Guys
Hope I am not upsetting fellow members by asking this question I am hopeless at coding but I take great pleasure in soldering and hence the problem I am getting on in years and like others my eyesight is not as good as it once was just wondering if anyone that has the same problem but has overcome the issue by using a good quality table magnifying lamp could pass any information that could keep a soldering iron in my hand for another couple of years.
Thanks oldguyjn
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Hi, @oldguyjn
I have one of these;
And have on order one of these that I have a variant of at work.
They seem to do the job for most closeup work.
Tom... 66yo 
I've used a dentist head mounted magnifying glasses. they come with a light too. The more money you put into it, the better the lens (some with variable magnification)
For nearly all things, I use either this:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804508247043.html
or sometimes this:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801667131088.html
If it's SMD or smaller, I use this with a capture device, although you don't need the capture device:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832840409674.html
The capture device:
I use reader glasses, in the range of 6=8X. The stronger they are the less the depth of field but I do ok with SMD components. I have problems with 0402 so I avoid them and mainly use 0805 parts. I have a lot of years practice with readers and they are normal for me, just never know whey they are so I have several at different strengths.
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Is it just magnification, or do you also have other issues with your eyes?
If just magnification, how much do you need?
I went to the pound store, and got a pair of their highest-magnification reading glasses.
I've also got a headband magnifier like this:
It has the advantage that you can still look under the lens (or lift the lens) for normal vision, but is a lot more cumbersome than the specs!
I don't like those lamp magnifiers at all getting them positioned right relative to the work, and your eyes relative to the magnifier is critical - far to fiddly.
+1 for the cheap reading glasses that @awneil and @gilshultz suggested. I get them at one of the local cheap shops for around 2 GBP a pair. They usually have a range of strengths. Take a board with you so you can try out each strength till you find a suitable pair.
I did also have one of those magnifying ring LED lights that clamps to the worktop but I also found that it generally got in the way.
I was where you are 10 years ago.
I got an AmScope Triocular Microscope and never regretted it.
I got the camera too but really is not needed unless you want to take pictures.
This is the best purchase I’ve made for my hobby, cost about $650 back then, weighs ≈ 75 pounds.
The stereo vision is a must for soldering i.e. 3D views.
Work distance is about 7 inches.
If you do SMD hand soldering, you might want to make one of these Post#1132.
BTW
You might be interested in this very long thread:
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The eyeballs harden and you can try to squint, be stubborn and get a headache.
+1 to getting reading glasses. My harbor-freight-cheap-magnifier visor got too loose to stay up and the best lenses are 4x anyway. Readers have less to go wrong.
The visor was well worth the money and the lenses may find other use.
Then you are entirely too picky! My employees used them for entire shifts without complaints. The reason is they always moved the work, not the magnifier.
I use this and solder TQFP and 0603 shape.
Magnification amplifies all movement. Your first tries to find the tip of the iron will be a journey... but just like any skill, practice makes perfect.
Guys
I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to reply , to start of with I am going with the option that awneil posted and take it from there.
My wife bought me a pair similar to spokes post but my eyesight was blurred .
oldguyjn
I don't have table space for a QC station magnifier.
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