Digital Microscope purchase

[Joseph Gwinn]

On Jul 23, 2019, Dave Platt wrote
(in article <72ok0g-8j1.ln1@coop.radagast.org&gt:

In article<7a42ddd9-5271-49a6-a506-9b03b5722719@googlegroups.com>,
whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> wrote:
On Monday, July 22, 2019 at 7:11:50 PM UTC-7, amdx wrote:
I'm looking to purchase a digital microscope. I have no single use for
it although I would occasionally use it to solder smd parts...

Consider an optical stereo microscope (dissecting microscope); this will
let you see
the components AND the iron AND the joint, with enough depth perception that
it'll be easy to stab the tiny tip of the iron at the grain-of-salt-sized
component,
without undue attention to feeling the tiny pressures while half-blind.

+1 to this idea.

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a worn-but-still-sound B&L
StereoZoom 4 microscope for all of $50, with a set of Zeiss 12x
wide-field eyepieces (in place of the original 10x) and an
industrial-inspection-type stand. Even 'though I wear eyeglasses, the
field of view is wide enough that it's no strain at all to look
through it. With those eyepieces I end up with a zoom range starting
at about 10x and going up to about 40x... the low-zoom setting looks
as if it's going to be very good for SMD soldering.

I also just got a used American Optical Stereo Star Zoom (model 570)
microscope that needed repair. It came with a very solid AO made base and a
Bausch and Lomb illuminator that fits perfectly.

Everything was very dirty, so I took it all apart and cleaned the optics.
This was easy, and greatly improved things.

But it turned out that the unit had been dropped, bending the left eyepiece
mount, yielding a partial fracture. I carefully pushed it back partly
straight with a big bench vise. The remaining misalignment of the optical
axes is a problem, but then my eyes are not all that well matched.

I´ll learn how to use this unit, and then maybe get something that better
matches what I do. The available variety is stunning.

It is a lot better than a digital microscope. The zoom range is 7x to 42x,
and the working distance is 4".

.
It needs an illuminator (I've bought a few 3, 5, and 10-watt LEDs to
experiment with).

I may add a LED ring light of some kind, to look down deep holes. Oblique
light is useful for many things as well; both are needed.

.
For modest soldering jobs I've been quite happy with an Optivisor, but
it looks as if this scope will let me work comfortably on smaller
workpieces.

There are a lot of these older StereoZoom 'scopes on the used
market... B&L and its successors sold a lot of them. You can buy
professionally-refurbished ones for over $1000, or used ones for a
song, or anywhere in between.

I saw lots of perfectly good microscopes offered for a few hundred dollars.
There are specialist companies that deal exclusively in old microscopes, and
they do repair things. These old microscopes were very solidly built, and are
totally innocent of electronics, and so can almost always be fixed. And
millions were made over the years, so used spare parts are plentiful.

Joe Gwinn

 

[mpm]

On Monday, July 22, 2019 at 10:11:50 PM UTC-4, amdx wrote:

I'm looking to purchase a digital microscope. I have no single use for
it although I would occasionally use it to solder smd parts, I've also
just bought knife sharpening stones and would like to get a better look
than the 30x hand hold Tasco magnifier I fought with last night.

FWIW:
You can get a Chinese camera/microscope for about $300.
It's perfect for working on SMD.

You need a monitor, but you may already have one that's not being used.

I'll try to grab the link from work.
It's an amazing deal at $300 (Maybe $320?)
You get the camera, base, adjustable arms, cables, ring-light (which is crap), etc...

You get plenty of space above the work-piece to solder, etc., and plenty of magnification. Our have a remote control for taking still images and videos, using a micro-SD card.

 

[Jan Panteltje]

On a sunny day (Tue, 23 Jul 2019 17:27:46 -0700 (PDT)) it happened
dagmargoodboat@yahoo.com wrote in

bought the 2.5X version of these ($25):
https://www.ebay.com/p/3-5x-420mm-Headband-Dental-Surgical-Binocular-Loupes-Glasses-Lens-Magnifier/19026920761?iid=3D142904958683


They
are optically quite passable, but 2.5X proved a bit too low
for SMD work.

The big advantage is the extended working distance.

I have an ebay visor, never use it (too heavy on my head)
and a third hand with magnifying glass, (no stereo depth)
and a big table magnifying lens with (defective) light.
Never use those things
Sometimes a cheap webcam can help, big monitor:
http://panteltje.com/pub/defeating_the_mantis_pic_7.jpg
it of programming and you can add any real time data you want ..
I have tried stereo too, have several stereo LCD goggles:
defeating_the_mantis_1_img_1545.jpg
alignment is then a problem.
What works best for me is some high strength goggles from the local drugstore.
Indeed you need to get close then.

Maybe I will get those other ebay lenses, will think about it.

 

On Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at 3:35:06 AM UTC-4, Jan Panteltje wrote:

On a sunny day (Tue, 23 Jul 2019 17:27:46 -0700 (PDT)) it happened
dagmargoodboat@yahoo.com wrote in
bought the 2.5X version of these ($25):
https://www.ebay.com/p/3-5x-420mm-Headband-Dental-Surgical-Binocular-Loupes-Glasses-Lens-Magnifier/19026920761?iid=3D142904958683


They
are optically quite passable, but 2.5X proved a bit too low
for SMD work.

The big advantage is the extended working distance.

I have an ebay visor, never use it (too heavy on my head)

Visors and jeweler's loupes are usually single lenses with very
short working distances.

The dental loupes I bought are mini telescopes with 420mm
working distance.

and a third hand with magnifying glass, (no stereo depth)
and a big table magnifying lens with (defective) light.
Never use those things

Yes, I've tried all of those too, and a handheld 30x microscope.
None of them are very good. Side lighting helps, but it's hard
to get the light in the small gap between those magnifiers and the
work.

Sometimes a cheap webcam can help, big monitor:
http://panteltje.com/pub/defeating_the_mantis_pic_7.jpg
it of programming and you can add any real time data you want ..
I have tried stereo too, have several stereo LCD goggles:
defeating_the_mantis_1_img_1545.jpg
alignment is then a problem.
What works best for me is some high strength goggles from the local drugstore.
Indeed you need to get close then.

Maybe I will get those other ebay lenses, will think about it.

I might try modifying my 2.5x dental loupes for higher magnification,
trading off shorter working distance. I could add an extra lens &
experiment cheaply. 2.5X in stereo is a big help for seeing the board
and parts from 420mm, just not quite enough for close-pitch soldering /
solder joint inspection.

Cheers,
James Arthur

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:52:07 -0500, amdx <nojunk@knology.net> wrote:

On 7/23/2019 9:46 AM, tabbypurr@gmail.com wrote:
On Tuesday, 23 July 2019 03:11:50 UTC+1, amdx wrote:
I'm looking to purchase a digital microscope. I have no single use for
it although I would occasionally use it to solder smd parts, I've also
just bought knife sharpening stones and would like to get a better look
than the 30x hand hold Tasco magnifier I fought with last night. I would

I have at least 5 microscopes of varying purpose and quality. I've
added a few more since these photos were taken:
<http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/microscopes/>
The Bausch and Lomb stereo microscopes and the Olympus SZ30 are the
ones suitable for doing SMD and PCB work.
<http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/microscopes/Olympus%20SZ30/SZ30-01.jpg>
Missing from the photos are the LED ring lights, the fan to blow away
the fumes, and the glass lens protector to keep flux fumes from
condensing on the lens. These microscopes have an adjustable power
from 0.7x to 3.0x. Most of my eyepieces are 10x WF (wide field)
giving a range of magnification from 7x to 30x. For PCB work, they
spend most of their time around 15x-20x.

For smaller stuff, I have an Olympus BH series trinocular biological
microscope:
<http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/microscopes/Olympus%20BH/Olympus%20BH.jpg>
Data sheet on the later BH-2 model:
<http://www.alanwood.net/downloads/olympus-bh-2-brochure.pdf>
The objective lenses on the turret are 5x thru 40x. With a 10x
eyepiece, the resulting magnification range is 50x to 400x. You can
do 1000x with a 100x objective lens, but that will require an oil
immersion lens and extreme care not to touch the work with the lens.

I also have a USB digital microscope camera that will fit in either
the 3rd tube or in place of one of the two eyepieces. Something like
this:
<https://www.ebay.com/itm/273809550844>
However, here I made a big mistake. Such a camera should have a 0.5x
lens or the digital image will cover only about half of the field of
view. Also, 1.3Mpixels isn't really enough. My resulting photos are
rather lacking in quality:
<http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/white-plastic-rot/index.html>
I also have a few endoscope cameras, that are good for inspecting the
insides of things, but produce truely awful images:
<https://www.ebay.com/itm/254308381184>

Amscope has some really good software:
<https://www.amscope.com/software-download>
However, these only work with Amscope USB microscope cameras.

For cheap USB microscopes, I've found them to be useful for anything
that doesn't require much quality. These were taken with a $20 eBay
USB camera:
<http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/USB%20Camera/640x480/index.html>
I cheated with the lighting and used my LED pocket flashlight.

Despite all this hardware, what I use most is desk light magnifier
lamp. Something like this:
<https://www.amazon.com/Magnifier-Adjustable-Swivel-Swing-Table/dp/B01MTSQYDF>
Get one with a glass lens, not plastic.

Yep, no need to see the edge, when it's sharp you will know.
But I found it interesting while researching sharpening, seeing the
actual cuts on the bevel from the grit. When I got a blade sharp and
looked at the magnified bevel, I still had coarse grit cuts, so needed
more medium work before the fine work and leather.
I thought I had a sharp knife when I could slice paper, but then saw
a video of just the blade weight cutting I needed to do better.
0:15 long
https://youtu.be/JXuEHbATUg8?t=840
Mikek

Look at a new scalpel blade under the microscope.
<https://www.google.com/search?q=scalpel+blade+under+microscope&tbm=isch>
<http://www.catra.org/pages/products/kniveslevel1/bet.htm>
When your blade edge looks like that under the microscope, then you
have a sharp edge. Most of my knives look like a saw blade under the
microscope. I've spent many hours sharpening a knife using various
whetstones and not come close to the knife in the video. I polish the
bevel until it's almost like a mirror, and it's still not sharp
enough. If I screw up stropping off the inevitable burr that forms
along the trailing edge of the blade, the resulting edge is even more
like a saw blade. Worse, if the blade was made from "mystery metal",
then the knife become dull after the first few cuts.

I've tried sharpening under a microscope and failed. Sharpening takes
too long and looking through the eyepieces for hours is really tiring.
It's much easier to sharpen by feel, or maybe use a jig. So far, I've
done better at sharpening with a jig, and then continuing by feel for
the stropping and polishing. Looking at the edge under the microscope
makes a good QA check, but seems to be of little use while sharpening.



--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Michael Terrell]

On Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at 9:16:29 PM UTC-4, Dave Platt wrote:

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a worn-but-still-sound B&L
StereoZoom 4 microscope for all of $50, with a set of Zeiss 12x
wide-field eyepieces (in place of the original 10x) and an
industrial-inspection-type stand. Even 'though I wear eyeglasses, the
field of view is wide enough that it's no strain at all to look
through it. With those eyepieces I end up with a zoom range starting
at about 10x and going up to about 40x... the low-zoom setting looks
as if it's going to be very good for SMD soldering.

It needs an illuminator (I've bought a few 3, 5, and 10-watt LEDs to
experiment with).

For modest soldering jobs I've been quite happy with an Optivisor, but
it looks as if this scope will let me work comfortably on smaller
workpieces.

There are a lot of these older StereoZoom 'scopes on the used
market... B&L and its successors sold a lot of them. You can buy
professionally-refurbished ones for over $1000, or used ones for a
song, or anywhere in between.

I bought one of these for my B&L StereoZoom Microscope

/Black-144-LED-Bulb-Microscope-Ring-Light-Illuminator-Adjustable-Bright-Lamp
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293059953649

 

[Dave Platt]

In article <a42f8990-ebb4-447e-90ec-983926c9b183@googlegroups.com>,
Michael Terrell <terrell.michael.a@gmail.com> wrote:

I bought one of these for my B&L StereoZoom Microscope

/Black-144-LED-Bulb-Microscope-Ring-Light-Illuminator-Adjustable-Bright-Lamp
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293059953649

Thanks! I was looking at those sorts of ring lights with interest.

Do you know of a good source for the sort of externally-threaded
tubing that could be used to improvise a ring mount which would screw
into the fitting on the bottom of the pod? I've seen a couple of
ring-light mount adapters offered for the StereoZoom on eBay and
elsewhere but they are more expensive than the ring lights are :-(

 

[George Herold]

On Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at 11:19:47 AM UTC-4, dagmarg...@yahoo.com wrote:

On Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at 3:35:06 AM UTC-4, Jan Panteltje wrote:
On a sunny day (Tue, 23 Jul 2019 17:27:46 -0700 (PDT)) it happened
dagmargoodboat@yahoo.com wrote in
bought the 2.5X version of these ($25):
https://www.ebay.com/p/3-5x-420mm-Headband-Dental-Surgical-Binocular-Loupes-Glasses-Lens-Magnifier/19026920761?iid=3D142904958683


They
are optically quite passable, but 2.5X proved a bit too low
for SMD work.

The big advantage is the extended working distance.

I have an ebay visor, never use it (too heavy on my head)

Visors and jeweler's loupes are usually single lenses with very
short working distances.

The dental loupes I bought are mini telescopes with 420mm
working distance.

and a third hand with magnifying glass, (no stereo depth)
and a big table magnifying lens with (defective) light.
Never use those things

Yes, I've tried all of those too, and a handheld 30x microscope.
None of them are very good. Side lighting helps, but it's hard
to get the light in the small gap between those magnifiers and the
work.

Sometimes a cheap webcam can help, big monitor:
http://panteltje.com/pub/defeating_the_mantis_pic_7.jpg
it of programming and you can add any real time data you want ..
I have tried stereo too, have several stereo LCD goggles:
defeating_the_mantis_1_img_1545.jpg
alignment is then a problem.
What works best for me is some high strength goggles from the local drugstore.
Indeed you need to get close then.

Maybe I will get those other ebay lenses, will think about it.

I might try modifying my 2.5x dental loupes for higher magnification,
trading off shorter working distance. I could add an extra lens &
experiment cheaply. 2.5X in stereo is a big help for seeing the board
and parts from 420mm, just not quite enough for close-pitch soldering /
solder joint inspection.

Cheers,
James Arthur

I've de-soldered two terminal stuff with just my visor and loupe.
(Laying iron across both sides, or trying to.)
For smd prototyping we bought a nice binocular microscope years
ago.. a little less than a kilo buck, IIRC.
It's great! I couldn't do smd work without it.

George H.

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Wed, 24 Jul 2019 17:11:12 -0700, dplatt@coop.radagast.org (Dave
Platt) wrote:

Do you know of a good source for the sort of externally-threaded
tubing that could be used to improvise a ring mount which would screw
into the fitting on the bottom of the pod? I've seen a couple of
ring-light mount adapters offered for the StereoZoom on eBay and
elsewhere but they are more expensive than the ring lights are :-(

It's a conspiracy. Notice the prices:
<https://www.amscope.com/accessories/adapter/ring-light-adapters.html>
$18 for ring light adapters except the 38mm flavor at $46, which is
what you need for the Bausch and Lomb Stereo Zoom 4 microscope.

What I did was start with a 1-1/4"x1" PVC Schedule 40 reducing
adapter:
<https://www.pvcfittingsonline.com/437-168-1-1-4-x-1-schedule-40-pvc-reducer-bushing-flush-style.html>
Using a lathe, I cut down the 42mm OD (34.5mm ID) to about 37.2mm
which is approximately the root diameter of the 38mm thread.

I used the lathe to cut a slight ledge into the other end of the PVC
coupling into which I dropped a 35mm dia flashlight lens. Something
like these:
<https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32866267759.html>
I press fitted the glass in place and locked it in with 4 drops of
cyanoacrylate glue on the outside because I didn't want to use any
glue inside that might later outgas and ruin the microscope optics.

I also shortened the coupling to a little larger than the thickness of
the ring light. Using a drill, I added 3 indentations to match the
ring light mounting screws to keep the light from moving around.

I decided not to thread the PVC. Instead, I wrapped it with one layer
of Teflon tape and jammed into onto the threads. Ugly, the
functional.

It took me about $6 in parts and about 2 hrs to make 4 of these
adapters. I mangled the first two because I didn't bother using a
dial indicator to center the workpiece. The other two worked quite
well.

You might consider making one of these ring lights, which attaches
directly to the microscope without an adapter ring:
<https://lowpowerlab.com/2018/06/28/weekend-project-wireless-microscope-light-ring/>
<https://github.com/LowPowerLab/Microscope-Light/>
"Wireless LED Ring Light for Stereo Microscope"
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMRDT4bcLkU> (14:48)


--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Michael Terrell]

On Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at 8:19:21 PM UTC-4, Dave Platt wrote:

Michael Terrell wrote:

I bought one of these for my B&L StereoZoom Microscope

/Black-144-LED-Bulb-Microscope-Ring-Light-Illuminator-Adjustable-Bright-Lamp
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293059953649

Thanks! I was looking at those sorts of ring lights with interest.

Do you know of a good source for the sort of externally-threaded
tubing that could be used to improvise a ring mount which would screw
into the fitting on the bottom of the pod? I've seen a couple of
ring-light mount adapters offered for the StereoZoom on eBay and
elsewhere but they are more expensive than the ring lights are :-(

Mine came with a threaded adapter that is about 56mm or 1-7/8" that I didn't need:

<https://drive.google.com/open?id=1juIqu17-tFD4yDskepwq4M_0bGutxanc>

<https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-16IEPlEYJz3lZjomQMem2kCXO8lHzEN>

 

[amdx]

On 7/23/2019 10:49 PM, mpm wrote:

On Monday, July 22, 2019 at 10:11:50 PM UTC-4, amdx wrote:
I'm looking to purchase a digital microscope. I have no single use for
it although I would occasionally use it to solder smd parts, I've also
just bought knife sharpening stones and would like to get a better look
than the 30x hand hold Tasco magnifier I fought with last night.

FWIW:
You can get a Chinese camera/microscope for about $300.
It's perfect for working on SMD.

You need a monitor, but you may already have one that's not being used.

I'll try to grab the link from work.
It's an amazing deal at $300 (Maybe $320?)
You get the camera, base, adjustable arms, cables, ring-light (which is crap), etc...

You get plenty of space above the work-piece to solder, etc., and plenty of magnification. Our have a remote control for taking still images and videos, using a micro-SD card.

I posted but I didn't see it, so this might be a double but I found a
little critic added at the bottom.


AND THE REPOST.

OK, I picked up the microscope from the building I used to work in. I
met the owner there, the building was heavily damaged by hurricane
Michael, water ingress all over the building. Someone had broke into the
building and stole stuff, the best he could tell it was mostly scrap
metal, aluminum and stainless steel, but strange that there was so much
easy metal picking left. It looks like they were thinking about coming
back, the microscope and several items were all set aside like, this is
what I want to steal, I'll pile it here and come back to get it.
Anyway, the model number of the scope is МБС-10. (AKA MBS-10)
>
http://www.geocities.ws/dushang2000/Microscopy/LZOS%20MBS-10/LZOS%20MBS-10.html
Judging by the picture, I have the F'=90 objective lens and I have one
set of eyepiece lenses, labeled 8x/23. It's missing the glass above the
reflective plate and has a little rust in external screws, but
everything moves smooth. I'm missing the power supply to the light, so
may need to purchase the ring someone posted.
AHH! Found the manual.
http://rusoptics.com/media/2010/1601/MBS-10_manual.pdf

The unit has an objective magnification knob with a range of 0.6,
1, 2, 4, and 7.
I noted the field of view ranged form 1.5" down to 0.150".

Here's a webpage with the MBS - 10 microscope complete with additional
accessories.
> http://rusoptics.com/?module=catalog&action=viewproduct&id=9
Has links to other Russian optics.
I have no eyecups and I think they might help keep me centered.
If you have any info you might think helpful, I'd appreciate it.

Mikek
Ctitic of scope.
> http://www.baertierchen.de/wb_mai12.html

This is more descriptive, ait is a bit different in design.
> http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artdec06/rp-mbs10.html

Someone was gushing on the good optics and then this obout, >
http://www.novacon.com.br/lenses08.htm

 

[amdx]

On 7/23/2019 6:07 PM, amdx wrote:

On 7/23/2019 1:58 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
tirsdag den 23. juli 2019 kl. 20.42.15 UTC+2 skrev amdx:
On 7/23/2019 9:10 AM, Tom Gardner wrote:
On 23/07/19 14:41, amdx wrote:
On 7/23/2019 3:51 AM, Tom Gardner wrote:
On 23/07/19 03:11, amdx wrote:
   I'm looking to purchase a digital microscope. I have no single
use
for it although I would occasionally use it to solder smd parts,
I've also just bought knife sharpening stones and would like to get
a better look than the 30x hand hold Tasco magnifier I fought with
last night. I would
use it for general fun, with the wants above. I'd really like the
x1000 but I don't think that's compatible with a soldering
microscope and more than I need anyway.
    The built in monitor seems like a nice addition, it's right
there
in your viewing angle, nothing to hookup, just set it on the bench
and go.
But, others may think that 50r 7 times more magnification from a
large monitor is useful.

   This is one I'm looking at. I see one downside, you can't
directly
connect it to a monitor, you need software and I see some have had a
problem with the software. Seems stupid to not have a direct
video out.
   Also, one reviewer was disappointed he could not see a whole
penny
in the monitor. That does seem like a small area, another viewer
said you can remove the camera/monitor from the support arm and get
farther and still focus. I wonder.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J4K3JV9/ref=psdc_2742273011_t3_B07KCHQC2C#customerReviews



This is the high side of what I want to spend. Looks like all 5 star
reviews except for two that had no picture from the start.
   Anyone have recommendations?

I've found magnifying devices to be difficult to recommend,
since they are /very/ dependent on
   - individual's eyesight
   - specific requirements
   - individual preference

As an example, although I've been taking stereoscopic photos
since 1984, I find stereo microscopes almost impossible to use.
There is an exception to that: I found an old (?pair?) very
cheaply in a college that was closing down, and it is a delight
to use. I believe the magnification is 12* and 24*, but can't
be sure. The lower magnification is usually sufficient for
looking at joints, but I occasionally use the latter.

I've also tried cheap "digital" microscopes and am not a
fan, but that is very personal.

Hence my strong recommendation is to try cheap alternatives,
before spending large amounts on something that might not
suit /you/.

I have found cheap head-mounted visors surprisingly useful:
   - can wear with glasses
   - choose magnification for the specific task
   - can have two lenses "in series" for higher magnification
   - use at any angle and position, as convenient

Widely available example:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-60390-Loupe-Magnifier-Visor/dp/B001MJ0JW2



   I have the optivisior with a loupe installed, I use it a lot, but
the down side is the more magnification you use the closer you need to
get to the object, until you are to close to the work to work.
    I may have an addition problem, I had Amblyopia (lazy eye) as a
child,
   they did correction between 5 and 10 yrs old, but still even with
correction, they never quite get it to 20-20 vision. But even today
they don't work together as well as they should. I once took a drivers
eye exam and read of the first line with my good eye and she said, how
about the other eye, I didn't see anything. She said it's there! I
closed my good eye and saw it, read it off and passed, that was a
first.
   Appreciate the info, but not sure I'd be happy with a stereo
microscope. I have a possible lead on one I used on occaision when I
was working, I'll see if it is available, for at least a test.

All understood and accepted - and a good illustration of
just how personal this is.

One other approach is that used by dentists and surgeons;
it appears as if they have telescopes glued to their
glasses. I have never tried those, but I would presume
that it would be necessary to have both inter-ocular
and toe-in adjustments.

I suspect a suitable search term is "dental loupe"
or "surgical loupe".

   Yes, I have wanted those for many years, and ask my dental hygienists
about the ones they wore, back many years ago when I ask, they were
talking $550 or $600. I should have bought them then, I have a daughter
in dental school, (I) recently paid for her loupes to the tune of
$2,500. I'm sure I could get something cheaper, but to her (my) money
seems to be of no concern I tried them on but the "inter-ocular
and toe-in adjustments" were just to far off and I could not see
anything.
   I did call about the microscope I used to do a little work with and
will know Thursday if it is available. That one will be good for
soldering, but I may still want something higher power.
   Spending my retirement money, we saved for 37 years, time to enjoy
some of it, (but not to much of it). After living a frugal life for so
long it is hard to be spendy or not look at how to save money on
everything.

                                        Mikek

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Eye-Jeweler-Watch-Repair-Magnifying-Glasses-Magnifier-Loupe-10-15-20-25X/233006479334


?

 I'll let you know how bad or good it is, I spent an extra $3.20 to
purchase it stateside.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-15-20-25X-LED-Eye-Jeweler-Watch-Repair-Magnifying-Glasses-Magnifier-Loupe-USA/222536424533?_trkparms=aid%3D333204%26algo%3DCOMP.THEME%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D59177%26meid%3D401d58ab140d462bb4628f6872184ceb%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D233006479334%26itm%3D222536424533%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219

I got them, their use will be for removing slivers. With the x10
lenses the focal distance is 1-3/8". with the x25 well it's a lot less.
There is absolutely no way you could use both eyes, you would need to
look very cross eyed, but even then the lenses don't angle.
They do have a nice light!
After I pressed buy, I thought, those are only going to focus at a
close distance, they won't be any better than my optivisor. Well because
the magnificaion is twice my optivisor, I need to get even closer.
But, They do have a nice light!
Mikek
Actually, two, nice lights.