Now that has potential:

By pure coincidence, I already have a Sony HDR-SR1 high-def (1080i)
camcorder and a 21" 16:9 LCD display with HDMI input in the lab.

Putting those two devices together and adding an appropriate macro lens
would seem to be a natural thing for this kind of work.

Great idea, Ian!

Jim, N7CXI


Ian White GM3SEK wrote:
Jim Barber wrote:
Thanks for the tips, gents.
Sounds like a binocular microscope would be a great tool; otherwise I
suspect depth perception might be an issue.

It still is an issue, because a microscope prevents you from using one
of the most natural ways of perceiving depth, by looking at the board
from a few different angles. Only a head-mounted viewer allows this.

A large lens on a spring arm is a kind of half-way option, but it
rapidly loses quality at off-axis angles.

Another problem that needs to be mentioned is focusing and depth of
focus. With a microscope, you have to put down the iron or the solder in
order to adjust the focus. With a head-mounted viewer, you simply move
your head to re-focus... but by the end of the day you'll probably have
neck strain.

Also we haven't mentioned lighting. All microscopes tend to suffer from
poor light-gathering power, so the work area needs to be very brightly lit.


While we're on the subject, a friend has come up with yet another
option. Like many of us, he has a very good detachable zoom lens for a
35mm camera that he doesn't use any more. He has fixed this onto a
low-cost colour CCTV camera, and positioned it about 4 feet above the
workbench, looking straight down. This gives a moderately magnified view
of the work area on a TV monitor directly in front of him.

This has the big advantage of leaving the workspace completely
unobstructed, so he can switch very easily and naturally between the
monitor and the direct view. He reports that it avoids a lot of the eye
and neck strain.

The main practical problem that he still has to solve is "camera
shake", because of viewing from such a long distance. In his case, the
camera is mounted from the roof of a wooden shack, so he can't do SMD
work on a windy day.

If you have a suitable lens and a CCTV camera, this option would be well
worth trying.