The working distance on these things is usually pretty crap.
Perhaps so, but there's not much 'equipment' that's in the way to prevent you access with a soldering iron.
Possibly this kind of microscope could be tilted 45deg to get a little more access with an iron.
I'll confess and admit that I have no experience with this type of microscope so I might be missing something.
IMO Lag of the display is not the only issue with video microscopes, working without stereo vision is the real problem. If you are just going to look at things under the scope the video is fine. If you intend to do work under the scope it will drive you crazy. You have no depth perception without stereo vision. Spend your money on the best amscope you can afford.
Yea, I've done a lot of electronics under a stereo microscope and I prefer this method in the first instance, but I also like working with a Mantis and other video microscopes. I'm not too phased about the lack of 'depth perception'.
I will say that a 'good' stereo microscope makes the world of difference and having moved to an inferior stereo microscope after becoming used to a good one had a profound effect on me, such that I would never consider owning a cheepie stereo microscope as they are a waste of time.
Personally I plan to build my own video microscope based on a surplus Olympus EP2 micro four thirds camera with two old macro Canon FD lenses. One lens is a 50mm macro and the other is a 100mm macro. The optics on these lenses is superb and hopefully I'll have good working distance. The camera has a HDMI output that I will feed to a LCD monitor. That is the plan for now.