Hi, Thank you for the review, as it helped a lot when deciding what digital microscope to buy for a hobbyist. More expensive ones will be marginally better, but we should always consider what we will be using the tool for, as for me, this Andostar 106 is more than enough for my needs. Ordered from Amazon. Should arrive soon.
Here is the purchasing link: www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Andonstar-AD106-Digital-USB-Microscope-4-3-inch-Built-in-Display-THT-SMD-Tool-Soldering-Tool/700244_32920213440.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.4.2bb4761eeSlxzI
I would get a heavier stand, and preferably one with a longer arm so it is less in the way. I used a magnetic micrometer base from the local tool shop for my cheap microscope, and simply replaced the magnetic clamp with a block of granite slab, with a hole drilled in it to accept a M8 threaded stud, that was put into the granite with 2 part epoxy. Then used the micrometer end of the mount to attach most of the microscope mounting frame, and had a much more capable stand. Granite was a scrap piece from local granite manufacturer, taken from the skip of broken bits, around a kilogram in weight, so very stable in all normal use. Magnetic base was ca $10 new, and I used only the rods and clamps of it, so can use the actual mag clamp elsewhere, as the clamp itself is not capable of holding the microscope reliably, unless you use a large 6mm thick uncoated steel plate.
Hi Sean, good idea using that micrometer base and a piece of granite. Sounds like a solid unit now! I would probably do something similar my friend, however I have a research grade microscope for repairs so wouldn't really use the digital one so much. It will certainly come in handy though for quick ID purposes etc. Cheers John
I got the same scope under the koolertron name and it was missing the 3M sticker for the UV filter. The UV filter has threads on it but no threads on the lens cap. I really hate to go through the hassle of sending it back since it does work good if you tape the filter to the cap but it still got a 1 star review from me on Amazon.
Understood Frank. The Andonstar is the same, although at least as you say it had a sticker with it. There were threads on my UV filter too but none on the cap, hence the sticker they provide. You shouldn't really have to do it after buying product, but you can get around this by getting yourself one of the double sided sticky pads used to stick a cars rear view mirror to the windscreens. Cut it to shape and do the same as I did on the Andonstar and stick it filter to the lens cap 👍
its a half A$$ setup for sure but I'm not sure I would trust the 3M sticker that they provide. I think at this point a couple drops of glue might be the in order.
Here is the purchasing link: www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Andonstar-AD106-Digital-USB-Microscope-4-3-inch-Built-in-Display-THT-SMD-Tool-Soldering-Tool/700244_32920213440.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.4.2bb4761eeSlxzI
Sorry but as Ive not tried that I cant really advise on it. And I would not like to give you false information. Perhaps you could contact Andonstar directly as they should be able to advise you better.
Hi John. Another neat item for the workbench. For the price it is probably a good starter microscope or for someone on a budget. On another note you will probably think we are crazy, but we have decided to get another dog. We are getting another mini-schnauzer from the same breeder we got bear from almost 14 years ago. He is a salt and pepper so we won't be constantly comparing them. Wish us luck - lol. Regards, Dave
Hi Dave.. Thanks for the comments as always my friend. Re: your next lil' doggy. That's awesome, and your not crazy at all. A new friend will likely help you combat your loss of Bear. He would be happy knowing another Schnauzer was keeping an eye on his family for him. Hopefully you won't need any luck Dave.. I'm sure he/she will be great! Are you in the UK Dave?.. If so I was just wondering what breeder you have/use. We're on the look out, or will be soon for another Schnauzer too :) Cheers Dave John
@@OrbiterElectronics Hi John, thank you for the kind words. We live in Ontario, Canada John, so the trip might be a bit long to get a puppy. Glad you are looking for a new friend also, they really make life better and are just fun to live with. Regards, Dave
Hi Dave.. Lol.. I think I'll give that journey a miss then, I wouldn't mind a couple of hundred miles for a puppy but not that far 😁 Our house is just a bit too quiet without a little friend too. Cheers John
Here is the purchasing link: www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Andonstar-AD106-Digital-USB-Microscope-4-3-inch-Built-in-Display-THT-SMD-Tool-Soldering-Tool/700244_32920213440.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.4.2bb4761eeSlxzI
The scope claims to be 12 megapixels max, do you know if it's a real 12 MP or if it's interpolated at that level? I can order one right now for $60 US on Amazon. My 62 year-old eyes could use some help! lol Thanks and thanks for the nice review.
I cant say for sure, but I would say looking at the non zoomed image it would be interpolated. Don't get me wrong the image is not bad, I would just expect better if it were a true 12MP sensor.
I can't really help there mate as I don't have the m'scope anymore. I believe only certain models actually connect to the PC in the first place, Normally the more expensive ones. One of my recent videos covers one of the newer, & larger screened Andonstar microscopes and that doesn't connect to the PC either, although it does seem like there is an HDMI port moulding in the body of the camera so they obviously make a PC version. If though you have a m'scope camera that IS supposed to connect to PC, the only thing I can think of is that it's either still not configured correctly, or you there is a fault somewhere. What camera model do you have?
In the video at 13:05 I consider smaller components and you can actually see them as small as 01005. These are extremely small and IMO too small to comfortably solder with this scope. 0402 would be a tiny bit easier and with a steady hand would be doable. Perhaps as an alternative with bigger clearer screen, have a look at the Andonstar AD207. I review that here.. ruclips.net/video/6QTcQqZRPKQ/видео.html
Well i'm sure it's a hell of a lot better than struggling to see smd parts with bare eyes, especially if your short distance vision is a bit fuzzy, like mine is now. You can't compare it against pro equipment, simply not fair. If the single pictures are better than the screen view i would use a different screen, if possible. I see that you slightly like knipex tools john he he :-D
Hi Harv.. I've likely messed up the explanation my friend.. I was just referring to the images on my camera screen not being as sharp as the images on the microscope screen. The scope screen Is not too bad really but the camera makes it look worse being so close to it. Re: the Knipex stuff.. LOL.. Yes I like their tools, but to be honest I much prefer Snap-On, It's far better made.. I used to have around £15k's worth of Snap-On stuff when I was a mechanic however I sold quite a bit of it when I finished. Also a lot of things got stolen a my last employment :( Needless to say, I wasn't there long! Cheers Harv John
What a shame about the tools :-(, "SCUM" is the name for the b'stards that stole your tools. I hate losing tools and i only have old stuff from when i was 18 (Millions of years ago lol). i have also had enough of people borrowing tools and not bringing them back, so dam annoying :-(. I'm even carefull with my mates tools when i'm helping them, back in the box they go after the job. Sorry jibbering again lol.
Totally agree Harvey. I remember that terrible feeling when I was sooo happy to have a huge Snap-On tool chest, that i'd been building up for literally years & years.. Only to get back to it on a few occasions and see a space in a drawer where one of the tools once lived :( If you we're lucky one of your mates had just borrowed it for something. Most of the guys I worked with also had Snap-On tool chests and we all knew the importance of them to their owners. Each borrowed tool was returned to it's place, AND clean! Unfortunately one of my 'so called' mates in my last job was a thief, I didn't find that out until I visited his house one day and saw a good handful of my tools in his garage. I knew they were mine as I used to mark my tools with a special tiny sequence of etch marks. Needless to say I got those back Immediately! The guy was arrested not long after that for far worse than steeling a few tools.
What a shitbag!!, i hate people like that. You don't exactly know me fully john, but i was brought up right, i never had much money but it didn't seem to matter. And stealing never entered my head. I can't see how people can live with themselves while stealing from anyone, they can't have any conscience. The worst i could do if i was at your house is fondle the teabags ha ha :-D :-D.
At best this can be considered as only a high magnification viewing screen not a microscope per se...........some of the sellers rate them as 1,000 magnification......bloody liars. Any microscope that does a high amount of image magnifying would have the lens so close to the work you can't actually work on it.......as the man says, for the price you get what you pay for. I like the incorporated screen, but at 4.3" it's not all that big........some others have 7"screens..... for portability as opposed to having to plug it into a PC and a trail of cables etc.
Hi,
Thank you for the review, as it helped a lot when deciding what digital microscope to buy for a hobbyist. More expensive ones will be marginally better, but we should always consider what we will be using the tool for, as for me, this Andostar 106 is more than enough for my needs.
Ordered from Amazon. Should arrive soon.
Hi there, glad you found the video helpful. Hope you enjoy using your new scope 🔬👍
Thanks for the in depth review! I will give this thing a try. It seems like a good starter.
Hi. You're welcome, thanks for stopping by and commenting 👍
Here is the purchasing link:
www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Andonstar-AD106-Digital-USB-Microscope-4-3-inch-Built-in-Display-THT-SMD-Tool-Soldering-Tool/700244_32920213440.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.4.2bb4761eeSlxzI
A tip : you can watch movies on Flixzone. I've been using them for watching a lot of movies during the lockdown.
@Reese Nico Definitely, I've been using Flixzone for since november myself :D
I would get a heavier stand, and preferably one with a longer arm so it is less in the way. I used a magnetic micrometer base from the local tool shop for my cheap microscope, and simply replaced the magnetic clamp with a block of granite slab, with a hole drilled in it to accept a M8 threaded stud, that was put into the granite with 2 part epoxy. Then used the micrometer end of the mount to attach most of the microscope mounting frame, and had a much more capable stand. Granite was a scrap piece from local granite manufacturer, taken from the skip of broken bits, around a kilogram in weight, so very stable in all normal use. Magnetic base was ca $10 new, and I used only the rods and clamps of it, so can use the actual mag clamp elsewhere, as the clamp itself is not capable of holding the microscope reliably, unless you use a large 6mm thick uncoated steel plate.
Hi Sean, good idea using that micrometer base and a piece of granite. Sounds like a solid unit now! I would probably do something similar my friend, however I have a research grade microscope for repairs so wouldn't really use the digital one so much. It will certainly come in handy though for quick ID purposes etc.
Cheers
John
Very good and thank you.
*Brazil.*
Hi Jose, appreciate the comments. Thank you.
Cheers
John
I got the same scope under the koolertron name and it was missing the 3M sticker for the UV filter. The UV filter has threads on it but no threads on the lens cap. I really hate to go through the hassle of sending it back since it does work good if you tape the filter to the cap but it still got a 1 star review from me on Amazon.
Understood Frank. The Andonstar is the same, although at least as you say it had a sticker with it. There were threads on my UV filter too but none on the cap, hence the sticker they provide. You shouldn't really have to do it after buying product, but you can get around this by getting yourself one of the double sided sticky pads used to stick a cars rear view mirror to the windscreens. Cut it to shape and do the same as I did on the Andonstar and stick it filter to the lens cap 👍
its a half A$$ setup for sure but I'm not sure I would trust the 3M sticker that they provide. I think at this point a couple drops of glue might be the in order.
I got two of the stickers :D mine arrived today. Very good value for a cheap thing.
Il video viene registrato su scheda sd nel formato 16:9? Grazie.
Great review...Thank you
Here is the purchasing link:
www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Andonstar-AD106-Digital-USB-Microscope-4-3-inch-Built-in-Display-THT-SMD-Tool-Soldering-Tool/700244_32920213440.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.4.2bb4761eeSlxzI
hello from Argentina, I have a question, could it be connected to a tablet, if I download the yawcam for android? good video congratulations
Sorry but as Ive not tried that I cant really advise on it. And I would not like to give you false information. Perhaps you could contact Andonstar directly as they should be able to advise you better.
Hi John. Another neat item for the workbench. For the price it is probably a good starter microscope or for someone on a budget.
On another note you will probably think we are crazy, but we have decided to get another dog. We are getting another mini-schnauzer from the same breeder we got bear from almost 14 years ago. He is a salt and pepper so we won't be constantly comparing them. Wish us luck - lol. Regards, Dave
Hi Dave.. Thanks for the comments as always my friend. Re: your next lil' doggy. That's awesome, and your not crazy at all. A new friend will likely help you combat your loss of Bear. He would be happy knowing another Schnauzer was keeping an eye on his family for him.
Hopefully you won't need any luck Dave.. I'm sure he/she will be great!
Are you in the UK Dave?.. If so I was just wondering what breeder you have/use. We're on the look out, or will be soon for another Schnauzer too :)
Cheers Dave
John
@@OrbiterElectronics Hi John, thank you for the kind words. We live in Ontario, Canada John, so the trip might be a bit long to get a puppy. Glad you are looking for a new friend also, they really make life better and are just fun to live with. Regards, Dave
Hi Dave.. Lol.. I think I'll give that journey a miss then, I wouldn't mind a couple of hundred miles for a puppy but not that far 😁
Our house is just a bit too quiet without a little friend too.
Cheers
John
Here is the purchasing link:
www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Andonstar-AD106-Digital-USB-Microscope-4-3-inch-Built-in-Display-THT-SMD-Tool-Soldering-Tool/700244_32920213440.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.4.2bb4761eeSlxzI
Maximun working distance.??
All covered at 8:25
The scope claims to be 12 megapixels max, do you know if it's a real 12 MP or if it's interpolated at that level? I can order one right now for $60 US on Amazon. My 62 year-old eyes could use some help! lol Thanks and thanks for the nice review.
I cant say for sure, but I would say looking at the non zoomed image it would be interpolated. Don't get me wrong the image is not bad, I would just expect better if it were a true 12MP sensor.
12 MP camera 1MP video.
Can't it be used in connection with iMac?
Sorry buddy but I've not tried it on an idevice so can't confirm either way. Perhaps try sending Andonstar an email for an answer on that one.
How on earth do you get it to work with the PC, ive tried everything today and the supplied software simply does not find the microscope.
I can't really help there mate as I don't have the m'scope anymore. I believe only certain models actually connect to the PC in the first place, Normally the more expensive ones. One of my recent videos covers one of the newer, & larger screened Andonstar microscopes and that doesn't connect to the PC either, although it does seem like there is an HDMI port moulding in the body of the camera so they obviously make a PC version.
If though you have a m'scope camera that IS supposed to connect to PC, the only thing I can think of is that it's either still not configured correctly, or you there is a fault somewhere. What camera model do you have?
Every the ad says it is!
Hello. To anyone who used this is it realistic to solder 0201, 0.6 mm × 0.3 mm under this microscope?
In the video at 13:05 I consider smaller components and you can actually see them as small as 01005. These are extremely small and IMO too small to comfortably solder with this scope. 0402 would be a tiny bit easier and with a steady hand would be doable.
Perhaps as an alternative with bigger clearer screen, have a look at the Andonstar AD207. I review that here..
ruclips.net/video/6QTcQqZRPKQ/видео.html
Well i'm sure it's a hell of a lot better than struggling to see smd parts with bare eyes, especially if your short distance vision is a bit fuzzy, like mine is now.
You can't compare it against pro equipment, simply not fair.
If the single pictures are better than the screen view i would use a different screen, if possible.
I see that you slightly like knipex tools john he he :-D
Hi Harv.. I've likely messed up the explanation my friend.. I was just referring to the images on my camera screen not being as sharp as the images on the microscope
screen. The scope screen Is not too bad really but the camera makes it look worse being so close to it.
Re: the Knipex stuff.. LOL.. Yes I like their tools, but to be honest I much prefer Snap-On, It's far better made.. I used to have around £15k's worth of Snap-On stuff when I was a mechanic however I sold quite a bit of it when I finished. Also a lot of things got stolen a my last employment :( Needless to say, I wasn't there long!
Cheers Harv
John
What a shame about the tools :-(, "SCUM" is the name for the b'stards that stole your tools.
I hate losing tools and i only have old stuff from when i was 18 (Millions of years ago lol).
i have also had enough of people borrowing tools and not bringing them back, so dam annoying :-(.
I'm even carefull with my mates tools when i'm helping them, back in the box they go after the job.
Sorry jibbering again lol.
Totally agree Harvey. I remember that terrible feeling when I was sooo happy to have a huge Snap-On tool chest, that i'd been building up for literally years & years.. Only to get back to it on a few occasions and see a space in a drawer where one of the tools once lived :(
If you we're lucky one of your mates had just borrowed it for something. Most of the guys I worked with also had Snap-On tool chests and we all knew the importance of them to their owners. Each borrowed tool was returned to it's place, AND clean!
Unfortunately one of my 'so called' mates in my last job was a thief, I didn't find that out until I visited his house one day and saw a good handful of my tools in his garage. I knew they were mine as I used to mark my tools with a special tiny sequence of etch marks. Needless to say I got those back Immediately! The guy was arrested not long after that for far worse than steeling a few tools.
What a shitbag!!, i hate people like that.
You don't exactly know me fully john, but i was brought up right, i never had much money but it didn't seem to matter.
And stealing never entered my head.
I can't see how people can live with themselves while stealing from anyone, they can't have any conscience.
The worst i could do if i was at your house is fondle the teabags ha ha :-D :-D.
@@zx8401ztv Agreed Harv 👍
BTW.. You're not coming here if the tea bags are at risk. LOL. You can have the Knipex stuff.. but not the tea bags ;)
This is a magnifier and not a microscope. At least they didn't claim 1000x like some do.
At best this can be considered as only a high magnification viewing screen not a microscope per se...........some of the sellers rate them as 1,000 magnification......bloody liars.
Any microscope that does a high amount of image magnifying would have the lens so close to the work you can't actually work on it.......as the man says, for the price you get what you pay for.
I like the incorporated screen, but at 4.3" it's not all that big........some others have 7"screens..... for portability as opposed to having to plug it into a PC and a trail of cables etc.
Be aware that windows 10 does not recognise this model anymore and you will not be able to use the software to view images on a pc
Good info, thanks Jon 👍
it seems like i im the only one who got problem with that microscope :(
What seems to be the issue with it?