Recommendations for soldering magnifier or microscope

[LumpHammer]

I do a bit of DIY electronics, and sometimes use some of the larger surface-mount packages such as SOIC. My ability to focus on close objects (even with reading glasses) is suffering the usual middle-age decline.

I'm thinking of buying some kind of illuminated magnifier or microscope to help. I probably can't justify spending thousands on Mantis. Are the £15 "illuminated magnifying glass with crocodile clips on a stand" that Amazon sell good enough for this, or is there something better if I'm willing to spend a few hundred?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Best thing to get is a head worn magnifier - it's what I use for this. I already have a decent anglepoise on the bench, so don't need built in illumination.

You can buy these with a variety of plastic lenses quite cheaply. Obviously, they are designed to be used with both eyes the same - so over glasses if needed.

[Andrew Gabriel]

I would simply get some much stronger reading glasses for this purpose. Go somewhere where you can try different strengths, and choose some which enable you to focus at around 25cm (or even closer if you prefer - in any event, nearer than you would normally use for reading).

I didn't find an illuminated magnifier very useful. The illumination wasn't enough, and getting it positioned so both eyes can see through it is fiddly, and then you'll want to move it to look from a different angle whilst you are holding soldering iron in one hand and solder in the other.

[S Viemeister]

Back when I did a lot of fiddly electronic stuff, I used one similar to this -

[Syd Rumpo]

Spend £50 or more on a stereo (also called 'binocular') microscope - 20x magnification will be plenty, 10x will do. I can't stress enough how much better this is than headband magnifiers or 'anglepoise' type magnifying lenses.

Ebay item 281449213796 or 351195344364 are among the first hits, there are loads more. A longer reach is good for larger PCBs, you could spend more for this, buy a second hand long-reach one or make a stand yourself. Honestly, it's by far the best value for money for this application, and I speak from decades of experience.

Cheers

[Bob Eager]

That's exactl what I use. Anglepoise for light, my normal glasses, and a head worn magnifier that can be flipped up as required. Four different lenses.

[Bob Eager]

How does this work if you wear spectacles?

The other thing I sometimes use is a simple jeweller's loupe for one eye, if it's just a quick thing. I have several with different magnifications.

[Syd Rumpo]

I usually wear spectacles, -8 dioptres. You take them off, you focus the microscope accordingly, it isn't an issue.

The only problem is trying to find where you put your specs :-)

Yes, I use those, for example, to read a part number from a chip, but not for soldering.

Seriously, stereo microscope. I have the T-shirt, and you'll thank me for insisting.

Cheers

[newshound]

Agreed although I would probably look for a second hand quality one rather than a cheap new Indian one. Ideally with variable magnification. You want proper built-in illumination, then you will find you get a good stereo view and your only problem will be hand steadiness. And to answer Bob's question, if you wear glasses you need one of the eyepieces to have a compensation adjustment, but the quality ones will always have that.

Bausch and Lomb have good optics

I do manage with a couple of the "Peer" over the head binocular magnifiers as others say, I also bought a "surgeon" type clip on which fits over glasses but TBH I have not found it all that effective.

USB microscopes are handy for inspection and taking pictures (the built in illumination is usually very good) but a stereo view makes all the difference when handling things.

[newshound]

The optics and lighting on the Prior are a bit basic, but this has the sort of access and magnification you probably need

[John Rumm]

The big magnifier on an anglepoise style arm[1] with ring tube light round it is not bad.

[1] e.g.

[John Rumm]

I tend to find that while the focus on the instrument can correct for the long sight (in my case), it can't compensate for my astigmatism. So glasses off applications don't always work as well as one might hope.

Has anyone tried those add on scopes that surgeons use on their glasses?

[Bob Eager]

And it takes longer to 'switch'; with the headband I can just flip it up and leave the specs on.

It depends on the task. I can hold a loupe for a long time with no trouble, so it's no problem.

Microscope, perhaps. I do have a cheapo version of those stereo things that dentists use. But the stereo part has no value for me. And it's relatively heavy.

[Bob Eager]

I was really asking about the physical arrangement rather than balancing the focus for each eye; that doesn't bother me.

As I understand what you are referring to, it's a *replacement8 for specs, which makes it more cumbersome to switch.

[newshound]

I have a mid-range eBay set and don't find them all that good. A bit heavy and slightly wobbly, not a huge field, and they only really work at one distance. I find the simple Peer type more useful. They do *look* very good if you are trying to impress people, of course.

[newshound]

Agreed, if you can get away with low-ish magnification (say around 3 times). Also gives you plenty of room to manipulate or work around larger stuff. The stereo microscope comes into its own by 10 or 20 times.

[Syd Rumpo]

Yes. If there's no alternative, fine. If you can position your work under a stereo microscope, there's no comparison.

Cheers

[Harry Bloomfield]

on 2/7/2015, John Rumm supposed :

That is similar to the one I use and it works well. The biggest drawback I found, was that it gets in the way of the iron. That is something I quickly got used to and learned to arrange things better.

[jrwalliker]

Agreed. I use a Wild binocular microscope with a fairly long working distance (about 15cm). Surgeons use these too when the head mounted magnifiers aren't good enough.

John

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Yup - that's what I use. Find for surface mount work - and my eyes are pretty old.

Other thing is they're cheap enough not to worry about getting damaged.