The NorthridgeFIX (YouTube Vblogger) Microscope Camera V2.3 teardown !

[Fraser]

I am a subscriber to the NorthridgeFIX electronics repair YouTube channel and I enjoy many of the videos that Alex produces. He replaced Louis Rossman many years ago for my electronic repair videos ‘Fix’ 

Alex sells many very useful tools to aid those wishing to carry out electronics repair and he proudly states that he only sells what he has personally tested and approved. Amongst the tools offered is the NorthridgeFIX microscope camera V2.3 system. Alex states that he spent much time selecting the camera to find the best imaging performance. He uses the camera in his videos. I could not justify the cost of his camera so I went to Lapsun in China via eBay and bought something more in my price range. I can state that I have always had good experiences with buying from Lapsun and their products deliver on their promises. I suspected that Alex actually buys his cameras from Lapsun as well, though I have no proof.

There is now a teardown video of the NorthridgeFIX microscope camera on YouTube so I thought I would share it here for those with an interest in that product. As with many other such cameras these days, there is a lot of air inside the casing ! The imaging Sensor is an important element in a camera that needs to perform well and the sensors identity is revealed in the video. It is a SONY Exmor RS  IMX380 IMX385. I like Sony Exmor imaging sensors and bought some Sony compact cameras with amazing low light imaging performance thanks to their advanced Exmor imaging sensor technology.

As the video declares, the NorthridgeFIX 2.3 video microscope system is quite expensive. For a hobbyist this may be an issue, but likely not so much of an issue for a business. I will not criticise Alex for his pricing as he has done the ground work and he is a business after all. As a student I worked in an electronics emporium where the owner applied a 100% mark-up on many products as he was offering the convenience of local purchase with support after the sale. That was way back in the 1980’s before you could order stuff via the internet from China !

Anyway, enjoy the teardown. I have no connection with it, and just found the video whilst browsing YouTube.

https://youtu.be/5upKluG-qi8

The Wiki page for Exmor sensor arrays…..

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exmor

Fraser

[thm_w]

So is there any way around opening up the whole camera and connecting via terminal to figure out what actual sensor is used?
Isn't that the issue is that some people are complaining Lapsun will swap in a cheaper sensor, that may not be as advertised. Maybe easier solution would be a photo verification of some kind of test card.

Also you wrote IMX380 but the youtube stated IMX385 right.

[Fraser]

Sorry, you are correct, it is the IMX385 sensor.

As to whether Lapsun do a ‘bait and switch’ on cameras ? Is there any documented evidence of this happening or is it only rumour ? They are a company that is well known and whilst it has been known to happen on the Nathan Road, Kowloon, shops, it would be risky for a on line business to do such as word gets around. Where there can be an issue is when a camera shows a particular resolution etc but it does not specify the model of sensor array used. That permits all manner of sensor arrays to be used by the supplier.

Fraser

[thm_w]

This guy ordered a IMX377 and the board says IMX334, although he never actually checked the sensor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ag7E7KMR6s and I think 334 is a better sensor anyway lol.
Maybe Lapsun can be trusted, but given the difficulty to verify the sensor, most people are not going to check.

Many reports that Eakins has done this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jV7Qzr3OQ0