Anyone used this cheapie 500x USB microscope

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Hatch

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#223114 13-Sep-2017 11:44

Looking to get a cheap device to help with magnifying electronics for find soldering jobs.

Had to resolder a USB port where the solder points had cracked from stress.

Did the job ok with a magnifying glass but really couldn't see close enough to do a good job.

This is what I found on TM:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/business-farming-industry/other/auction-1413597816.htm

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#1864453 13-Sep-2017 12:44

Not sure why they are calling it an endoscope. Endoscopes go in your

Mike

gbwelly

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#1864470 13-Sep-2017 13:13

I have one, I think they are designed for examining skin or flat surfaces, whist pressed up against the surface. The included stand is too wobbly to get the camera in focus (or if you do manage it something will move a tiny bit and it will then be out of focus)

Basically it's good fun for looking at scabs and leaves etc, but to look at something whist working on it.. your going to be frustrated and disappointed.

frankv

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#1864493 13-Sep-2017 13:45

MikeAqua:

Not sure why they are calling it an endoscope. Endoscopes go in your

Actually, endoscopes are for looking inside holes of various kinds, not necessarily in humans. So an endoscope could be used by a mechanic to inspect the inside of an engine cylinder via the sparkplug hole, or by a plumber to inspect the inside of a pipe.

blakamin

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#1864495 13-Sep-2017 13:50

And an Endoscopy is when they put it down your throat... The other end is a Colonoscopy.

frankv

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#1864496 13-Sep-2017 13:50

Ummm... why not just use your phone camera? Clamp the phone so that the camera is centred on what you want to work on, then zoom in/out as desired.

Sam91

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#1864518 13-Sep-2017 14:19

Exact same product on Aliexpress for $17 (NZD) if you're prepared to wait a few weeks. There's a few reviews on there too.

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MikeAqua

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#1864525 13-Sep-2017 14:31

blakamin:

And an Endoscopy is when they put it down your throat... The other end is a Colonoscopy.

Seeing as we are longitudinally sectioning helical keratin fibres ... there are many kind of medical uses for endosocpes

Colonoscopy is derived from colon and endoscopy. Gastroscopy is gastro-endoscopy. Neither are fun .

If you get both done at once it's called spitroastoscopy

Endoscopes are also used for proper cutting-stuff surgery. All going to plan, I'll be on the receiving end of a surgical endoscope in November

Mike

Hatch

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#1864527 13-Sep-2017 14:37

gbwelly:

I have one, I think they are designed for examining skin or flat surfaces, whist pressed up against the surface. The included stand is too wobbly to get the camera in focus (or if you do manage it something will move a tiny bit and it will then be out of focus)

Basically it's good fun for looking at scabs and leaves etc, but to look at something whist working on it.. your going to be frustrated and disappointed.

Thanks for your input, it makes sense that with such a cheap base the image would shake all over the place. For $20+ I'll probably get one and try to rig up an independent base for the circuit board I'm working on and have the camera attached to a firm non moving stand or something.

I'm not sure how more expensive units address this issue outside of proper damping or a very rigid and heavy stand or alternatively shake correction in the video feed.

Were you able to get it working easily enough with your PC?

Hatch

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#1864528 13-Sep-2017 14:38

frankv:

Ummm... why not just use your phone camera? Clamp the phone so that the camera is centred on what you want to work on, then zoom in/out as desired.

I've never tried that but to be honest it sounds like a terrible set up. Prefer a larger laptop screen.

Hatch

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#1864529 13-Sep-2017 14:40

Sam91:

Exact same product on Aliexpress for $17 (NZD) if you're prepared to wait a few weeks. There's a few reviews on there too.

Thanks for that, its cheap enough off trademe. But might look for something a little better from aliexpress if it exists.

Hatch

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#1864533 13-Sep-2017 14:44

This one looks much better and has its own video display:

https://goo.gl/fAkdNo

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nitrotech

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#1864605 13-Sep-2017 16:24

I have one of the first ones you linked to and its OK but much of it's magnification is 'digital zoom' therefore pretty rubbish at the end however it will most likely do for what you require it for.

I find micro soldering via a screen a real pain - much better to have a good microscope. Just a note that the software for my one didn't run on windows 10.

Also have a microscope like the one you linked to with the LCD - don't bother the LCD is such poor quality that it's unusable.

richms

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#1864837 13-Sep-2017 23:00

About 1mm depth of field. Crap optics. bs megapixels. focus and zoom controls that just seem to be different ends of the same thing, so you cant zoom and focus on close things etc.

Richard rich.ms

gbwelly

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#1864888 14-Sep-2017 07:41

Hatch:

Were you able to get it working easily enough with your PC?

Yeah, it's a generic web cam, drivers are built into windows.

linw

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#1864894 14-Sep-2017 08:09

I'd be looking for more like 10X than 500X. 10X would surely be more stable/forgiving wouldn't it?

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