Quickly check the usual Chinese websites and you can get a USB microscope at a very low price. However, many of them are nothing more than webcams with some cheap optics. It's not that they are useless, but that they may not be able to compete with expensive instruments such as Dino-Lite. [Shahriar] studied the latest products of Dino-Lite and showed how they play a role when inspecting electronic products. You can watch the video below, but please note: these small microscopes are not cheap. The entry-level model starts at about $100, and then goes up from there-all the way up.

Despite this, many of us spend as much or more money on the necessary equipment, and microscopes used to inspect tiny circuits are now very convenient. In addition to optical instruments, [Shahriar] also looked at a microscope stage driven by a stepper motor, which is very interesting.

This video shows practical applications for inspecting and measuring ICs and PCBs, as well as lighting techniques and other practical suggestions. We realize that paying $1,000 or more for microscopes may be excessive for most of us, but it is interesting to see how these microscopes perform, if you really need this feature, or if you are decorating an experiment Room or hacker space, this is not out of reach.

Naturally, for most uses (such as welding), you can easily live for less money. Even an ordinary webcam can do this job.

Is there a table to compare the functions of various models?

Frankly speaking, nothing can replace my binocular microscope... but it doesn’t travel well... I bought a cheap (380 yuan) microscope (model below) in Shenzhen a month ago— —It does work as advertised, and I haven’t tried soldering under it yet (I was told that lag may be a problem) — but in my opinion, SMT must use a microscope

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-600x-3-6MP-USB-Digital-Electronic-Microscope-Portable-8-LED-VGA-Microscope-With-4-3/32825792006.html

Yes, if you have a limited budget and are not in Shenzhen, please buy AmScope. They are capable of this task, especially in terms of price.

I have an AmScope SE400. It's perfect. Best Buy I did! ! ! !

Also known as Bresser biorit ICD in Europe

Another ticket of AmScopes I have one at work at home.

For most people, Amscope is a perfect choice. I have had it for five years-my kids will definitely use it when they grow up.

I have one of them and it is very convenient. It is definitely a mobile phone without a crappy mobile phone sucker. I have tried welding under it, it is far less useful than welding under a stereo microscope, but it is better than nothing, and it is very suitable for inspection. Using a stereo microscope, I have soldered 20 enameled wires to the WLCSP package without any problems. It will be difficult to use this small display camera microscope, but it is not impossible.

Remember, whether you are using USB or traditional optics, please check the focal length specifications. For welding, you need a few inches of distance to place the iron and tools under the microscope! I bought at least 4 traditional stereo zoom microscopes with booms at various local industrial auctions. The price for each of them is less than $200. One is only $75. It's worth looking for.

I am a complete rookie in optics (sounds like black magic to me) and a Hackaday article about these specifications and how to identify a microscope that needs to be 0.5 cm away from the PCB instead of a microscope that can have the same magnification 30 Centimeter far will be a very good reading function (at least for me).

Who runs SPI at 12 MHz? Can you do some dirty things like changing the crystal on the CPU from 8 MHz to 1 MHz crystal just to capture spi dumps?

Sent from my Timex Sinclair ZX-81

Wow. I may have just submitted a HAD......I just dialed a post directly to HAD.. Sorry everyone, my bad..

Your ass seems to write a better article.

Why not 12MHz? Some devices also support higher frequencies.

I understand your travel needs. But just to let others know that for home laboratory use, the stereo zoom microscope can be used for less than $200 through various industrial surplus auctions. The money spent is worth it.

I would love to own a stereo microscope worth $200! If there is no other reason than removing the sliver in my shop. But I don't want to spend 200 dollars or more and then waste money vaguely.

I do have an Intel Qx3 (toy) USB microscope, which works better on the Linux side than on the Windows side of my PC, but it requires some network searches to get the correct software build.

It's not $200-but for a very decent model, a stereo oscilloscope is now about $400. You will own it for a lifetime...

Yes, you can use the traditional stereo zoom with B&L or Zeiss glass optics in the industrial surplus auction for less than $200 and install it on a quality boom!

I have one of them, used with an external display connected via HDMI: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Andonstar-HDMI-Digital-Microscope-Long-working-distance-PCB-soldering-repair-SMT /272826303866

It is *very* easy to use. Fatigue is easier than using a binocular microscope. It only needs a cheap 1080p monitor to run. However, the screen on the microscope is a bit useless. The button interface is a bit weird, but it can take very beautiful high-resolution photos.

The rack mechanism is a bit similar to the LED gooseneck. Too bad, if they make some mechanical improvements, it will be an excellent device.

I think you can get decent enough Chinese stuff in this category. So, instead of chattering about it, we can better provide good suggestions about Chinese stuff.

It's not that you can't promote these Dino products and showcase their benefits, but don't talk about competition while doing so.

I bought a second-hand Elmo Video Presenter, not this model, but similar.. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Elmo-EV-400AF-Visual-Video-Presenter-Document-Camera-8x- Optical-Zoom/292303040140?epid=659602352&hash=item440e9e6e8c:g:s64AAOSw0hlZt-uN is worth measuring with gold, or at least solder;) If you can't work under a microscope, it's not worth seeing. I have a few USB microscopes, they are not even heavy enough to make a decent fishing pendant. The above few posts pointing to Andonstar devices look good. The Elmo machine has an SD card, so I can take photos and record. This is very convenient. I soldered 0603 very well and was pushed to make it smaller. PIC also has a pin pitch of 0.4 mm.

Am I the only one who thinks the Elmo microscope will have fluffy red fur and big eyes?

indeed. I think I will look for one next time I visit Toys R Us. The person at the service counter might try to answer my questions with wide-eyed eyes.

I used several Celestron USB digital microscopes to inspect and measure the pinhole diameters I made. This: https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Handheld-Digital-Microscope-Pro/dp/B00CMJ1I08/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510724718&sr=8-3&keywords=microscope digital celestron ... has been working very much good. I would love to see a comparison of images from various digital microscopes. I'm looking at a brass gasket and it doesn't have any real details except the edge of the small (0.20mm) hole I am making. I totally agree with the quality of China's budget, and I may already have it.

If you use it from time to time, I can really recommend Amscope kids (http://fishpepper.de/2017/01/01/a-cheap-stereo-microscope-for-fine-pitch-smd-soldering/) They are about 50 For dollars, you will get a real stereo microscope. Viewing in 3D is really helpful for welding. Of course, if you use it every day, I will spend more money. But it suits my needs very well. It's also sold in Germany. Amazon renamed them the Bresser brand.

I have tried to publish the link to buy this U-shaped oscilloscope in the United States twice, and HaD has not published it twice! No, I did not post a "link only".

If I remember correctly, back to Body Glove are other companies from California and the United States who are losing their jobs at sea. I want to know if the owner of HaD, like me to some extent, wants to promote as many supplies as possible related to the United States. Some items were not available in the United States at first. Although when they... why not? Not sure...just a guess. However, something completely different may happen. Please note that the owner of HaD is Supplyframe, Inc. from Pasadena, California. My interpretation of this area of ​​California is that most areas of the state are strict in some cases. At least in terms of taxation, California is the largest economy in the United States. If I remember correctly, from online reading, it ranks sixth in the world.

Are you suggesting that someone has published a link to a US-made microscope for $50 and the BIG CHINA faction has blocked it? :o

I'm not sure. Thought of this idea for some reason.

Wow, it sells for about $50.

"20X Binocular Stereo Microscope LED Light for Phone Repair of Circuit Board Lab" free shipping on eBay for $35, learned from https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/diy-handheld-microscope/

Interesting, thanks for sharing the link.

Oh, cool. Through this link, I found myself in the 40X version of the eBay list: https://www.ebay.com/itm/40X-Stereo-Bineous-Mini-Microscope-LED-Light-For-Children-Education-Science- / 122726956454?_trksid=p5731.m3795 — 40X is more suitable for SMD work!

Oh, and this is a good $150 with a ring light: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kids-Student-Bineous-Stereo-Microscope-20X-40X-Ring-Light-for-Rocks -Stamps /172982245025?epid=1138137287&hash=item28468b96a1:g:NqkAAOSwl9RaDGuU

You will be sad to find that 10x is most suitable for general SMD rework, even as low as 0402 package :-)

"If you want to spend money on a microscope," then never buy a USB webcam instead of an optical microscope.

You will not regret looking for a stereo optical trinocular bifocal microscope. The optical microscope will provide you with a 3D depth view of working under the microscope (such as welding), will always work (no power required), no delay (just like any webcam), and the PC is optional. In case you need to shoot or take photos, the webcam can be purchased later and upgraded at any time, and you can always use the adapter for a real SLR camera with huge resolution.

The only application I can image the "magic webcam" presented will be automatic inspection and microscopic distance measurement, otherwise the price tag for a webcam would be simply outrageous.

In addition, with that money, you can buy a good Mantis optical microscope, which is also a stereo 3D optical microscope, just like any binocular/trinocular, but you don’t have to look directly at the binoculars, so Mantis won’t feel necked. Partial fatigue (it has a screen viewport), and with Mantis, you can "look around" objects by looking at the screen from different angles, just like using ordinary macroscopic objects in real life.

TBH, the video made by Shahriar seems to me like a paid review, which is completely unexpected for his excellent YouTube channel, but of course I may be completely wrong and unfair here. Maybe he just likes the $1,000 webcam because it is a calibrated distance measurement.

I read the "secret viewport" at first :-) because you have to find it by moving your head, not just putting your eyes in front of the real binoculars of a normal stereo zoom microscope. I still prefer Leica models like the> 3000 Euros we had in our previous workplaces. It even has removable eyepieces, so you can adjust the angle to view the device. With Mantis, I have to look at the microscope completely horizontally and try to find the best position. This is difficult for a height of 1,95m and often causes back pain.

I have tried Mantis, but I can't continue to use it-it works better for welding and other delicate work under a stereo microscope. I can't tell why I don't like Mantis, I just think it is always out of focus, no matter how I adjust the unit, the PCB and components don't look right.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeiss-Desktop-Stereo-Microscope-Needs-Adjustment-Screw-for-Stand-/282245647646

I bought this a few years ago (for less money). Not the most useful, but it works fine. It looks great on your desk. :)

There seems to be almost no difference between these DinoLite and the DinoLite, which is less than half the price on cheap Chinese websites such as Banggood and Gearbest. The reviews for these cheaper versions seem to be exactly the same.

I think if you need a resolution or zoom ratio that is slightly higher than that available cheaply, please check DinoLite.

If you want to provide something better for most typical use cases of HaD readers, there are better alternatives than DinoLite. Read the comments or search on the EEV blog.

It's a pity that my only microscope is for microbiology. It has excellent optical performance, but the power is too high to be used in electronic products. I have to wait for a few years.

The BK Precision power supply in the background, I have been using that exact model for many years! I have never seen another in the wild. I used a production test bench, which eventually turned yellow due to cigarette smoke in the production workshop, but if it was not a very similar model, it was absolutely the same.

Last winter, I was inspired to invest in a jewelry trademark line and 80mm white LED "Angel Eye" 12V ring light and 12V 5A dimmer (monochrome 3528 5050 LED strip adjustable controller) to upgrade my plan The function of the cheap Chinese USB microscope is installed in the desktop installation adjustable arm (adjustable clamp table lamp bedside table lamp industrial chandelier) to replace it with the USB microscope installation system.

I also found a deal for a UV adjustable intensity ring light. I had to repair the ring light’s power cord and spray the LED ring light and dimmer onto the UV adjustable ring light lens cap with hot glue. The USB microscope was installed in the third The screws of the microscope between the two, although I have not installed the system on the arm, nor have I adjusted the jeweler’s markings to the USB microscope.

There is an online link. Someone hacked a cheap Chinese USB microscope. They removed the cheap ring light and added a new ring light and jewelry trademark line. This is what inspired the project. Interestingly, I used to determine what type of bugs bit me and check the board in the hotel where I stayed. I haven't soldered yet... Although it does fall when viewed from the laptop screen, I use ContaCam to record videos and images.

I agree that the USB microscope lens can be improved and used a stereo or three-view lens system.

I have a Dino and a "cheap" $10 version. There is zero difference. It is the same unit. The dinosaurs were just renamed and marked...

I would like to know. They look very similar.

I have been looking at Dino-Lite microscopes... and they seem to have special software that allows you to take measurements directly on the screen and add these measurement results to the picture. There is also a focus stacking function, which allows you to take pictures in various departments, then take the focused parts and combine them all into one photo. Are there Chinese substitutes for these functions? In addition, dinosaurs also have special accessory cups, such as sealed cups and others for nailfold capillary inspections with oil immersion. And the ability to turn on and off the quadrilaterals of the LED lights and dim them. And some accessories, these accessories will diffuse the LED lights and produce a larger halo. They come with a polarizing filter that can be rotated 350 degrees to help eliminate glare. I'm not sure if they have infrared, ultraviolet or black light for inspection. Any Chinese models or other alternatives to Dino that have these features? I think Celestron may be a good choice for hackers and making 3D printed accessories, because it seems to have a considerable distribution, and they have software that can perform measurements.

I have a cheap Chinese, I bought it second-hand on eBay at a very cheap price (just over £10, maybe £12) and I am very satisfied with it. In fact, when I showed it to the old man, he also snapped up one from eBay. He then mounted it on the holder of an old binocular microscope that had been skipped from school decades ago, which made it perfect for controlling focus. In fact, my base is the only drawback, because it is difficult to focus to the maximum magnification.

Nothing is better than eBay's visual engineering "Vision Engineering LTD Stereo Dynascope Model TS-3 with Boom Pole NEEDS REPAIR"

Get the eBay for $100, find the light source for $20, and the stand for $15. Because they are very simple, and very large and heavy, they are easy to "fix". (The optical rotating motor is stuck, cleaned and lubricated... Now it works like a charm)

I ended up investing $50 on Stereo Graff D-4999, which I found on eBay, because I think the steel hardware is of high quality, and it is worth repairing compared to the newer, possibly less high-quality components. There are two 10x lenses with 2x at the bottom.

I received it. The board looks much better than what I have seen before. I like not to use the hand or the fragile light adjustable arm USB microscope that I usually don't use. I really like to use the stereo microscope for inspection with the very few things I have done so far.

Since my vertical bracket is 5/8 inch in diameter... I will machine two brackets with 5/8 inch diameter holes, which are perpendicular to each other (the side view of the vertical rod is 110 degrees), so that the installation boom is vertical from the stock Installation, so I can still use the main rotating zoom for adjustment, and there are thumbscrews for adjusting the front and back and up and down of the workbench.

I ended up buying a 3 feet long piece of 5/8 inch stainless steel for this, and realized that for the table... Maybe I should use three ~ 1 foot parts (the last one may actually be 6 inches shorter, Vertical up difference-down position), it folds back, instead of a boom that is about 2 feet long and a front vertical that may be about 1 foot in my original imagination.

Pick up another Stereo-Graf (4F-1638 Steri-ette) microscope and Orion stand on ezBay, the other one with the original 15x eyepiece.

I also decided to invest in the "VIVO Dual LCD LED Monitor Desktop Mounting Bracket Heavy Duty Fully Adjustable Fitting 2/2 Screens up to 27 inches" which I found on Amazon. I think I can use one arm for the monitor and the other for the Orion stand for the Z-axis focus and adjustment range.

Think about it, the entire monitor stand costs as much as a 5/8" stainless steel pipe. I can still use a 5/8" pipe for the scope and Orion stand, but it may only be 6 inches.

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