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Electronic Magnifier

 

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My eyes are not what they used to be. I'm thinking of buying one of those electronic magnifiers with an attached 7-9" screen or something close to that size. ? Can anyone give me some insight as to what I should buy?? (I'll spend up to $175 if required.)? I've been using a lighted magnifying glass for vision impaired and that works OK if I don't fog it up but keeping proper distance is a pain.? I thought maybe an electronic one might work better.?? My eyesight is just typical old guy eye sight.

Lee, w0vt

 

Lee W0VT (W5DRC?) wrote…

I'm thinking of buying one of those electronic magnifiers with an attached 7-9" screen…
I had one with (I think) a smaller screen than that. It definitely worked, but I returned it because pressing the button on it to take still pics shook it so much that they were blurry and unusable. I will probably get another one one day but I’ll be a bit more choosy.

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73 Keith VE7GDH
 

I picked up a Pluggable USB microscope to try. Very inexpensive but does a pretty decent job. The problem is always coordinating your hand movements through what you are watching them with. The binocular microscope that was linked would be ideal for that reason. However, by placing my monitor behind what I'm working on, I've been able to manage. I put the camera on a Gorillapod tripod, which I already had, to get good stability.

I've thought about trying one of those huge magnifying glasses on a flexible arm with built-in ring light (like used by crocheters and similar), but haven't yet.?

73, Brock VA7AV?
 

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Another thing to bear in mind is that not everybody can use a binocular microscope. If for example you have a significant strabismus(?) aka an alternating divergent squint you might be limited to one eye at a time. Something displaying on a screen as has been discussed would seem to be a better choice.

John F5VLF

On 15 Jan 2024, at 22:11, Brock VA7AV <brock@...> wrote:

I picked up a Pluggable USB microscope to try. Very inexpensive but does a pretty decent job. The problem is always coordinating your hand movements through what you are watching them with. The binocular microscope that was linked would be ideal for that reason. However, by placing my monitor behind what I'm working on, I've been able to manage. I put the camera on a Gorillapod tripod, which I already had, to get good stability.

I've thought about trying one of those huge magnifying glasses on a flexible arm with built-in ring light (like used by crocheters and similar), but haven't yet.?

73, Brock VA7AV?

 

I use an Andonstar AD209 from Ali express. Solid performer with a 10in HD screen. Well worth it for SMD work among others.?
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Simon VA2NM
 

Andonstar are good. ? Check out their full range- Look out for those called (not all are) soldering microscopes. ? This indicates there is or can be a big gap between the lens and the objective item in use. ? ?This is of course not a requirement for a coin or biological microscope?

Without this gap boards with tall items on them or trying to get a soldering iron or finger in there is difficult or impossible?
 

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Lee,

Try this magnified visor:


I had used two of them in my medical practice for 30+ years and kept them when I retired. ?They are available from MicroMark and Amazon with different lenses. There are cheaper knockoffs also. ?I have the extra loup for mine and the LED light set from MicroMark and find both are very helpful for my 78 year old eyes.

I also have the microscope with the screen but found it to be clumsy ( maybe that’s me) compared to actually looking at a pc board with my OptiVISOR.

I also use my cell phone as a camera/magnifier when looking for faults.

Dave K8WPE?

David J. Wilcox’s iPad
Traverse City, Michigan

On Jan 15, 2024, at 3:48?PM, Leland L. Bahr <w5drc@...> wrote:

? My eyes are not what they used to be. I'm thinking of buying one of those electronic magnifiers with an attached 7-9" screen or something close to that size. ? Can anyone give me some insight as to what I should buy?? (I'll spend up to $175 if required.)? I've been using a lighted magnifying glass for vision impaired and that works OK if I don't fog it up but keeping proper distance is a pain.? I thought maybe an electronic one might work better.?? My eyesight is just typical old guy eye sight.

Lee, w0vt

 

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I paint miniatures as another hobby. Over the years I’ve tried multiple magnification things.

Lighted helping hands: ok, but not quite enough magnification and the focal point can be fiddly. I found I had to move my head in and out a lot.

Optivisor: the gold standard, but I find them hot and uncomfortable after a short period.

6x reading glasses: cheap on Amazon. Works pretty well to give me binocular vision, but I have a hard time seeing anything else that isn’t quite close to my head. Not great for soldering, since I have to be so close. But I also have a vent system.

Craft Optics: horribly expensive. But worth it. Uses your prescription to create glasses and a high power magnifying system. This is close to the system that dentists and doctors use, so the focal point is comfortable, the lighting is good, etc. battery life is good.

Magnifying screen: I don’t use a USB magnifier, I use my phone. I mount it in a small tripod that fits on my bench (and holds my POTA antenna). If the screen needs to be bigger, I connect it to my workbench TV.

The three I find myself reaching for the most are the reading glasses, my phone, and the Craft Optics. Get them at www.craftoptics.com

Dan
--
. Please pardon any mispelings or errors.


On Jan 15, 2024, at 9:55?PM, Leland L. Bahr <w5drc@...> wrote:

? My eyes are not what they used to be. I'm thinking of buying one of those electronic magnifiers with an attached 7-9" screen or something close to that size. ? Can anyone give me some insight as to what I should buy?? (I'll spend up to $175 if required.)? I've been using a lighted magnifying glass for vision impaired and that works OK if I don't fog it up but keeping proper distance is a pain.? I thought maybe an electronic one might work better.?? My eyesight is just typical old guy eye sight.

Lee, w0vt

 

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My wife does head and neck surgery and recently upgraded her surgical loupes. She passed the old pair down to me. I also have a Nikon SMZ series binocular microscope.? Both items help with detailed PCB work but an LED-lighted magnifier on an articulated arm has worked best. It has four brightness settings and a "C" clamp mount to quickly and easily move it around. ?Amazon link below:

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Paul, W9AC

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of simonbeliveau.1@...


Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 12:46 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] Electronic Magnifier

?

I use an Andonstar AD209 from Ali express. Solid performer with a 10in HD screen. Well worth it for SMD work among others.?
--
Simon VA2NM

 

I find that having binocular magnification is essential for my work, modifying and reverse-engineering electronics items.?
Monocular magnification, like the USB camera/screen combination lacks the critical depth information which binocular vision provides.
I have an Amscope microscope like this one:??? I usually use it at 8X magnification or so.
73, Don N2VGU

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