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Looking for a reasonable-priced portable microscope.

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GrantX

Tue Sept 23 2014, 09:57AM

Registered Member #4074 Joined: Mon Aug 29 2011, 06:58AM
Location: Australia
Posts: 335

Hey guys,

I'm interested in getting a hobby-level microscope as something to play with and perhaps for examining SMT circuits or other small things. I'm currently swaying towards a digital model, preferably something with an LCD screen for viewing, but a compact optical one would be good as well. I don't really like the idea of the cheap USB scopes, since I will probably want to use it away from a computer. A magnification of at least 250x would be nice, but I'm not too fussed.

I first looked at the Celestron 44310 which looks awesome, but the Amazon reviews suggest its made of very flimsy plastic and many are DOA. After that I found this fancy looking one with a 3 inch screen and up to 1000x magnification: http://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Digital-Microscope-Zoom-Screen/dp/B00FIG3OXQ/ref=sr_1_65?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1411449946&sr=1-65&keywords=HANDHELD+MICROSCOPE But I can't find any info on the make or model, so I'm not sure if I'm buying a cheap piece of plastic or something built to last?

I'd love some suggestions if anyone has experience in these matters.

(I also found one of those fiber optic connector microscopes and got really excited by the low price and high magnification until I realised it's useless!)

HV Enthusiast

Tue Sept 23 2014, 05:53PM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

Good afternoon Grant,

If you are looking for the best bang for your budget, then I would strongly recommend AM SCOPES.

http://www.amscope.com

They are a Chinese company, but their optics are very high quality and their prices many times less than their swiss counterparts.

I have several stereoscopes I've purchased with the fiber optic illuminators and have been extremely happy. I even had one shipped that had broken knobs, and they overnighted them the next day.

Check them out! You'll be happy with their products.

GrantX

Wed Sept 24 2014, 03:47AM

Registered Member #4074 Joined: Mon Aug 29 2011, 06:58AM
Location: Australia
Posts: 335

Thanks for the suggestion EVR, it looks like I'm spoilt for choice!

This model caught my eye after a quick browse: http://www.amscope.com/microscopes/40x-1000x-glass-optics-student-compound-microscope-usb-digital-camera.html

Up to 1000x magnification, included USB camera for photos and battery power for the LED illumination. Not sure what the difference is between the M148C-E (linked above), the M149C-E or the M158C-E? They're all the same price, same magnification and come with the same USB camera.

The only downsides I can see is the need for a computer for taking photos or displaying the image to others, and the relatively large size compared to purely-USB models. However, this proper microscope is the same price as the Celestron handheld toy I was looking at earlier, so these complaints are negligible.

Dago

Wed Sept 24 2014, 04:00PM

Registered Member #538 Joined: Sun Feb 18 2007, 08:33PM
Location: Finland
Posts: 181

Something with so much magnification would seem totally useless for doing anything with electronics. Magnification commonly used with electronics are in the range of 2-10x.

I personally have this USB microscope:

which "works ok". Nothing special. Stand is slightly flimsy and so forth but the price aint too bad.

I know someone who bought one of these

and seemed very happy. This would be my choice currently. It has plenty of vertical space so you can even use it when soldering. Even the lens is interchangeable.

HV Enthusiast

Wed Sept 24 2014, 05:55PM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

Grant,

Not sure what your budget is, but this is what I use for PCB work, inspection work, and SMT soldering.

Its 3.35X-45X with the fiber optic light and works fantastic. 3X-45X doesn't seem like a lot, but it really is a lot.

UPDATE: Actually, I think mine is even less fancy as I think I paid about $600-700 for mine which included the fiber optic ring light. But they have lots of different scopes. Also, I would invite you look for reviews of AMSCOPE before making a purchase. Most will be pretty favorable as I found during my research.

Dan

GrantX

Thu Sept 25 2014, 02:11AM

Registered Member #4074 Joined: Mon Aug 29 2011, 06:58AM
Location: Australia
Posts: 335

Thank you for the replies guys.

I realised soon after posting that there probably isn't enough vertical space in those models I linked last time, plus they only have illumination from behind (transmitted illumination?). At first I wasn't really looking at USB-only scopes, but I've started to realise they will probably be the most practical and affordable (and I have a laptop in the workshop. where the scope will mostly be used).

EVR, that stereo scope looks fantastic but it's currently a bit out of my league. I checked a couple of reviews and AMScope seems like a decent store, I will probably buy through them so I don't have to worry as much about quality or damage in transit.

This is what I'm currently looking at buying: http://www.amscope.com/microscopes/800x-hd-720p-3d-digital-zoom-8-led-microscope.html
It's got a high quality camera, plenty of vertical space and magnification from 5x - 800x, which allows me to inspect SMT PCBs and similar-sized stuff, while still powerful enough to examine tiny things like the eye of an insect or whatever object has attracted my curiosity. Plus its still only $99 (my local Jaycar store has a 300x 5MP version for $130).

Proud Mary

Mon Sept 29 2014, 11:04AM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

Unless you are spending a lot of money don't bother with objectives >x40. Claimed magnifications of x1000 are the same kind of marketing you see with toy telescopes.

Most microscopes on offer are configured as biological microscopes. This means that the focus has been set up to account for the refractive index of microscope slide cover slips. This lack of sharpeness won't be too obvious at low magnifications, (e.g. x20)

To examine components etc you need to choose metallurgical objectives that are designed to focus directly without an intervening cover slip.

Unless you are being Zeiss, Meiji, Leitz, Nikon etc high magnification (say >x400)will be what is called 'empty magnification'. This means that no new details are revealed by increasing the magnification.

I would suggest a stereo microscope with magnification in the range x10 - x50 as being the most suitable for electronic component examination with gorgeous clarity. (This is what is used in quality control departments) Something like this:

You can buy eyepiece cameras so you can drop the camera into one side or the other in stereo microscopes. You can also move the camera from one microscope to another.

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