I seem to get duplicate messages (same timestamp; identical content) both in body and headers.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Donald.

With both eyes the same you don't really need to wear the reading glasses, since you can probably just adjust the focus of the microscope.
You may still want to though, if you need the glasses for other stuff and don't want to take them off all the time. They make special glasses compatible eyepieces for that (higher focal plane, usually have a glasses symbol or H etched into them).
Even if one eye needs a different prescription most microscopes allow you to dial in a spherical correction.
I have never seen an eyepiece with cylinder correction, but would very much expect they exist as a specialty item.
A good quality stereo microscope can offer the same or better vision as the mantis.
It's just more comfortable and efficient to use.
ST
On Fri, Nov 1, 2019 at 2:32 PM Dave <theschemer@... <mailto:theschemer@...>> wrote:
Hi Stefan,
? That Mantis looks great but way out of my price range. My eyes
are fairly functional but I am far-sighted and use reading glasses.
Both eyes are the same so figure 20-20 but far-sighted. By the way,
can you wear reading glasses when using a microscope or does the
scope take away that problem and you just dial it in? I did enough
research not to want a digital microscope for various reasons.
Thanks,
Dave
On 10/31/2019 11:13 PM, stefan_trethan wrote:

I use a Mantis Elite at work every day for soldering.
It resolves exactly what you mentioned, that the view disappears,
because it has very wide field eyepiece area (you look into a
single "screen").
Of course it costs real money, but I wouldn't want to miss it.

You definitely want an optical stereo microscope, at least if both
of your eyes are still somewhat functional.
A 2D digital image does not compare for soldering.

ST

On Fri, Nov 1, 2019 at 1:24 AM Dave <theschemer@...
<mailto:theschemer@...>> wrote:

Anybody using a microscope made for soldering? I finally
realized I need
to be able to see better, and I will pay for the needed fix. I
don't
think I want a USB style that has the little monitor/display
but rather
something like these:



Anyone use one? The only con I see often complained about is
if you
don't hold your head just right, the view disappears, kind of
like with
a rifle scope on high power.

Thanks

Hi Harvey, how's it going? I have done a crash course yesterday and learned from my early findings that I need distance to work with plenty of access. And that a 0.5 objective lens for a wider view is a good thing to have. I will be searching for a while but not too long. I don't want to have to buy this thing twice after making the wrong decision first.

Thanks,

Dave

On 10/31/2019 8:28 PM, Harvey White wrote:

I do.? An old american optical, 5 different powers, boom stand. Old fashioned fiber optics light (bulb set on low).

Make sure that if you buy one used, that it's not made for chip examination, and that the working distance between the work and the lens is fairly large.? Chip microscopes have almost no working distance.

You'll want a good fan as well.

As for the "hold your head just right, mine doesn't seem to have that problem.

Harvey

Do an EBAY search for Binocular Stereo Microscope

and you will be surprised by the number of solutions you CAN afford.

I have bought them in the past for children and have found that many of the dirt cheap binocular microscopes... $35 .....

have no problem at all being the right magnification and distance for SMD free hand soldering.

The ONLY? "gotcha" I found was that some binocular microscopes have a child sized PUPILLARY DISTANCE (PD) .....? the distance between

your two pupals and no way to adjust that distance.

So shop carefully to learn that distance.


I've been using this one for many years...... they sell now for $87




20X Binocular Stereo Microscope
SKU: SE204-A


and I suspect this is just as good for $53



AMSCOPE 20X Portable Sharp Binocular Stereo Microscope LED PCB Repair Dissecting


There are huge price differences for these microscopes and I don't know about you guys but

so far I have not been disappointed by any of the cheap binocular microscopes.

I use a dissecting microscope from Lakeland Microscopes. Their seems to be something wrong with their website.

Get

I use one of these <>

The built in light is a bit rubbish so you'll need a ring light as well <>

The base is not really heavy enough so it is best to clamp it down but otherwise it works reasonably well. Forget the included 20x lenses - they are too powerful for PCB work. You do need to hold your head just right but that goes for pretty much any optical microscope. You get used to it and having binocular vision makes such a difference.

Les

I use a Mantis Elite at work every day for soldering.

It resolves exactly what you mentioned, that the view disappears, because it has very wide field eyepiece area (you look into a single "screen").

Of course it costs real money, but I wouldn't want to miss it.

You definitely want an optical stereo microscope, at least if both of your eyes are still somewhat functional.

A 2D digital image does not compare for soldering.

ST

On Fri, Nov 1, 2019 at 1:24 AM Dave <theschemer@...> wrote:

Anybody using a microscope made for soldering? I finally realized I need
to be able to see better, and I will pay for the needed fix. I don't
think I want a USB style that has the little monitor/display but rather
something like these:



Anyone use one? The only con I see often complained about is if you
don't hold your head just right, the view disappears, kind of like with
a rifle scope on high power.

Thanks