WTB microscope/mag glasses > x3.5 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: trevwhite
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 06:46:28 pm
content: I have been using a headband magnifier with magnification of 3.5x but I find it does not really work for prolonged periods of work. My eyes get too tired and I can not see some of the finer smt joints well enough.What do people use when working with surface mount? I need greater magnification than 3.5 because I find I cant examine the joints very well. I think I would prefer stereo view so that I get a proper image of the joints.Any one got a recommendation of what to buy? Not sure of my budget just yet but I want something decent.Trev

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 07:56:10 pm
content: I have a pair of stereo loupes at 4.5x mag, but I would not recommend them. The magnification is high enough that the pulse in your head is enough to bounce the field of view around.I ended up with a Mantis which, although a bit bulky, solved all my problems.Maybe a stereo inspection microscope mounted on a boom?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 08:00:56 pm
content: Do you use glasses for reading?I do, and I find it perfectly satisfactory to use my standard reading glasses together with one of these:http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/rolson-2-led-12x-18x-25x-and-35x-magnifying-visor-n70fkSo, maybe you could consider taking it to your local supermarket and trying it with some of the cheap non-prescription +2D or +3D reading glasses. If it works, you have a cheap upgrade!

author: trevwhite
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 08:13:11 pm
content: Well I have seen through a Mantis a long time ago and it did look very good. They are bulky though but I think they are a bit out of my price range as well. Maybe if there was a second hand one floating around I might be able to stretch to it. I think the magic of the Mantis is that your eyes are relaxed when looking through it so eye strain is not a problemAnyway, I do need greater than 3.5 so the Rolson headband is out but thanks for the suggestion. I think I would end up with the same problems I have now.

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 08:45:25 pm
content: Quote from: trevwhite on April 01, 2016, 06:46:28 pmTheAmScope SE400-LEDmicroscope is a very good choice for SMT work. The working distance is huge and the default 10x eyepieces are great. The gooseneck LED light is very versatile.Cheershammy

author: trevwhite
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 09:18:20 pm
content: Now I think we are getting somewhere, Amscope looks more like it. I can see that helping a lot. Thanks

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 11:33:56 pm
content: Quote from: hammy on April 01, 2016, 08:45:25 pmI don't like the microscopes I've tried, sopersonallyI'd want to try one before purchasing it. YMMV, obviously.

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 12:40:56 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on April 01, 2016, 11:33:56 pmYes. I don't know in which country trevwhite is living, but in the "western world" you can send it back in the first 2 weeks.In my personal experience it was the other way around. I tried many magnification glasses and these magnifying lamps. But nothing worked for me. A Mantis is way out of my budget, but with the SE400 I found a really good working solution.The field of view of such a stereo microscope is way better than you think, and the 10x eyepieces are a perfect fit for SMT work. (I also own the 5x amd 15x eyepieces. But I use them in less than 5% of the work.)The SE400 has a very high distance between object and lenses, a soldering iron and your hand can move around. This thing is made for this type of work.But some people don't like to use a stereo microscope. Some people get dizzy.For me the working position is better than with a magnification lens, the eyepieces are in a higher position than I have to bow down my head with such a headband thing.Cheershammy

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 01:58:23 pm
content: My advice for a stereo microscope: it should have a variable zoom.I bought a Leica stereo microscope with it and use if continuously. For soldering i use the minimum mag of 5x (dream would be 3x) and checking you zoom what you need to 30x.

author: trevwhite
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 02:10:53 pm
content: I am in the UK. Amscope look interesting.

author: MattCoates
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 04:33:48 pm
content: Does anybody know if there are any UK dealers that stock any AMScopes or similar? I too am in a similar position but I'd hate to order all the way from the US to find out that I dont get on with it.

author: trevwhite
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 08:19:01 pm
content: I am not sure if I can afford it just yet but I really like the look of the Amscope SM-4TPZ-FRL-3M. This looks to be the business.I think I prefer to wait and get the cash for the right piece of kit rather than buy something cheaper and keep thinking I should have paid a bit more. The SM-4TPZ-FRL-3M looks like the kind of model that would never need to be replaced.

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 09:25:57 pm
content: Quote from: trevwhite on April 02, 2016, 08:19:01 pmOk, get a Mantis.On eBay are used ones for this amount of money.Cheershammy

author: trevwhite
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 09:51:32 pm
content: Quote from: hammy on April 02, 2016, 09:25:57 pmDo you have more detail of why I should buy Mantis over the amscope?

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 11:19:19 pm
content: You should try to look through one before you buy, whatever you decided to go for.The Mantis gives you a heads-up position with no eyepieces to worry about. If you wear glasses, no problem. With the binocular microscope, you're bent over and you have the eyepieces to deal with. Some personal preference is involved, you may find the binocular scope perfectly acceptable. You really need to try before you buy, or at least make sure you can return it if you don't like it.I really do like my Mantis and bought it sight unseen based on the enthusiastic reviews on this forum. That was a good choice for me.

author: trevwhite
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 11:21:25 pm
content: Thanks, appreciate the reply

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 11:31:14 pm
content: Quote from: trevwhite on April 02, 2016, 09:51:32 pmhave a look for Dave's Mantis videos (#817, #332, #390).Cheershammy

author: trevwhite
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 12:23:46 am
content: That Mantis Elite is not cheap but Dave does a good review of the thing.

author: ywara
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 12:45:42 am
content: My experience with a Mantis is not great. They make working in a comfortable posture, but the vision is pretty terrible compared to the low-end stereo microscopes I use every day. The Mantis looks very "flat" compared to a stereo microscope (i.e. poor depth perception), and makes fine work somewhat difficult for me.If I had to sit at a bench working through a microscope 8-10 hours per day I might give a Mantis a shot, but given the price I'd run with something like that Amscope, a Meiji Techno BM-1 (mid-range), or a Leica A60 ($$$).

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 08:35:43 am
content: I don,t know your age but you buy these things once in a lifetime, that for me justified buying a good one.Tens of years of working with it. Only mechanics ni electronics that can break down, except for the LED ring illuminator. It has a protection lens that can be swapped if scratched or dirty.The Leica is not cheap(around €2500) but if you compare it to one of their camera,s it is not very expensive. I at least was afraid it was much more expensive when i first came across it.But the Mantis is good as well but in the same money ballpark I guess?

author: trevwhite
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 10:04:22 am
content: I am not completely sure of my budget but $2500 is more than I want to pay. I can probably wait a while and invest something like £500 but I shall look at all the suggestions and see what looks fit for my purpose.

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 11:20:55 am
content: I'm in the UK and couldn't justify spending loads on a microscope. I thought the AmScope looked appropriate for me but shipping to the UK was expensive. Brunel look OK if you want a UK supplier. I ended up with the Chinese AmScope equivalent from eBay and was pretty happy with it. Some details here if you're interested:https://0xfred.wordpress.com/2015/11/21/a-stereo-microscope/

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 01:33:35 pm
content: Is the 0.5x lens you mention in the review what they call a Barlow lens ? Where does it mount, at the bottom end of the head ?

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 01:47:56 pm
content: Quote from: trevwhite on April 03, 2016, 10:04:22 amOk just a small warning not all stereoscopes have a wide point of view or (don't remember the term) can focus on a widere depth.With the last I mean that if you look at for instance a mlcc capacitor, and the top is full in focus, the bottom can be blurry. The inspection stereo microscopes have special feature that makes this less obvious, the whole mlcc to to bottom is acceptable in focus. So be carefull what you buy. Good luck.EDIT: I just looked it up it is a term called Depth Of Field see picture. If that is not large enough you probaly are unable to work for too long periods of time.

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 08:32:53 pm
content: Quote from: Fred27 on April 03, 2016, 11:20:55 amRight now the Amscope is available in amazon.co.uk for £189.98 with free shipping in UK.Cheershammy

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 08:37:52 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on April 03, 2016, 01:47:56 pmThe SE400 (with the WF 10x eyepieces) shows the top and bottom of an SMD Ferrite Inductor with 3mm height in focus.Cheershammy

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 09:00:04 pm
content: Quote from: hammy on April 03, 2016, 08:37:52 pmHow much is the DOF spec,d? The Leica has 13mm which is pretty good for SMT inspection and rework.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 09:03:19 pm
content: Amscope also sells zoom stereo microscopes, this is really cheap!http://www.amazon.co.uk/AmScope-SM-4TZ-144A-3-5X-90X-Trinocular-Microscope/dp/B004UBNIMC

author: MattCoates
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 09:12:33 pm
content: Quote from: hammy on April 03, 2016, 08:32:53 pmOh wow, don't know how I didn't find that before, certainly looks appealing especially with some on prime.With regards to the warranty it says it comes with 5 Years parts & labour guarantee but the buyer pays round shipping, would that be all the way to america and back? I suppose it would be cheaper to just get it serviced by someone in the uk if it breaks - Can anybody speak for the serviceability of these things? The 7x - 45x seems to be £250 cheaper than brunell microscopes (UK Based) so may be worth it even if you have to fork out for a few repairs.

author: BobsURuncle
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 09:12:53 pm
content: Has anybody tried the Mantis Compact Series Microscope?

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 09:21:01 pm
content: Maybe you can snag this FREE electron microscopehttps://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/zip/5519000907.html

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 09:22:01 pm
content: I'm sure that when I looked (not that long ago) AmScope wasn't easy to get in the UK, but it looks like that's changed. I'm still happy with my Chinese eBay version though - I played the usual cost/quality eBay gamble and seemed to come out of it OK on this one.I also went with a 2x barlow lens in addition to the usual 0.5x for SMT work and soldering. Great for letting the kids play around looking at insects, plants, etc. under higher magnification. Sometimes it's notallabout electronics.

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 03, 2016, 09:31:20 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on April 03, 2016, 09:00:04 pmIndeed, 13mm is really good. <joke>But how big are your SMT parts? You can do THT with this DOF!</joke>There is no spec in the manual. But a real world test with my EEVBlog µRuler shows a DOF of roundabout 5mm (maybe 6mm if you stretch it a little bit) and a working distance of 22cm (with 10x eyepieces).With these microscopes it is like soldering irons or test gear: "Better is the enemy of good."Cheershammy

author: MattCoates
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 04, 2016, 03:55:45 pm
content: Does anyone have a photo of the AMScope Double Boom Arm on a 600mm deep desk?