My stereo micrscope is THE most valuable tool on my bench, by far. It gets used for such a huge variety of projects. Even when my eyes were still perfect, the microscope was my favorite tool. You can see tiny flaws so easily. Whiskers, cracks, burrs, everything.
I really enjoy your not wandering across multiple subjects on your video, this is a definite improvement...thank you for making them better. You have a lot of knowledge to share and staying on one topic makes it easier to watch and learn.
Good find. I got an AMSCOPE SE400. It came with 10X and 20X eyepieces and a 1X objective. I found this was too much magnification and bought a 0.5X objective for a total of 5X magnification. This is OK for most SMD work I do. A zoom from about 3.5X to 7 or 10 would be perfect. This SE400 has lots of working height. Many only have a few inches. The super small soldering irons with the heating element in the tip work well - such as the Sugon A9 which looks like a JBC knockoff. For hobby use I cannot justify the cost the major brands. I got a fume fan that is about 5x5x3 that fits on the stand - not quite as close as the unit you have but it does suck most of the fumes. The base is back giving more work area. This was around $180 plus $100 or so for the 0.5x objective. I tried the 5X eyepiece but didn't work for me as the field of view is the same - about an inch. A good alternative to consider.
Thanks for this great feedback! Yes the working room under this is not a lot - but probably enough. I like the idea of the 0.5x objective lens. Did that give you more height?
For the Amscope SE400, the supplied lenses were either way too magnified (20X and 10X). The 5X eyepieces have a restricted field of view with the 1X objective. However, the supplied 10X with a purchased 0.5X objective gave about 22mm FOV. The 400X working distance is 7-3/4 inches. It didn't matter if this combination gave more working range as the magnification for PCB surface mounted parts was unacceptable. Hope that makes sense. And the vertical mounting shaft has about 2-3/4 more height for thicker parts.
One of the popular things to do among professional board repair shops is to go with additional light sources. They're often use two sources away from the lens often on flexible mounts. This will solve the glare and the tedious aspect of having to tilt the boards in order to be able to see better, read labels etc when using a ring light alone.. The glare can be murder to your eyes if you're spending hours working with it. I like the idea of the binocular over some of the microscope types that strictly use a display screen. It can take some time to get used to the small amount of latency between the movement of working with tools, and when you see the movement. The binocular of course gives you instant feedback of your hand motions. The best screen only systems reduce the latency quite a bit.
Thanks for this great feedback! The light does reflect some but I don't know what the one that came with it would look like - maybe softer - but it was DOA. My last microscope with 10" screen might be my favorite because of the working area and lights on flexible cables. The screen was very sharp and the endoscope was a cool feature. The optics in this one are super sharp though...
I have tried using a variety of scopes, with limited success. A variable light source is a must! As noted by another, the working space is poor. If you move the optical head upwards for more space, the eye pieces are too high for comfort. Mostly I use a headband with flip down lenses, and the scopes just for inspection.
Thanks for this feedback! the flip down lenses do work for many;) I like the last microscope I reviewed with the 10" screen. The flexible lighting and endoscope were really cool.
Nice setup but how much working height can you get under the scope? If you are doing soldering and especially when using hot air tools, you need a fair bit of vertical height.
This one looks way too tight. And also the base with the column behind it is a real limitation as well - you can't get large boards in there because the column is in the way. Larger working height and boom stand is essential for a proper microscope for electronics work! I got an AmScope on a boom stand last year, and I love it! I use it for all sorts of stuff, but mostly board repair and reading component labels.
Great point! The hot air guns do need some room. I think I like the last microscope that I reviewed with the 10" screen. These optics are very sweet though.
My stereo micrscope is THE most valuable tool on my bench, by far. It gets used for such a huge variety of projects.
Even when my eyes were still perfect, the microscope was my favorite tool.
You can see tiny flaws so easily. Whiskers, cracks, burrs, everything.
Thanks for your feedback! Yes - it is hard to beat real optics vs a HD screen.
I really enjoy your not wandering across multiple subjects on your video, this is a definite improvement...thank you for making them better. You have a lot of knowledge to share and staying on one topic makes it easier to watch and learn.
Thank you! I am trying to learn;) I appreciate you!
Good find. I got an AMSCOPE SE400. It came with 10X and 20X eyepieces and a 1X objective. I found this was too much magnification and bought a 0.5X objective for a total of 5X magnification. This is OK for most SMD work I do. A zoom from about 3.5X to 7 or 10 would be perfect. This SE400 has lots of working height. Many only have a few inches. The super small soldering irons with the heating element in the tip work well - such as the Sugon A9 which looks like a JBC knockoff. For hobby use I cannot justify the cost the major brands.
I got a fume fan that is about 5x5x3 that fits on the stand - not quite as close as the unit you have but it does suck most of the fumes.
The base is back giving more work area.
This was around $180 plus $100 or so for the 0.5x objective. I tried the 5X eyepiece but didn't work for me as the field of view is the same - about an inch. A good alternative to consider.
Thanks for this great feedback! Yes the working room under this is not a lot - but probably enough. I like the idea of the 0.5x objective lens. Did that give you more height?
For the Amscope SE400, the supplied lenses were either way too magnified (20X and 10X). The 5X eyepieces have a restricted field of view with the 1X objective. However, the supplied 10X with a purchased 0.5X objective gave about 22mm FOV. The 400X working distance is 7-3/4 inches. It didn't matter if this combination gave more working range as the magnification for PCB surface mounted parts was unacceptable. Hope that makes sense. And the vertical mounting shaft has about 2-3/4 more height for thicker parts.
One of the popular things to do among professional board repair shops is to go with additional light sources. They're often use two sources away from the lens often on flexible mounts. This will solve the glare and the tedious aspect of having to tilt the boards in order to be able to see better, read labels etc when using a ring light alone.. The glare can be murder to your eyes if you're spending hours working with it.
I like the idea of the binocular over some of the microscope types that strictly use a display screen. It can take some time to get used to the small amount of latency between the movement of working with tools, and when you see the movement. The binocular of course gives you instant feedback of your hand motions. The best screen only systems reduce the latency quite a bit.
Thanks for this great feedback! The light does reflect some but I don't know what the one that came with it would look like - maybe softer - but it was DOA. My last microscope with 10" screen might be my favorite because of the working area and lights on flexible cables. The screen was very sharp and the endoscope was a cool feature. The optics in this one are super sharp though...
@@KissAnalog I took the plunge and bought myself one of these using your link.
Thanks again for doing the good review.
Eddie, I use my scope for research and photography of petrified wood. Great scope.
Thanks for this! Yes the optics are great for getting fine detail. I want to see what my grandchild thinks of it. She is only 4;)
I have tried using a variety of scopes, with limited success. A variable light source is a must! As noted by another, the working space is poor. If you move the optical head upwards for more space, the eye pieces are too high for comfort. Mostly I use a headband with flip down lenses, and the scopes just for inspection.
Thanks for this feedback! the flip down lenses do work for many;) I like the last microscope I reviewed with the 10" screen. The flexible lighting and endoscope were really cool.
When you start wearing glasses, you will have a different opinion about optical instruments. We will all need to wear glasses, eventually.
I fight it ;) My eyes are not as good as they once were;) I do like the 10" screen on the last microscope that I reviewed;)
Nice setup but how much working height can you get under the scope? If you are doing soldering and especially when using hot air tools, you need a fair bit of vertical height.
This one looks way too tight. And also the base with the column behind it is a real limitation as well - you can't get large boards in there because the column is in the way. Larger working height and boom stand is essential for a proper microscope for electronics work! I got an AmScope on a boom stand last year, and I love it! I use it for all sorts of stuff, but mostly board repair and reading component labels.
Yup, did about the same. Real useful to have a microscope, but it has to work for you not get in the way. @@gorak9000
Great point! The hot air guns do need some room. I think I like the last microscope that I reviewed with the 10" screen. These optics are very sweet though.
@gorak9000 Yes you are right - but booms are pretty inexpensive to add ;)
It looks like good build quality for $350.
I was impressed;) Thanks!