Digital microscope review - Andonstar AD249S-M

[@NextLevelAutoDiagnostics]

Thank you for such a great review. I finally needed a digital microscope to fix an automotive ECU and there are just too many on Amazon to choose from. Really enjoyed your perspective.

[@leesmithsworkshop]

I have the 5 inch version and I am very happy with it. I did a review and also compared some features of the 7 inch other Lee has and the main one I am missing is audio in the SD recordings, that helps with video sync quite a lot and it's only 30fps l. Overall very good scopes

[@mpaczkow]

If you want to remove the sensitivity to vibrations, just glue an open cell foam pad to the bottom of the stage. Medium density will remove the low frequencies.

[@lansing9r]

I have the 7" one, screen stays on with HDMI. Biggest issue I find is when soldering the lack of depth perception, but also as you tend to solder with hands reasonably close to the body, that means the screen is right in your face, which is off-putting

[@willyarma_uk]

I got the Andonstar ADSM301 5" microscope a while back. Its great, I use it a lot.

[@LeeMc007]

I have the Andonstar AD407, there's a few small differences but it's around the same price but with a 7" screen, the biggest difference from my pov and why I bought this one out of their range is the fact the screen doesn't go off when connecting via HDMI, it supports all the same resolutions but only has one lense and the stand is not as adjustable so I made some mods myself so I can extend further out to fit motherboards and I also added a black heavy base made from a thick floor tile which stops any shaking or it being unsteady now it can go further out. I absolutely love the thing and have done many many repairs on retro graphics cards and motherboards, it's absolutely brilliant.

[@TheBasementChannel]

Great review. I thinking I’m going to need one of these after struggling to see what I was doing with my latest game gear repair. And would be great to record footage too.

[@TheRetroChannel]

I think you did a fine job without it, but yeah it certainly helps with the SMD stuff and to be able capture it for yt videos of course. Just be prepared for the comments on your soldering when shown under a microscope 😅

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Good stuff! I have the 7" version and went with that one for exactly the reasons you recommended it. The wobblyness is the biggest hurdle to overcome, but I think I have finally got it cracked. I use a smallrig arm with a big magnet on the base which attaches to a bigger metal base than the one that comes with the scope. Its very solid and really easy to pop off the metal base and store. I did have to 3d print an adapter for the bit that attaches the scope to the arm, and have mounted the lights onto that. Its a bit of a hack, but works much better this way.

[@TheRetroChannel]

Nice work. Yeah I will need to figure out a better way to mount this thing at some point, but it's a low priority right now

[@leesmithsworkshop]

Mine is also on a boom arm mount and it does wobble but so much more convenient and is ready for use any time

[@matthiasnott]

@@leesmithsworkshop Do you have a picture of that? What mount are you using?

[@leesmithsworkshop]

@@matthiasnott I have a video on my channel.

[@zapp442]

I have this thing. I use this thing. I love this thing!

[@CygnusTM]

After watching this video, I decided to pick up the 7" version of this scope (AD246S-M). As you said, it seems to be identical to the 10", just with a smaller screen. Although, I did notice one difference. My screen stays on even when using the HDMI output. Maybe this is something you can change in the interface? Also, someone mentioned that Adam Savage looked at this microscope. I don't know if you saw it, but yesterday he did a "one day build" where he solved the stability problem. It's not really a universally-applicable solution, however. 😀

[@TheRetroChannel]

Interesting, yeah I wonder if there's a setting on mine somewhere to enable both outputs at the same time. I'll have to watch Adam's follow up video, if only to see what crazy solution he came up with. Enjoy your new microscope!

[@svenpetersen1965]

I think, the price is almost in the range of an optical stereo microscope. And that is much better, because it provides a 3D vision and you get the dynamic range of your eyes. I usually find dealing with glossy things, like solder joints a bit painful, if a camera is involved. Also, with every kind of microscope, a not too narrow depth of field would be a great feature.

[@TheRetroChannel]

Everything is better in stereo

[@TimsRetroCorner]

Adam Savage reviewed one of these about a week ago, he was favourably impressed too. I've had the 7" version on my Amazon wish list for a few months now (just waiting for spare cash, lol)

[@TheRetroChannel]

Nice, now I just need the subscriber count of Adam 😄 But yeah as I said, I think the 7" is a much better deal. Also nice acronym 👍

[@TimsRetroCorner]

@@TheRetroChannel It's definitely catchy! 😁

[@74357175]

Any idea what the 7 inch screen resolution is?

[@CollinBaillie]

Doesn't it have an SD/TF slot for capture? My Andonstar AD208 does. It also has an 18650 slot for battery powered operation.

[@TheRetroChannel]

It does, but I only briefly tested it out as I usually I have everything running into OBS. It does not have a spot for any batteries though

[@michaelseditor]

My girlfriend bought me one for Christmas and it's someone else return.. Screen has lines through it, the box had a return sticker halfway ripped off and it didn't come with the instructions.. VERY disappointed and I don't even know if we can return it cuz she bought it for Christmas in advance...😤

[@DJChol]

I've got the AD407. It is problematic with larger PCBs to get them under the camera. Would be nice to have some kind of swivel arm for this.

[@TheRetroChannel]

True, I needed to turn the Xbox 360 board around a couple of times just to fit it under the camera. I think mounting it to an arm would be better and also reduce the shakiness, I might do that... one day 😄

[@nikobobich9726]

does anybody know how to polarize the adsm249 digital microscope lenses? I know can cut the direct polarizing the adsm24? For the led lamp lights I can cut out circular small rings measured out with polarize film install them easily and turn them to deflect light, but as for the 3 lenses andonstar provides lens a d and the one mounted is there a glass lens I can buy to install on all 3 lenses so I can cut film for it that fits or an adapter? Does anybody know where they are or who sells the compatible glass lens?

[@tigheklory]

It's showing at $160 USD on Aliexpress for me right now

[@lorenzo.c]

Sorry for the pedantry: the sizes of chip SMD components are (imperial) 1210 (mainly for capacitors), 1206, 0805, 0603, 0402, 0201. There is no 1208 😆

[@TheRetroChannel]

That is pedantic but I get it, yeah it's a 1206. I'll have words with my script writers