Test Equipment you didn't know you needed

[tautech]

Had them a while now 'cause everything now is SMD.

Smart Tweezers.
http://www.smarttweezers.com/st5s/

Mine are older ST3, powered with LR44's.
Easily in my top 5 pieces of gear as I use them on nearly all fault finding/component testing, TH and SMD.
ESR tests too.

Indispensable. 

Because of your post, I was choosing between LCR Pro 1 and ST5S, then found MS8910A and bought it.  It is an improved version of MS8910.

Had the MS8910 after I got the ST3 but didn't rate it well against the ST3 so gave it to a mate.
Hope the A is better for you and look forward to your thread about it. 

[mc172]

The phrase you're searching for is "IF and baseband", which is the purpose of these instruments, and exactly how we use them.

On a network analyser?

[D3f1ant]

Smart Tweezers would be right up there as a favourite for me too. A couple of current probes for oscilloscope is also a how did I cope before thing.

[bozidarms]

For me that  is, clear - HP53310A Modulation Domain Analyzer -
a secret weapon, when it comes to  oscillator(signal) evaluation,
one incredibly powerful instrument

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hp-53310a-modulation-domain-analyzer-79866/msg1091063/#msg1091063

[Smith]

Peak Atlas DCA75 Pro Advanced semiconductor analyser and the ESR70 esr and capacitance meter. Both saved me lots of time, and they are so fast.

The DCA75pro for testing components. Instead of looking up what kind of discrete component you need to test, the device does everything for you. Basicly its the same as the cheap chinese component testers, but the ease of use, the software and the quality are so much better.

The ESR70 just measures most in circuit capacitors, and even discharges them automaticly. This saves so many time.

[LaurentR]

Agilent N2786A scope probe holder. They are outrageously expensive new, but I came across a second-hand one that was merely very expensive. It looks too simple to work, but a combination of holes of exactly the right size (for HPAK probes), enough weight to tame the probe cable, and feet with a tacky finish to stop it sliding about, mean it does the job on those occasions when you just run out of hands.

Just found a cheaper version, the PMK 2-FUSS (Germany), possibly the OEM for the Keysight. About 1/2 the price of the Keysight on Newark:
http://www.newark.com/pmk/2-fuss/2-footer-probe-positioner/dp/97M1242

[Pitrsek]

I second the suggestion for a network analyser. Especially one which starts at 10Hz or so and has 1M Ohm input impedance as well. A network analyser is also very usefull as an LCR meter (albeit less accurate).

+1, if I work on RF equipment.

I have never seen a network analyser with a 1 meg input. (that is, if you mean vector and scalar models, I do not know about impedance meters)

Take look at Bode 100, we bought 2nd last week. Only one was not enough for our lab - always in use when you need it. Not as wide-band as the Anritsu mentioned above, but still mighty useful   

[xani]

Out of curiosity, is there a reason SMU are so ridiculously expensive (compared to price of multimeter + programmable power supply) and pretty rare ? Is that just a funtion of being pretty specialized equipment ?

[alm]

Probably a combination of low volume, only expensive manufactures like Keithley, Keysight and Yokogawa making them and wide dynamic range (pA to amps). Even a four quadrant power supply without any measuring or high dynamic range, like a Kepco BOP, is niche and expensive.

[HighVoltage]

Even more expensive than the source meters are the electrometers

I just got a Keysight B2987A and before I had one I did not know I needed it.

[Pitrsek]

It's not a test equipment, but still one of the things I wished I bought sooner - nut drivers/nut spinner.  Beats open socket wrenches and pliers hands down.

[b_force]

Also +1 for these cheap component testers.
In fact, it saved us a lot of time in production for a company I worked for.

2nd is a thermal camera. Especially when working with SMD and (high) power (switching) circuits.
It's almost impossible to do it without it.