Visor magnification for SMD work?

I've been satisfied with the standard 5 diopter but also use the auxiliary loupe. That is, do the work at 8" but, if necessary, get a closer look to inspect an area. A "pocket magnifier" triplet is also handy.

If you don't already wear glasses, a set of reading glasses from the drugstore is a lot cheaper than an optivisor. If you do (or should) wear glasses, a set with the magnification you want added to your regular prescription is a good option, and can still be cheaper than an optivisor if you get it from one of the on-line cheap glasses places. Won't flip up, of course, but I find that it's fine, and beats having two separate lenses to get filthy and keep clean.

Stepping up to about $100 at the low end and upwards of $1000 on the high end, you can either get "telescopic magnifiers" offering longer working distance with higher magnification (and tunnel vision) or move to a microscope (binocular, long working distance).

I use the 5 for 0603 work all the time, and for 0402 and 0.5mm pitch TQFP. I have a 10, but I only use it for 0201 and 01005 and the occasional inspections - it's stronger, but you have to be pretty close to the board to use it.

I started with just the 10 but quickly realized the 5 was needed. I might get the next weaker lens too.

Measuring...

The 5 focuses 5-8 inches from the lens.

The 10 focuses 3-4 inches from the lens.

I have "somewhere" - a set of the magnifier visors. Notice I said "somewhere". I don't use them, found them to be too much of a pain in the ass. I bought them WAY back before I ever got Bi-Focals. Even my glasses interfere with any close up work. I take them off for any up close inspections or soldering. I find I can see much better - that way. Even my magnifying lamp can be a pain in the ass. Although - I will say - "lots" of light - is key! Without good lighting - glasses or no glasses, it is hard to see what you might be missing.

Now that you can see what you're doing, how do you keep your hands from shaking?

Getting old sucks.

-phaeton

Thanks guys! I hadn't considered using the magnifying glasses but they're available at most of the larger drugstores around here and I can try them out. And they have got to cost less than the visor. If they work well, problem solved!

If not, I'll order a 5-diopter OptiVISOR. John

Found a great pair of 2.75X glasses that seem to do the job pretty darn well. And at half the cost of an Optivisor (and much lighter), I'm pretty happy.

I do wish I could have a loupe with it though (as Rich mentioned, great idea) but I have a B&L 7x Hastings Triplet loupe that I can grab if needed for inspection, etc.

Thanks again all for your recommendations! John

Use your pinky (and potentially other fingers) as a bit of an "outrigger" -- it helps. I also use (and have used, even when I was much younger) the kind of tweezers that hold themselves shut by default and require force to open -- far fewer "dropped" 0402 components that way.

I'm a bit short sighted so this may not apply to well-sighted people, but -

I use both x4 and x7 loupes (the single lens things that you hold in one eye like a monocle) for inspection and real close-up work, and x7 stereo magnifiers (about £20, that's $40) for normal assembly work, 'cos stereo vision is much less wearing than squinting for several minutes, and stereo vision really helps position the soldering iron etc correctly.

The thing to watch out for is not to get too low a magnification. Stereo magnifiers clip round your head and mean the lenses are maybe 3 inches from your face, then the PCB you're looking at is another 3" beyond that to focus it. This means that if the magnifiers are only x4, the target is so far away you lose the benefit of the magnification. I found I could see things just as well with my short sighted vision as I could with stereo x4 magnifiers, because I could get my eye nearer the target without it going out of focus. Once I changed to x7, it was way better than bare eyes.

A loupe, even one of just x4, is useful (and only about £2) because your eye can get really near the components and thus gets the benefit of the magnification.

Would an eyepatch be any help for those who have to squint? You'd get to keep both your eyes relaxed and open while only seeing through one.

(I don't needed magnification myself, my eyes can adapt to a lot and my +.5 eyesight is supposed to "correct" to perfect with age.)