Microscope zoom range for soldering - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: plazma
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 06:53:35 pm
content: I use three different microscopes for soldering. Two different models at work and one in my garage. All of them have about the same zoom range of 5 - 25x.This is what it looks like in the minimum and maximum zoom (the resistor is a 0402):I'm just posting this to help others buying a microscope. I was searching for a good zoom range when buying my unit. I checked the range from the work units and got about the same.One other thing to check is the working range. The units I use have about 13.5 - 16cm space between the lens and table.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 07:20:39 pm
content: My Leica A60 has a 5x-30x zoom but I wished it would already start at 2,5x since I often would like to see more wider area when soldering somewhat larger components.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 07:42:15 pm
content: Most of the microscope I've used have had a base unit with 0.7 to 4X, 10X eyepeices and a 0.5X barlow, giving a total of 3.5 to 20X which is enough for any surface mount work. I've also got a Leica MZ12 with an assortment of Barlow lenses, so can go to 2x barlow, 10X base and 12.5X eyepieces for a total of 250X. It manages that with excellent clarity too, but needs a lot of light.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 07:56:41 pm
content: @Plazma: which brands/types do you refer to? Are these stereo microscopes? 13 to 16 cm between the lens and workpiece sounds like a very workable solution to me! It is way more than I expected.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 08:10:41 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on September 14, 2015, 07:56:41 pmIndeed my Leica has about 10cm's between the workpiece also due to the LED lighting circle mounted underneath. But that is quite workable for me.

author: plazma
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 08:18:16 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on September 14, 2015, 07:56:41 pmMost of the microscopes at work are Leica brand.My own microscope is an Askania GSZ. I got it cheap from eBay. It was mislabeled and was missing a proper stand. I got the stand from a dumpster. The optics of it is really good German quality.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 09:32:20 pm
content: Quote+1. I use a 3.5-22 zoom (with 0.5 barlow). Oftentimes, I move to the magnifying lamp for placing passives on a pasted board, for instance. But then the width of the lamp and the focal distance are major drawbacks. It would be great to have a 0.25 barlow? The perfect lighting, stability, and working depth are sometimes the main reason I use the microscope.I have read that when you swap a 5x eyepiece, it restricts the FOV, so you don't necessarily get much if any increase in FOV. Anyone have any experience with this? I suppose it depends on the individual microscope. I am sure there are higher quality microscopes with more capable objectives. OTOH, it seems like using a 0.25 barlow should increase the FOV no matter the microscope.