(Part 2) Best lab stereo microscopes according to redditors
We found 54 Reddit comments discussing the best lab stereo microscopes. We ranked the 24 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
From cheapest with the least amount of features to the most expensive with the most features.
SE400 Inspection Scope
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Cheapest Option, no zoom, but large working distance at .5x Very limited and similar to getting a 250cc bike when you need atleast 1000cc. Great to learn how to scope with, but a waste of money after a month when you could have put the money to a better unit.
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SW-3T24Z Trinocular Stereo Microscope
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Trinoc without simufocal so you lose depth of field when the cameras on, ( you can only see out of 2 of the 3 ports at once ) and you cannot pull the scope out, so its got limited rage.
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SM4B Stereo Boom Scope
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Basic Binoc scope with decent features, zoom and reach. Decent working area around 5.5 to 6 in
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SM4TP Simufocal Stereo Boom Scope
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Best of the best for the price, has capabilty to have cmount camera attached for 3rd viewer on a tv for training or for youtube livestreaming, ect
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Good luck! and dont forget to buy a ring light!
Spend $400 on a proper binocular (or even trinocular if you expect to take lots of pictures) scope with a ring LED to light your work from the top, and a proper base at the bottom.
The SM-3B series (-3T for trinocular) is great. And the more secure double-boom of the SM-4B/-4T series is even better.
I would get the 3.5x-90x combo set which includes the 0.5x and the 2x len attachment. Most of the time, I'm in the 7x-45x range, so if you just get this guy with the ring light, you'll be good to go.
The $400-$600 you spend now will last you for the rest of your life.
Similarly, spend a little more on your first good iron. I bought my Hakko 926 when I was in college. Spent $300 on the setup then. That was about 20 years ago. Still my primary iron.
Those angle poise magnifiers like you linked definitely help. At work I use several tools depending on what I'm doing:
Something like this https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-SE400X-Professional-Microscope-Magnification/dp/B0056X4RRS/ref=sr_1_28? would be an awesome start
I bought this one at Christmas:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UBNIMC/
I already own a Nikon YS (Picked up on Craigslist for $100) without the trinocular port, so I knew I wanted something that was lit from the top. You can probably get just the head:
https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-SM7180T-7X-180X-Trinocular-Microscope/dp/B005MKI5NW/
The Nikon allows me to see individual red blood cells moving around, the Amscope doesn't get that kind of magnification and the lighting is wrong. You can record video through holding the phone as well and I've done video of the red blood cells moving around.
Found it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rkeCcYyCVI