EEVblog #566 - Cheap USB Microscope Reviews

[JoeO]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Digital-Microscope-Endoscope-Magnifier-Camera-800X-2MP-8LED-Lift-Stand-CD-/271366035843?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f2ead1983

Just found that one on ebay...I want one of these two cameras, but don't know which way to go...

"An endoscope is a device with a light attached that is used to look inside a body cavity or organ."
I would not use it as an endoscope.

[lewis]

Dave, am I imagining it or did you play with a very decent video microscope on an episode once (I thought it was the Electronex one but I can't find it in that episode). I seem to remember the microscope was sitting about a foot above a PCB and there was a huge widescreen monitor in the background with a crystal clear image of the workpiece on it in immense detail. I think it was at a show somewhere, like Electronex, but not sure. It wasn't a Mantis-type scope, I'm sure it was basically a camera on a stand.

I seem to remember watching this episode just after getting my Mantis Elite (feb 2013) and thinking 'bugger'.

Any idea what it was? Or am I dreaming? Whatever it was, I'd love to see a review of that beastie.

[andtfoot]

Dave, am I imagining it or did you play with a very decent video microscope on an episode once (I thought it was the Electronex one but I can't find it in that episode). I seem to remember the microscope was sitting about a foot above a PCB and there was a huge widescreen monitor in the background with a crystal clear image of the workpiece on it in immense detail. I think it was at a show somewhere, like Electronex, but not sure. It wasn't a Mantis-type scope, I'm sure it was basically a camera on a stand.

I seem to remember watching this episode just after getting my Mantis Elite (feb 2013) and thinking 'bugger'.

Any idea what it was? Or am I dreaming? Whatever it was, I'd love to see a review of that beastie.

I think you are referring to the seat-of-pants Picoscope teardown, here:
www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-521-picoscope-5000-usb-oscilloscope-teardown/

[lewis]

That's it! Awesome. Thanks very much! I've been racking my brains all day...

[Rasz]

yeah, that was a proper autofocus with hdmi streaming couple of thousand $ tool
There certainly is a place on the market for something in the middle, $300-500 range. Parts alone cost less than $100, even stupid rpee with camera module + microscope optics + stand would do.

[leafi]

I wonder if the pencil scope came with the reflector mirrors. I would love to see how these work (or dont) for looking under BGAs trying to see the bga balls shape and look for shorts.

[EEVblog]

I think you are referring to the seat-of-pants Picoscope teardown, here:
www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-521-picoscope-5000-usb-oscilloscope-teardown/

They have a new model just out, USB 3.0 streaming in full HD with much improved optics, I'm supposed to be getting one...

[psycho0815]

They have a new model just out, USB 3.0 streaming in full HD with much improved optics, I'm supposed to be getting one...

That's 2500€ + VAT here in germany. actually less than i would've expected. Still quite a lot for a hobbyist.
Not that that's the target market for that thing, anyways.


Still want one...

[lewis]

That's 2500€ + VAT here in germany. actually less than i would've expected.

About the same as a Mantis but looks a lot more versatile

[PlainName]

I noticed this when passing yesterday: eBay auction: #310796555638



What's  interesting is the interface: USB, VGA, composite video. Plug it into your PC or monitor or TV, so the issue of restricted USB speeds shouldn't be a problem.

Anyone already tried this? I am tempted but skint...

[psycho0815]

I noticed this when passing yesterday: eBay auction: #310796555638



What's  interesting is the interface: USB, VGA, composite video. Plug it into your PC or monitor or TV, so the issue of restricted USB speeds shouldn't be a problem.

Anyone already tried this? I am tempted but skint...

Looks nice, but judging from the pictures i doubt you're gonna have enough working distance to comfortably solder under that thing.

[JoannaK]

Looks nice, but judging from the pictures i doubt you're gonna have enough working distance to comfortably solder under that thing.

Unlike those other cameras this one has interchangeable optics (C.-mount, common on security cameras), so if you need more working distance, you just need to find/purchase another lens. Also the widest blob at the low end of the lens seems to be led-light ring. So if you have enough light (or better lights available) just use the optics without led.light.

[Jorpy]

I noticed this when passing yesterday: eBay auction: #310796555638



What's  interesting is the interface: USB, VGA, composite video. Plug it into your PC or monitor or TV, so the issue of restricted USB speeds shouldn't be a problem.

Anyone already tried this? I am tempted but skint...

That seems like a reasonable price 
I like how they call the 0 ohm resistor an IC   

[SeanB]

Well just modified mine a little, improved the stand using a new one and the original clip.

Went out today and bought a magnetic clamp, $12, and it works a treat. Rigid and if needed I will use a metal box as extra mass on the heavy base.

[Terabyte2007]

Here is one of the better fair priced USB microscopes that I use. The build quality and optics are pretty good. The stand that comes with it should be tossed, and a low cost alternative stand is about 50 bucks. Both microscope and stand are shown in images. I own 4 of these microscopes, 1) 1.3MP Standard Video, 2) 5MP Infrared, 3) 1.3MP Ultraviolet and 4) 5MP High Resolution.

The company is Aven Microscopy and their website is http://www.aveninc.com

The models mentioned above are as follows:

1) Mighty Scope 1.3M (26700-200)
2) Mighty Scope NIR 5M (26700-207)
3) Mighty Scope 1.3M UV (26700-205)
4) Mighty Scope 5M (26700-209)

1) http://www.aveninc.com/avens-complete-product-line/microscopy-and-inspection/digital-microscopes/mighty-scope/mighty-scope-500x-1-3m-usb-digital-microscope#.Us2AX_RDt8E

2) http://www.aveninc.com/avens-complete-product-line/microscopy-and-inspection/digital-microscopes/mighty-scope/mighty-scope-nir-5m-usb-digital-microscope#.Us1_7_RDt8E

3) http://www.aveninc.com/avens-complete-product-line/microscopy-and-inspection/digital-microscopes/mighty-scope/mighty-scope-uv-1-3m-usb-digital-microscope#.Us2AMPRDt8E

4) http://www.aveninc.com/avens-complete-product-line/microscopy-and-inspection/digital-microscopes/mighty-scope/mighty-scope-5m-usb-digital-microscope#.Us1_t_RDt8E

Here is a link to the high quality stands and accessories, some a bit pricy but very robust.

http://www.aveninc.com/avens-complete-product-line/microscopy-and-inspection/microscopes/stereo-microscopes/microscope-accessories/stands-and-focus-mounts#.Us18EvRDt8E

The stand shown in the images is a lower cost fairly stable stand with adapters to fit most USB scopes. It has a LED lighted base, battery or USB. X/Y micro worm gear controls for a smooth movement of the bottom glass plate. The vertical movement is tight and fairly smooth. At maximum magnifications you get very little shake. Sometimes a slight shift in video but not to bad. The scope mounts tight with no play. Here is the link to this mount/stand.

http://www.aveninc.com/avens-complete-product-line/microscopy-and-inspection/digital-microscopes/zipscope/universal-digital-microscope-stand-w-backlight#.Us19sPRDt8E

A quick note on software. The software that comes with the unit is licensed, you will get a serial number with a keycode and their are two version, one Windows version and MAC OSX. Updates can be downloaded from their site. The software is so far the most useful and functional from most I have tested and reviewed. I will upload screenshots and video capture soon.

A note on Aven website prices. The prices on Aven's website are full MSRP, these can be bought through distributors such as Amazon and others for much lower. For example, the 5M (26700-209) was purchased for 177 US dollars on Amazon.

Please note, this is a quick update on a few of the scopes I use. My full video review will be coming soon. I have been very busy with work, and I apologise for the lack of detailed info in this post. I will post some scope images, screenshots, video capture and etc. hopefully by tonight. Please be patient, it's coming...

[Huluvu]

I use this stand which is rock solid and easy to use but the cam itself lacks on the working distance as already discussed by Dave.

[Zbig]

I use this stand which is rock solid and easy to use but the cam itself lacks on the working distance as already discussed by Dave.

I have a Celestron microscope like SeanB and just ordered a stand like yours for it here:
http://www.conrad.com/ce/en/product/191381/Conrad-DP-M14-3D-Adjustable-Digital-Microscope-Stand (also available here: http://www.adafruit.com/products/969). The scope itself is capable of focusing reasonably far so I hope I'll get a decent budget combination with those two.

[Terabyte2007]

I use this stand which is rock solid and easy to use but the cam itself lacks on the working distance as already discussed by Dave.

I have a Celestron microscope like SeanB and just ordered a stand like yours for it here:
http://www.conrad.com/ce/en/product/191381/Conrad-DP-M14-3D-Adjustable-Digital-Microscope-Stand (also available here: http://www.adafruit.com/products/969). The scope itself is capable of focusing reasonably far so I hope I'll get a decent budget combination with those two.

I do like that stand. A quick search looks like it's not available from a US distributor. I may have to order this one international. 

[EEVblog]

That's 2500€ + VAT here in germany. actually less than i would've expected. Still quite a lot for a hobbyist.
Not that that's the target market for that thing, anyways.

Of course not, it's a pro tool for the pro inspection industry.

[Zbig]

Both are pretty useless due to garbage cmos modules used
Proper usb cameras compress image data on the fly (they stream h.264/mjpeg) and do fullhd 30fps over USB 2.0, For example M$ LifeCam or logi c920

http://wiki.oz9aec.net/index.php/Logitech_HD_Pro_Webcam_C920

Even raspberrypee can do proper 1080p 30fps with its camera module and save to a file + stream over a network while displaying data over hdmi at the same time.

Nihaos are too focused on churning out cheap garbage to deliver good product. Meanwhile a combination of good camera module with decent optics sells for $1000 leaving huge gap between chinese rejects like they one Dave looked at and professional gear.

Basically some Chinese 'engineer' looked at available cmos modules and said we are gonna use this $2 one instead of the $12 one because no one would pay more for better product.

Megapixels alone won't do any good when not backed by sufficiently high resolving optics. Also, more pixels on the same area = smaller pixel size = higher noise. To counter for this properly, you'd have to use faster (more expensive) lens, and so on. There's a reason somewhere in the Canon Powershot G series timeline, some new model actually had smaller megapixel count than its predecessor - people finally got sick of the insane "MORE MEGAPIXELS!" marketing hype and actually demanded a more capable camera with less pixels but actually higher picture quality. Anyway, this topic has been done do death on pretty much every photography forum.

Sniff... sniff... do I smell a flamewar brewing?

[Zbig]

I do like that stand. A quick search looks like it's not available from a US distributor. I may have to order this one international. 

Adafruit (second link) is NYC-based.

EDIT:
Haha, she just happens to be using this very stand in their video-blog post from 10 minutes ago:
http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2014/01/08/shine-activity-monitor-teardown-wearablewednesday/ (0:38)

[Terabyte2007]

I do like that stand. A quick search looks like it's not available from a US distributor. I may have to order this one international. 

Adafruit (second link) is NYC-based.

Cool, my bad! Did not even see that one...

[kc9qvl]

Have the celestron too. My diy stand.  Modified optics working height 120mm Small acromat lens glued in bottom. Decreases magnification and increases working height. Bottom is picture of lens on a quarter for scale

[vikpc]

I use this stand which is rock solid and easy to use but the cam itself lacks on the working distance as already discussed by Dave.

I have a Celestron microscope like SeanB and just ordered a stand like yours for it here:
http://www.conrad.com/ce/en/product/191381/Conrad-DP-M14-3D-Adjustable-Digital-Microscope-Stand (also available here: http://www.adafruit.com/products/969). The scope itself is capable of focusing reasonably far so I hope I'll get a decent budget combination with those two.

if buy some cheap stands and cheap microscopes.. why not buy cheap china normal microscope?
in my local repair shops i can buy YA XUN YX-AK04 for 174$

[AlphZeta]

It seems that the stand can also be purchased separately:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-base-stand-for-Dia-12mm-0-472-inch-USB-digital-microscope-video-endoscope-/171018179032?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27d17a51d8