New magnifier

[Smonson]

...they want to call it a microscope, but magnifier is probably more realistic. I just received delivery one of these Andonstar AD206s:

http://www.andonstar.com/e_products/Dig ... 06-12.html

ad206.jpg (42.4 KiB) Viewed 3691 times

For the amount of money that it cost ($125 AUD) it's very good and a big step up from my "giant magnifying glass on a stick". All the specs on the website are exaggerated to ridiculousness, but in fact it's not terribly bad value.

Importantly, the stand and focus adjustments are sturdy and smooth, and it can be tilted back to get it out of the way leaving plenty of space to get to the board. The angled lighting from the two big and very bright spotlights is a huge improvement over the usual LED ring around the imager (although it also has one of those). This partially makes up for the camera resolution being average (the imager resolution is 1920x1080 or thereabouts).

ad206-2.jpg (333.95 KiB) Viewed 3691 times

[rubber_jonnie]

Not dissimilar to mine, as you say, specs are a bit over exaggerated, but definitely worth a punt. I think mine was under £40 but I think your base looks a bit more robust.

Also connects to my workbench PC for on screen goodness

[Maximilian]

Care to share a link Rubber_Jonnie?

[PaulJ_2.0]

I know it's a chunk of money more but this is an absolute steal.



https://www.banggood.com/Industry-3_5X- ... rehouse=CZ

[rubber_jonnie]

Care to share a link Rubber_Jonnie?

Search on eBay for: 1000X Magnification 4.3"LCD Display Portable 720P Digital Microscope With Holder

This is like mine: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000X-Magnif ... SwITRd-1sE just from a different seller.

For the price it is good enough for my needs, turns out mine was just under £30.

Looks like this:

Microscope.jpg (52.67 KiB) Viewed 3613 times

And the image isn't bad, this is looking at a damaged trace (Now fixed) on my MSTE keyboard.

MSTE_KBD.jpg (165.36 KiB) Viewed 3613 times

The moire patterns are just as a result of taking the picture, the image is clear and stable otherwise. For scale, the damaged track is about 1/2mm wide.

[rubber_jonnie]

I know it's a chunk of money more but this is an absolute steal.



https://www.banggood.com/Industry-3_5X- ... rehouse=CZ

Nice though, if I ever get a bigger workshop (Dare to dream it!!) I'd be up for that sort of thing.

[Smonson]

Search on eBay for: 1000X Magnification 4.3"LCD Display Portable 720P Digital Microscope With Holder

Oh yeah! The microscope part of this one looks very similar to my little USB one that I'm upgrading from:

usb-microscope.jpg (254.74 KiB) Viewed 3592 times

The only annoyance of this one is that the focus is not smooth to turn, it's a bit sticky and moves in bursts. But the lack of a proper stand and screen are the main reasons why it's no good for working out in the garage. I've been using it only for inspecting soldered boards at the end of the process.

[rubber_jonnie]

Search on eBay for: 1000X Magnification 4.3"LCD Display Portable 720P Digital Microscope With Holder

Oh yeah! The microscope part of this one looks very similar to my little USB one that I'm upgrading from:
usb-microscope.jpg
The only annoyance of this one is that the focus is not smooth to turn, it's a bit sticky and moves in bursts. But the lack of a proper stand and screen are the main reasons why it's no good for working out in the garage. I've been using it only for inspecting soldered boards at the end of the process.

Yeah, that's very similar, though I have no problems with my focus, it is very smooth. What I don't like about mine is the small stand which is plastic, and if you turn it around because you have something larger to look at, the weight in the stand isn't enough and it tips over! I've learned what works as a good counterweight!

However, the microscope is removeable from the stand, so it is quite easy to us it by hand, and I think making a different stand would be quite simple. It was just under £30 so I expect it to have flaws, and since I don't have a large workshop, just an old computer desk, its small size is handy.

[PaulJ_2.0]

How about using a cheap microphone boom that clamps to a desk/shelf(ideally to minimise shaking)?

Something like this would be articulated enough move where youd need it on any desk:

https://tinyurl.com/ikklescope

[rubber_jonnie]

How about using a cheap microphone boom that clamps to a desk/shelf(ideally to minimise shaking)?

Something like this would be articulated enough move where youd need it on any desk:

https://tinyurl.com/ikklescope

That's a great idea, I'd need to check the measurements since I already have a magnifying glass on something similar consuming space. My workbench is very small, hopefully when we move I'll have more room, just need to sell first!