Digital magnifying lamp

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Digital magnifying lamp

sudo

178 posts

Master Geek

# 255536 16-Aug-2019 14:56

I'm getting to the point I am frequently using a handheld magnifier to look at small details/writing, so started looking at a one of those desktop magnifying lamps on a flexible arm.

But I'm wondering if there is a "decent" digital magnifier out there that I can display on my desktop.

The ones on Trademe/eBay seem to be mainly microscope cameras that do up to 1600x magnification, and little as a 20 buck pricetag!

Anyone seen a digital replacement of a magnifying lamp?

I don't need microscope level magnification, but a reasonable amount with good enough quality with a good flexible arm and its own illumination, that it can live on the side of my desk.

wellygary

4084 posts

Uber Geek

# 2300472 16-Aug-2019 15:21

Both IOS and Android have magnification apps, could you get away with using a phone?

sudo

178 posts

Master Geek

# 2300479 16-Aug-2019 15:35

wellygary:

Both IOS and Android have magnification apps, could you get away with using a phone?

Not good if you want to do something while its magnifying. The workstation magnifying lamps are hands-free

msukiwi

670 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

# 2300485 16-Aug-2019 15:45

Jaycar have them.

https://www.jaycar.co.nz/hobbies-gadgets/gadgets/magnifiers/c/7GA?sort=popularity-desc&q

sudo

178 posts

Master Geek

# 2300488 16-Aug-2019 15:55

msukiwi:

Jaycar have them.

https://www.jaycar.co.nz/hobbies-gadgets/gadgets/magnifiers/c/7GA?sort=popularity-desc&q

None of them are digital (can display on my monitor)

richms

22510 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

# 2300503 16-Aug-2019 16:25

There is lag on any of the digital ones which makes working on them horrible.

Also super low depth of field that you need to adjust on the unit rather than moving your head or just focusing on it like with a real magnifier.

I bought this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32880372287.html because strange parts on youtube said it was good. It is good to work on, great for soldering and looking at small things, and a camera that I can send to the computer into OBS if I want to stream or record what im looking at.

Richard rich.ms

sudo

178 posts

Master Geek

# 2300533 16-Aug-2019 17:49

richms:

There is lag on any of the digital ones which makes working on them horrible.

Also super low depth of field that you need to adjust on the unit rather than moving your head or just focusing on it like with a real magnifier.

Take a look at this (5 year old) video of a hacked webcam running at 30fps ... it's actually quite passable.

The Tagarno looks really nice though ... if they were only cheaper :-)

sudo

178 posts

Master Geek

# 2300565 16-Aug-2019 18:53

doh, didnt paste the vid ... https://youtu.be/HIWUFFlr2I4