Stereo Microscope

[ximox]

Hi All,
I'd like to buy a stereo microscope like the one Dave shows in the #168 Video. Anyone know what model it is or can suggest something good? I'd like to stay in the $200 range or so. It's getting difficult for me to get by with the usual magnifiers, I need something better.

Thanks,
Antonio

[Bored@Work]

Before the usual wave of junk suggestions set it, you can get a mediocre, usable, Made in China, boom microscope on eBay, like http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190529429055 However, the magnification of that particular one is already huge for electronic work. Pay $50 more and you can get a x5 version, too. And having a boom is great.

[tecman]

Go to amscope on the web.  They have a nice selection of models.  Bought mine direct from them for about $100.  Works great.

paul

[EEVblog]

Mine is an old Olympus brand. (olympus are one of the worlds best in regard)
Don't know the model number, someone mentioned the SZ series.
Was about $250 inc postage on Ebay.
7-40x zoom, which is ideal for PCB work.

Dave.

[Excavatoree]

I have one like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Americal-Optical-Spencer-Forty-Stereo-Zoom-Microscope-/330554383500?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf6939c8c

but it's fixed 4x and 10x instead of a continuous zoom.

It takes up less bench space which is good, but this is more than offset by its inability to handle larger boards.  In my case, it was free, but I need to get the "boom type."

[Zyvek]

http://store.amscope.com/se400-x.html

I got this one, because I wanted the extra working distance 9" (220mm), which helps if I want to try to use the SMD hot air gun and not just a soldering iron.

[daedalus]

i bought a lynx stereo dynascope recently, and would recommend this over conventional microscopes for surface mount work. The difference is this doesnt have two seperate eyepieces, but a special lense system that gives you a 3d view wherever you move your head in front of the viewer. This means you dont have to hold your head hunched over two eyepieces for long periods. I used to get lots of back ache using a normal scope, and this thing is a godsend.

They are stupid expensive new, but come up on ebay regularly. Older models such as the TS1, TS2, TS3 show up as well, and whilst old are still very good. Bonus points if you can find one with the oblique viewing addon. This lets you see straight down, and 30 degree angle of board, which you can rotate around the part. This is great if your doing qfn's by hand with a soldering iron (not my favorite job).

there are some demos on youtube, and also from http://www.visioneng.com/

[Leo Bodnar]

i bought a lynx stereo dynascope recently, and would recommend this over conventional microscopes for surface mount work. The difference is this doesnt have two seperate eyepieces, but a special lense system that gives you a 3d view wherever you move your head in front of the viewer. This means you dont have to hold your head hunched over two eyepieces for long periods. I used to get lots of back ache using a normal scope, and this thing is a godsend.

Aren't they huge?! And yes, "register to download a brochure" grrrr.

[daedalus]

The head on it is larger then a normal microscope, but it takes up about the same footprint on the workbench as my last one. I found the register thing a pain too, here are a few vids showing off a similar scope, and the oblique on the one i have.

https://www.youtube.com/user/visionengineering?blend=1&ob=5#p/a/u/2/Mhbcdiu3-aw
https://www.youtube.com/user/visionengineering?blend=1&ob=5#p/a/u/2/Mhbcdiu3-aw

[wkb]

Realising that this is a rather old topic:

I morphed my Euromex (local brand) stereo microscope into a CCD camera-equipped one.  This is an oldish
Philips color CCTV security cam I got for free.  The LCD screen is one of these jobs you see hanging off the back of people's care
headrests (to entertain the kids I suppose).  That one was also free.  On a local ham fest I found a macro-zoom lens in C-mount
which fits the camera just fine (EUR 15 for the lens).  The whole shebang is screwed onto a piece of aluminium, and
mounted on the Euromex stand.

This whole concept works rather nicely.  I am waiting for DealExtreme to ship me two LED-lights on flexible USB-arms.  Once that
kit arrives I will at the same time unclutter the cabling and feed the LED lights from the Euromex base (it has a powersupply for the
stereo microscopes's light).

When I want the original Euromex on the stand it is a matter of unscrewing one UNC 1/4" .  I was smart enough to bring some UNC taps
from my last trip to the US of A.

enjoy
Wilko

[SoftwareSamurai]

I've been toying with the idea of getting one of those cheapo USB cameras off eBay from China for inspecting PCBs.

(I can feel Dave rolling his eyes at me right now...)

[vk6zgo]

I've never been wildly impressed with Stereo Microscopes for rework on boards,since I tried using them while fixing hearing aids for a living.
The ones we had gave a distorted sense of depth,which made it hard to solder onto the tiny boards & components used.
The magnification made the solder tip look like a crowbar.
I usually used a Maggylamp for the rework,& the microscope for checking the job afterwards.

VK6ZGO

[bfritz]

I've used stereo microscopes before, but the main problem is their lack of portability.  Seems that often I'd like to rework the circuit where I'm working, rather than have to disconnect and move everything.  A large stereo boom microscope is not something you want to move around.

So, I was thinking that Dental or Surgical Loupes might be a better solution.  They are light and very portable.  Just put them on when you wish to use them.  I would think they would be more "natural" to use than a stereo microscope, as with the microscope you have to learn to move the work, rather than you head.

I was thinking something like these:  http://www.care-optics.com/products.asp?cid=1&pid=22&id=43

The 3.5x with a working distance of 340mm/13.4in seems about right to me.  At $170, these seem like they are probably more useful because of the portability factor, than a microscope is.

Has anyone else ever tried Dental or Surgical Loupes?  If so, what were you using them for?  (SMT 0805? 0603? 0402?)  What did you think the right tradeoff between power and field of view was?  What working distance do you recommend?