I used to use a Canon camcorder hooked into a PC TV card on the computer. I = could then zoom in with the Macro facility on the camcorder and watch what = I = was doing on the 17" LCD screen. Worked quite well. Dom ----- Original Message ----- = From: "Howard Winter" To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 6:24 PM Subject: Re: [EE]: tips for new lab Ariel, On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:13:50 +0200, Ariel Rocholl wrote: > Binocular microscope of 20x (more than enough) are not expensive at all. I > bought one (new) from eBay for about 30=C7, I guess is a very good tool to > work with SMD for that price. The drawback: you will see everything with > great detail, forget about thinking you have some "perfect" soldering > technic, as you will clearly see even the smallest defects. I find that 20x is too much magnification - I made sure the one I bought = could go down to 5x and I find that's the most useful. Cheers, Howard Winter St.Albans, England -- = http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist -- = No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.8/455 - Release Date: 22/09/2006 -- = http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist