I'm sorely tempted :-). The specs on the Aliexpress store are a bit sparse though. Do you know how many watts/lumens the LEDs are rated for? I'm not satisfied with the brightness of my 144 LED ring light because when I use the 1/2 barlow lens then the cameras I have need to use gain for their exposure and that impacts image quality. I'd like to avoid that problem if I'd spring $250 for a super-duper ring light.
i don't know lumens or watts they have, i surely can test for that but...
This led ring appear to me have less brightness than the 144led, because it got 120led only plus polarizer glass that dim a little bit, but who cares, the real important factor is suficient light and image quality, which i got both. I got same magnification and working distance as you. And you have the videos to see for yourself. Now the more you zoom less light will enter and image on camera will be very dark. Eye ocular will always have better light and better view then the camera, but again you have my videos to check out.
What i do:
- Set manual exposure on camera from 14ms to 16ms (NEVER USE AUTO-EXPOSURE!!!)
- Put the minimum zoom on scope
- Ajust brightness on camera for a maximum accepted and confortable level without ruin imagem
- Now check at max zoom if brightness is enough
Following that you will cover all your range and your recordings will be good.
There aren't many sales/reviews on that Aliexpress store either - is that the same unit from the same seller that you have?
It is, they are always refreshing the article and reviews go away. There aren't many sells of that stuff because is "expensive" and people rather like buy cheap, but we pay for what we get most of the times.
There are other sellers with same stuff, but i recommend that seller.
I reckon I'll wait for my gooseneck lights to arrive and see how I get on with those first but the polarized ring light does sound like a major potential upgrade.
Trust me, i tried everything too to solve the glare. 144 led -> goosenecks -> plastic polarizers -> led clips -> other craps. All a waste of money and time.
Goosenecks well placed will solve your problem or angle quadrant leds BUT the goosenecks will always be on front and not rotate when you move your scope head. I hate things on the middle and slowing you down. You will have to ajust position tons of time if you move your scope head a lot like me.
The led ring i use now was the best thing i ever buy for the scope, what a relif, it fix the glare and give you the freedom of ajust the polarizer just turning the wheel.
PS: If this led ring dont have the desired brightness for you, you can merge it with your goosenecks to increase the power, or mod it with super bright leds.
What do you mean about the c-port? Mostly that it needs a reducing barlow lens for the field of vision, or something else? and about the camera? I'm all ears
Yes it needs an adaptor, but that adaptor is not good and long.
Camera is low quality and cheapest they can put in to have a "good deal/price". Buy bundles is always a tradeoff because you will never get all quality. Scope is ok then they trown a buch of crap equipment like that adaptors and cameras of low quality to atract the buyer.
The best move is buy everything separate and finger picked.
That being said, your camera and adaptor is what kill your image and make don't have the required light. Look my first video, it looks dim? With less power than your 144 led ring plus a polarizer and still look shiny... No post process. But if required premier can do miracles and fix your image with filters.
Check this post:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-(eu)-microscope-1080p-60fps-hdmiusb-camera-0-35x-len-adaptor/msg2804054/#msg2804054There you can find links to my camera and proper adaptor.
Reject all plastic lens and embrace real glass ones
PS: My 0.5x barrow len is original made from glass, if i would you, check and see if yours it made of glass or plastic...
EDIT: I also trust this store:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000689771351.html