help me pick a microscope for tiny SMD soldering

[weatMod]

Anyone here have any advice on what is a good deal for a microscope?

I am trying to take advantage of he Aliexpress BF sale and there are not many hours left and
I am having a hard time trying to decide between these scopes what do you think is the best choice?

I am just going to be doing minor stuff right now like a pico boot install and RCM X86 chip install some Ardunio and WLED stuff, with the all the alternative test points but I want to be able grow and learn more and I want a scope that help me if I want to take on more advanced stuff like a glitch chip but I don't want to spend that much.

I have no idea what these things should cost to be considered a good deal.

this one is like $98.00 for me with 4k camera, arm, light ring ,but only 150x

1-150X Zoom Lens Soldering Microscopio HD 4K 48MP 1080P Industrial Camera Type C HDMI Video Digital Microscope for Electronics
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtp50Yn

I like the boom arm style but these look to have lot less magnification than the Andonstar Tomolov stand style ones
(this one is like $108-120 for the 7" 2000x

Andonstar Trinocular HDMI USB Digital Microscope AD249SM 2000X 10.1" IPS LCD for Electronics Soldering Tool for PCB Solder Check
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKtPrc7)


why do the arm style ones have such low magnification compared to the stand kind like 130x 150, 180x vs 2000x but maybe I am not Understanding the listings or it is just deception?

I like the idea of having the screen where I can look at it straight on with the stand types and I don't want to spend the money for the boom arm ones with built in screen.

I was thinking of getting a boom arm one and making a mount for a 7" android tablet and using an OTG and a capture card maybe but I have plenty of large monitors like 27" and bigger to attach if there is too much lag with the tablet but I rather have the scope mounted under the screen than have to look in a different direction.

The problem is that all the boom arm ones seem to max out at 180X is that enough magnification? or should I go for a stand type and worry about getting a boom arm for it later?

there is also this one that is just the optics, the camera and the light ring, no stand or arm for like $127 (prices in links are different from my cart)

$63.93 | UHD 4K 1080P 48MP Video Lab HDMI USB Microscope Camera 100X 130X 180X 200X 300X 500X Zoom C Mount LED Light For Phone Repair
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mq6CNWP



am I better off with that one that says it has 500x magnification and 48mp 1080 camera or the one with 180x magnification and the 4k camera?

I figure i could 3D print a stand for now and get boom for the 500x one later

 

[davidmorom]

I've been working with electronics for 20 years, and always soldered SMD with my bare eyes, but just a couple of months ago I decided to buy a good microscope to work a bit more comfortable.

I have the exact same microscope from your first link, with the 150x zoom and the boom arm, attached to a cheap 24" display, and I couldn't be happier, everything is a lot easier and less frustrating now. I totally recommend it, 150x is more than enough even for the smallest components.

​

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Anyone here have any advice on what is a good deal for a microscope?

I am trying to take advantage of he Aliexpress BF sale and there are not many hours left and
I am having a hard time trying to decide between these scopes what do you think is the best choice?

I am just going to be doing minor stuff right now like a pico boot install and RCM X86 chip install some Ardunio and WLED stuff, with the all the alternative test points but I want to be able grow and learn more and I want a scope that help me if I want to take on more advanced stuff like a glitch chip but I don't want to spend that much.

I have no idea what these things should cost to be considered a good deal.

this one is like $98.00 for me with 4k camera, arm, light ring ,but only 150x

1-150X Zoom Lens Soldering Microscopio HD 4K 48MP 1080P Industrial Camera Type C HDMI Video Digital Microscope for Electronics
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtp50Yn

I like the boom arm style but these look to have lot less magnification than the Andonstar Tomolov stand style ones
(this one is like $108-120 for the 7" 2000x

Andonstar Trinocular HDMI USB Digital Microscope AD249SM 2000X 10.1" IPS LCD for Electronics Soldering Tool for PCB Solder Check
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKtPrc7)


why do the arm style ones have such low magnification compared to the stand kind like 130x 150, 180x vs 2000x but maybe I am not Understanding the listings or it is just deception?

I like the idea of having the screen where I can look at it straight on with the stand types and I don't want to spend the money for the boom arm ones with built in screen.

I was thinking of getting a boom arm one and making a mount for a 7" android tablet and using an OTG and a capture card maybe but I have plenty of large monitors like 27" and bigger to attach if there is too much lag with the tablet but I rather have the scope mounted under the screen than have to look in a different direction.

The problem is that all the boom arm ones seem to max out at 180X is that enough magnification? or should I go for a stand type and worry about getting a boom arm for it later?

there is also this one that is just the optics, the camera and the light ring, no stand or arm for like $127 (prices in links are different from my cart)

$63.93 | UHD 4K 1080P 48MP Video Lab HDMI USB Microscope Camera 100X 130X 180X 200X 300X 500X Zoom C Mount LED Light For Phone Repair
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mq6CNWP



am I better off with that one that says it has 500x magnification and 48mp 1080 camera or the one with 180x magnification and the 4k camera?

I figure i could 3D print a stand for now and get boom for the 500x one later

I saw the second one in a YouTube video and seems like it is quite good (branded differently but looks like the exact same product, same accessories and everything):


You can largely ignore the inflated magnification numbers, they include digital zoom in the number and you never want to use digital zoom. That being said the magnification on the second one is actually great.

I have a much cheaper one, it's nothing amazing but it's worth the price I paid and it gets the job done for soldering work, higher magnification than this is probably overkill for soldering work, but bigger screen and higher resolution are some benefits of the more expensive ones.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005919749278.html

I think the black friday sale prices on AliExpress are BS, I bought that microscope for around the same as the current sale price.

 

[urherenow]

my only advice is to get nothing less than a 7" screen, unless you get one that has HDMI output for a TV/monitor.

If it wouldn't piss my wife off, I'd get roughly $3,100 worth of gear from northridgefix. Their scope with both the regular led light ring, and the anti-glare light as addons, simply can't be beat. Their articulating arm is quite expensive though.

 

[weatMod]

my only advice is to get nothing less than a 7" screen, unless you get one that has HDMI output for a TV/monitor.

If it wouldn't piss my wife off, I'd get roughly $3,100 worth of gear from northridgefix. Their scope with both the regular led light ring, and the anti-glare light as addons, simply can't be beat. Their articulating arm is quite expensive though.

I saw a video recently that shows the stuff that northridgefix sells is just rebranded stuff from Aliexpress marked up like 400% but that he warranty's it or just eats it if it breaks and send you a new one but other people commenting on the video said he has bad support.
so you could probably find the same gear on Aliexpress for a lot cheaper.

Post automatically merged: Dec 3, 2024

I saw the second one in a YouTube video and seems like it is quite good (branded differently but looks like the exact same product, same accessories and everything):


You can largely ignore the inflated magnification numbers, they include digital zoom in the number and you never want to use digital zoom. That being said the magnification on the second one is actually great.

I have a much cheaper one, it's nothing amazing but it's worth the price I paid and it gets the job done for soldering work, higher magnification than this is probably overkill for soldering work, but bigger screen and higher resolution are some benefits of the more expensive ones.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005919749278.html

I think the black friday sale prices on AliExpress are BS, I bought that microscope for around the same as the current sale price.

"You can largely ignore the inflated magnification numbers, they include digital zoom in the number and you never want to use digital zoom. That being said the magnification on the second one is actually great."

that is interesting so on the stand type they exagerate by adding in digital zoom but not on the boom arm type.
maybe because the ones with the built in screen have the digital zoom capability on the screen portion then and the ones with the camera alone can't do digital zoom or maybe they are just being ore shady on the stand type listing.

Do you happen to know what the actually optical magnification would be then on the optics of the Andonstar stand one compared to the 150x model ?
I wonder if the optics on the boom arm one is actually the same or higher in terms of optical only.

Yeah the prices were actually better during their 11.11 sale but I couldn't make up my mind.

you are right about the sales but you can save a little is you use the spend so much get so much off coupons
and I got a bunch of the pick 3 for $3 coupons during the 11.11 sale and did pretty good. gome some smart plugs for $1 and some esp32 boards, one with a color OLED for $1

I like the boom arm type better because there is more work area, but I like the stand type better because the position of the screen is more natural.

I was hoping for another shake and win 3 for $3 coupon for the 11.11 sale because they had $1 capture cards
but I already have one that is a little better than that one but I saw video showing that ones works with Android with an OTG , I never tested mine though but I assume it will work the same with the same app that was shown in the video.

I just wonder if it will add lag , and if I can use one of my old fire tablets I have 2018 HD8, 3 fire 7 from 2015 with root and 2 HD 10's one is 2019 and the other is older

it would be nice to repurpose one of there if I can get the capture card working with the OTG and if the arm will support the weight without sagging.

the boom arm one with screens are more than I want to spend and I don't like the idea of buying another display when I already have so many.

And yeah the sale is one thing but I am also nervous about the Trump tariffs , I mean lase tie there an exemption on consumer electronics but no guarantee this time so I am buying stuff I been holding off buying for while now incase this is the last tariff free BF.

I was in a rush to mod this second v1 I got with an RCM x86 chip but it also needs new digitizer because the one now has a nasty ugly scratch on it and bought the digitizer already but then I saw the taki udon super 7 OLED and think I might just wait for that

Post automatically merged: Dec 3, 2024

Anyone here have any advice on what is a good deal for a microscope?

I am trying to take advantage of he Aliexpress BF sale and there are not many hours left and
I am having a hard time trying to decide between these scopes what do you think is the best choice?

I am just going to be doing minor stuff right now like a pico boot install and RCM X86 chip install some Ardunio and WLED stuff, with the all the alternative test points but I want to be able grow and learn more and I want a scope that help me if I want to take on more advanced stuff like a glitch chip but I don't want to spend that much.

I have no idea what these things should cost to be considered a good deal.

this one is like $98.00 for me with 4k camera, arm, light ring ,but only 150x

1-150X Zoom Lens Soldering Microscopio HD 4K 48MP 1080P Industrial Camera Type C HDMI Video Digital Microscope for Electronics
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtp50Yn

I like the boom arm style but these look to have lot less magnification than the Andonstar Tomolov stand style ones
(this one is like $108-120 for the 7" 2000x

Andonstar Trinocular HDMI USB Digital Microscope AD249SM 2000X 10.1" IPS LCD for Electronics Soldering Tool for PCB Solder Check
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKtPrc7)


why do the arm style ones have such low magnification compared to the stand kind like 130x 150, 180x vs 2000x but maybe I am not Understanding the listings or it is just deception?

I like the idea of having the screen where I can look at it straight on with the stand types and I don't want to spend the money for the boom arm ones with built in screen.

I was thinking of getting a boom arm one and making a mount for a 7" android tablet and using an OTG and a capture card maybe but I have plenty of large monitors like 27" and bigger to attach if there is too much lag with the tablet but I rather have the scope mounted under the screen than have to look in a different direction.

The problem is that all the boom arm ones seem to max out at 180X is that enough magnification? or should I go for a stand type and worry about getting a boom arm for it later?

there is also this one that is just the optics, the camera and the light ring, no stand or arm for like $127 (prices in links are different from my cart)

$63.93 | UHD 4K 1080P 48MP Video Lab HDMI USB Microscope Camera 100X 130X 180X 200X 300X 500X Zoom C Mount LED Light For Phone Repair
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mq6CNWP



am I better off with that one that says it has 500x magnification and 48mp 1080 camera or the one with 180x magnification and the 4k camera?

I figure i could 3D print a stand for now and get boom for the 500x one later

thanks I will probably go for this one then and maybe just get the same camera you have.
not sure if the 4k is worth the upgrade then because the monitor I plan to use most of the time is only 1080
maybe I should see about getting the 180x with the camer you have if its the same price and he 150x with 4k camera