[ruph123]

That microscope is amazing. Commenters debate whether it costs 30k or more around 100k so it is further out of reach for most hobbyist.

A few years ago I had quite a lot of fun with one of those cheap $30 wireless USB microscopes with up to 1000x magnification that connects to some app. My family and I always came up with new ideas about what we should look at next. Incredible fun. Unfortunately it broke down rather quickly. But it opened up the world much more than traditional backlight microscopes I am used to. They are basically “just” specialized cameras with bright flash lights.

I wonder if prices have come down a bit and if there are good options out there for such a portable microscope that doesn’t break so quickly. Better quality and magnification in the $200 range?

[anymouse123456]

Strange Parts did a great video about, "A boy and his microscope..."[0]

We bought the same one 6(?!) years ago and still use it every day. It was ~$900 back then, looks like it's $230 now[1].

I had a really hard time spending that much back then, but it is easily the most valuable tool in our PCB engineering & assembly shop.

[0] https://www.strangeparts.com/a-boy-and-his-microscope-a-love...

[1] https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832694057535.html?gateway...

[ashconnor]

Shipping $80. AmScope are similarly priced and sold directly on eBay.

[crispyambulance]

I believe that's a Keyence microscope, and yes, way outside the scope of a hobbyist! They have a range of microscopes for this kind of thing. Some are also able to perform accurate dimensional measurements (sort of like the old optical comparators machinists used to use but far better). They're typically used for incoming inspection in manufacturing processes.

[jve]

I bought this microscope that has HDMI port for connecting monitor. Cost me little over 100€. Has no lag. Quality worse than what in video but better than some I see on youtube that also lags. This microscope is not perfect but capable to do smd soldering.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EIRqaY9

[lnsru]

I am using 1500€ Amscope for soldering tasks. It does not have such amazing magnification. Such magnification is also not needed for daily work. But it replaced 10k Olympus device from a decade ago. Optical devices got radically cheaper in last 20 years. SMD rework is not possible without them.

Such amazing scope is built in into 70k professional SMD rework station I use sometimes for complex repairs. Replacing RAM and processor chips is easy, but slow. Honestly I don’t think, that the scope in video is extraordinary expensive. Definitively cheaper than my old Olympus gear.

[franciscop]

I bought one of those pore cleaners when I had some pores and quickly realized it was a microscope camera basically, so removed the pore thingy tip and started using it as such (which seems to be the same as you from the description). It was so interesting to explore all sort of stuff! From checking a small cut I got in my head, moles and other parts of my skin, to electronics, different kinds of fabrics, woods, etc.