On 2025-03-17 12:02 AM, Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io wrote:
Having done enough (red) eye cracking smd soldering jobs or inspections in case of suspected failure (cold joints, etc.), I've decided to invest a bit on a better optical setup.
There's plenty of cameras on the marketplaces and retailers out there, but what are some better choices? Good experiences with some specific models?
I have used a stereo zoom microscope from Titan Tools for several decades, for soldering mostly down to 0603, sometimes 0402, and occasionally 0201. Stereo, because you really need the depth perception for that sort of soldering. Zoom, because you need the lower magnification to give enough field of view for ease of routine hand-soldering, but higher magnification when hunting a cracked trace etc. This unit goes from 7x, where it stays most of the time, up to 40x, and has an alternate pair of eyepieces to double the magnification, and an auxiliary objective lens to double again, so it actually completely covers 7x to 160x. For years I used a simple light bulb clamped to the stand for illumination; a couple years ago the LED ring illuminators came down in price and they're way better.
YMMV of course!
Steve Hendrix
