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Damned tiny components, old eyes.
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ErikTheNorwegian:
Damned tiny components, old eyes wrong glasses

Back, after hiatus of nearly 10 years away from the lab, electronics, many things in the trade is become fuzzy and unclear.
Things are getting smaller, text on components, traces on boards, everything is down in size.

So what`s the best approach for getting a clear picture?
A microsocope, that is ok, whats the best for old eyes?
I see Dave use a Tigano, is that the way to go?
Large lenses, are they out?
I got progressive glasses, but even they are a struggle to use on near field. What are the experience from others regarding glasses?

There must be others with the same problems and maybe a solution.

Erik
Cyberdragon:
Try a desk magnifier.
thinkfat:
A binocular optical microscope was the way out of my own misery. If you have the space, don't bother looking at those USB microscopes. They are fine for inspection but lack the 3D vision you need for soldering small components.

Mine is an Amscope, bought it with a 0.5x Barlow lens. Magnification is now up to 45x which is plenty, and the Barlow gives a nice working distance.
jpanhalt:
Old eyes generally means loss of accommodation; although, there are other issues too.  I am about 80 y.o.

For electronics, I use an OptiVisor that has an additional loupe for even higher magnification, like the one shown here: https://shop.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/visors-magnifiers/optiloupe-sku255001600-25612-13786.aspx?cm_mmc=PPC-_-Itwine-_-Google-_-255-001-600&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj7T92oj08gIVaHNvBB0sEgFrEAQYAiABEgJ4LfD_BwE  I rarely need the loupe.  It is mostly just in the way.

The lenses are glass and have no scratches after more than 20 years.  It's been so long I don't remember the magnification.  I think it is about 2X.

My normal reading glasses are +2 diopter (about 1.5X).  I use 1.75 diopter for most computer work.  One can wear your ordinary reading glasses with the optivisor.  That gives me more FOV and depth than my binocular microscope.

I use the microscope mostly for inspection (solder bridges, clean up) and occasional photography (it needs a reducing lens).  The oculars are WF so they work with glasses as well as expected, but I like the fact that the wearable head band moves with me.  I have some very small parts this Fall to assemble and may use the scope for them, but probably not.
RoGeorge:
1. - State of the art is the Mantis type of microscopes, they let you watch the inspected item like looking at a monitor (but it's all optical, nothing electronic).  One can sit normally and see "around" the object by simply tilting it's head, without tilting the inspected object.  Mantis are also used by dentist technicians, to prepare prosthetic tooth.  The microscope is great in quality, perfect for electronics, but it is also bulky and very expensive.

2. - Next to that are the Binocular Inspection Microscopes (trinocular simulfocal if you want to film, too, while working).  These looks like "normal" lab microscopes, but there is a decent distance between the object and the lens, enough to work with a soldering iron.  Also full optical, no electronics, excellent 3D vision, but hard to use because you need to look exactly through the eyepieces, hard for backbone too when working for long under microscope.

3. - Then, there are monocular electronic microscopes, mostly a webcam+display.  No 3D perspective and most of them are laggy, the image lag behind your hands moves, making good mostly for inspection only but not for soldering or working live under the microscope.

4. - Goggles-like lens, sometimes used in jewellery, too, sometimes like a hat.  The image quality is not as good as from a stereo microscope, but easy to put on/off, and gives one complete freedom to move around the lab.

5. - Big desk magnifier glass (on an arm), image not very good and usually wiggling and oscillating most of the time.

6. - Small but powerful (3-5x magnification) hand magnifier glass, easy to use and very good image but needs an extra hand.




I've tried all of them except the Mantis microscope, and ended using a generic binocular inspection microscope for fine work, and one of those "hats with lens" for it's freedom to move and look everywhere.  That is when working, otherwise I use a hand magnifier glass.
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