, 12:44:17 pm
content: Quote from: lupinehorror on September 19, 2017, 11:44:12 amhttp://www.visioneng.com/products/stereo-microscopes/mantis-compact-visual-inspection-microscopeStart at about a grand but worth every penny. Worth keeping a look out for on ebay

author: lupinehorror
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2017, 02:17:47 pm
content: @mikeselectricstuff aye...that's the site i looked at. i thought to myself that if you have to ask how muchit is it's probably too expensive...

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2017, 04:01:16 pm
content: Quote from: lupinehorror on September 19, 2017, 11:44:12 amI appreciate where you are coming from. My two major purchases... my widefield microscope and my oscilloscope were hard to afford/justify but now I have them I wished I had bought them earlier. Good luck saving... and look on ebay in the meantime... used /cheap widefield microscopes are rare but they do occasionaly crop up.