Moderately-Priced Microscope for SMD Soldering

[baElectronic]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a boom microscope for SMD soldering in the next few days, and I'd like to stay under $250 (preferably, under $200). Here are a few I'm considering:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AmScope-20X-Stereo-Binocular-Microscope-Boom-Arm-Light-/200757834216?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ebe1971e8

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AmScope-20X-Stereo-Boom-Arm-Microscope-/400297156237?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3391de8d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20X-40X-STEREO-BOOM-ARM-MICROSCOPE-CAMERA-LIGHT-/350285076208?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item518e9e16f0

This one is a bit out of my price range: http://www.ebay.com/itm/20X-40X-BOOM-STAND-STEREO-MICROSCOPE-RING-LIGHT-/350138893334?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5185e78416

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

[mazurov]

I have the last one - it is very good.

[baElectronic]

I have the last one - it is very good.

It looks like the working distance is 4" as opposed to the 6" or 9" that the other scopes offer. Do you have any issues with SMD soldering?

[TerminalJack505]

You'll probably want to get one with a 0.5X Barlow lens.  This increases the working distance by 2x.

BTW, I have an Amscope stereo microscope and I'm very happy with it.  The one I have is similar to the one in your last link.  It has the same stand but came with an LED ring light and a 0.5X Barlow lens.  The ring light isn't quite bright enough at maximum magnification but I never use the max.  The working distance with the 0.5 Barlow lens is about 8".  There's plenty of room to get a soldering iron under it.

[baElectronic]

You'll probably want to get one with a 0.5X Barlow lens.  This increases the working distance by 2x.

BTW, I have an Amscope stereo microscope and I'm very happy with it.  The one I have is similar to the one in your last link.  It has the same stand but came with an LED ring light and a 0.5X Barlow lens.  The ring light isn't quite bright enough at maximum magnification but I never use the max.  The working distance with the 0.5 Barlow lens is about 8".  There's plenty of room to get a soldering iron under it.

Hmm, it sounds like it would be well over $300 for this setup. I'm thinking that I may go for one of the cheaper models for now, or I can do without the Barlow lens and LED ring for a bit. Tough choice.

[lgbeno]

I just bought a Nikon smz-1 microscope with a fiber optic light source for $250 plus $30 shipping, I thought that it was a pretty sweet deal.  I started out in the same boat as you but the problem was that the cost of shipping the boom stand is so much because they are so heavy.  Most people charge $50 for that.  In the end though, you get what you pay for so what's an extra $80?  Good luck!

[baElectronic]

I just bought a Nikon smz-1 microscope with a fiber optic light source for $250 plus $30 shipping, I thought that it was a pretty sweet deal.  I started out in the same boat as you but the problem was that the cost of shipping the boom stand is so much because they are so heavy.  Most people charge $50 for that.  In the end though, you get what you pay for so what's an extra $80?  Good luck!

Yeah, I had a chance to sleep on it. Although I didn't want to spend that much for a scope, I'm leaning towards buying the last one I listed, including the Barlow lens. It appears to be the more professional and versatile scope of the four. I can add other things like a camera and LED lighting later.

[lgbeno]

Smart choice, currently I don't have a Barlow on mine but I want to get one.  From some of the people that I've talked with, they say that .5x might be a little extreme and recommend a .7x because it is better for ergonomics and work area.  I don't know what to say more than that. 

I still think that a fiber optic light is going to be better that any led light, it allows you more light without the bulky light ring, probably why they are pretty expensive though.  If you watch eBay for a few weeks, you'll see scopes listed by people who don't really know their real worth, they usually have bad pictures and descriptions but then you can swoop in with a low bid and grab it.  It's poor marketing working in your favor...

Good luck.

[baElectronic]

Smart choice, currently I don't have a Barlow on mine but I want to get one.  From some of the people that I've talked with, they say that .5x might be a little extreme and recommend a .7x because it is better for ergonomics and work area.  I don't know what to say more than that. 

I still think that a fiber optic light is going to be better that any led light, it allows you more light without the bulky light ring, probably why they are pretty expensive though.  If you watch eBay for a few weeks, you'll see scopes listed by people who don't really know their real worth, they usually have bad pictures and descriptions but then you can swoop in with a low bid and grab it.  It's poor marketing working in your favor...

Good luck.

Great. Thanks for the tips. I have an immediate need for a microscope, so I'll have to make a decision by Monday.

[mazurov]

I have the last one - it is very good.

It looks like the working distance is 4" as opposed to the 6" or 9" that the other scopes offer. Do you have any issues with SMD soldering?

I don't. Here you can see my setup in action -> https://plus.google.com/u/0/114645657478782700234/posts/C9ryS3Jx8mP

[baElectronic]

I have the last one - it is very good.

It looks like the working distance is 4" as opposed to the 6" or 9" that the other scopes offer. Do you have any issues with SMD soldering?

I don't. Here you can see my setup in action -> https://plus.google.com/u/0/114645657478782700234/posts/C9ryS3Jx8mP

Nice! Thanks for the pictures. I must admit that this is all a bit overwhelming - way too many choices. Would you consider buying a trinocular scope if you had to do it over again? I was thinking that I might want to have the flexibility to add a camera later:

http://www.amscope.com/Stereo-BoomStand-4.html

[robrenz]

Spend the $40.00 now if you can. A thread on my experience here  You may want to consider zoom also.

[baElectronic]

Spend the $40.00 now if you can. A thread on my experience here  You may want to consider zoom also.

Ok. I like your setup. So, I've narrowed my choices down to a trinocular scope. I was considering this one, since the working distance is 8". I'm not sure that I'd ever need anything greater than 30x. Also, I'm not sure if I want to shell out the money for a zoom scope right now: http://store.amscope.com/sw-3t13x.html

[robrenz]

AFIK the 5X and 15X will have the 8" working distance because the 0,5 barlow is mounted.  The 5X to 15X change is with a little slide rod on the left side of the head.  To get the 10X and 30X you will remove the 0.5 barlow which will make the working distance now 4" which is still not too bad and the 10 to 30 change will be with the slide rod again.  In real life if you are doing a lot of work with the scope this will be a PITA.  For me, having zoom and being able to pick the perfect mag for the job at hand is not a luxury, it is a must.

You should talk to Amscope to verify the above.  They will honor thier ebay pricing and free shipping(when buying direct) if you ask them. If you intend to try to work under the scope using the eyepieces while videoing you need to ask if that is possible on this model. some scopes blank one or both eyepieces totaly while set for camera.  If you didnt read my text on the thread i linked above you should, it discusses this topic.

[kripton2035]

I've got the first on your list for Christmas and I'm quite happy with it, althought I havent greatly used it for now.
the 20x is ok for smd, I dont see why the other propose 40x I dont see when you can use that magnify.
the working distance is quite ok, but I must be very straight on my chair. I plan to buy a chair that I can move up and down
but with it you have plenty of room to manipulate...
at last, the light could be brighter, but I have quite a lot of light on the desk so it helps.