Which budget microscope for an electronics technician? What does the Mustool G700 offer? Image galle

Here I will test a cheap Chinese Mustool G700 microscope available to buy for less than $50. I'll compare it with other solutions I've featured before and consider what's best for soldering and what's best for board inspection.
The topic will be rather unusual, as I got a microscope already used from a fellow forum member along with a bunch of other equipment. So to start with, we will check if it still works at all....
Related topics:
- topic about a USB microscope for £50:
The cheapest USB 'microscope' for the hobbyist - review and gallery
- A topic about using the iPhone as a 'microscope':
Phone as "microscope" and TQFP soldering - step-by-step video presentation .
As for the microscope itself, tested here, it is worth adding that there are many similar models available online with similar capabilities and prices. Even if you cannot buy the exact Mustool G700, you will probably find it repainted with a different logo or model.
The equipment, of course, comes in parts:

This version is largely plastic, but surprisingly still somehow holds up. This is all the more of a plus because, as I pointed out, I got the used version from a forum member.
On the right side of the display we have the LED light level control and a microSD card slot:

On the other side a microUSB for charging the cell:

The cell itself is on the back:

The RESET button is also hidden there.
A two foot stand to hold the PCB:


Let's turn on the microscope. First a long distance view:


It is time to zoom in a little. On the right and left we have knobs, one for blocking and the other for the first up and down movement:


Then we catch the focus here:

We also adjust the brightness to suit us:

You can zoom in even tighter. We slide the rear knob (release, slide, lock), even to the stop:

Effect:




I take photos using the OK button, you can also enter the photo gallery:

By the way, we also have digital zoom on the right-left buttons:



The SD card can of course be removed, but I was a little surprised to find that it is inserted the opposite of what is on the graphic?

Here are two more photos at the highest magnification:


You can also take pictures at an angle if you hold the plate you are photographing properly with your fingers:


Similarly, here are the solders of the component in the QFN housing as seen from an angle:



It is even possible to look under the leg of the circuit in the SOIC:





At high magnification you can see the individual pixels and their RGB components on the smartphone display:

Test as image delays on the display:
Summary .
To look at the circuit board this microscope may be suitable, but you are unlikely to solder anything under it. In addition, it is not stable and pressing the button to take a photo also moves it - perhaps some kind of remote control to trigger the photo would be useful.
Now the question arises - which is better? Any of the solutions I tested, or maybe something more expensive - if so, at what price?
I have already presented an essentially similar microscope but without the screen and tripod:
The cheapest USB "microscope" for the hobbyist - review and gallery .
from an imaging angle it gave virtually the same thing, so here we only pay for this screen and tripod.
I also tested the method with my phone:
Phone as "microscope" and TQFP soldering - step-by-step video presentation .
I liked the way with the phone a bit more, because you can even solder like that.... but it probably depends what you want to do, it's one thing to solder and another to inspect a PCB.
The fact is, each of these methods allows you to see the solders and tracks on the PCB to a good degree.
I will not give a final verdict here, instead I will ask you - what would you recommend for PCB inspection or soldering and at what price? Do any of the solutions I have tested make sense to start with, or is it better to pay more straight away, if so, for what?
Comments
You must have overpaid for this marvel. https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/9823393900_1726335862_thumb.jpg https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/7201269500_1726335863_thumb.jpg https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/4555729700_1726335860_thumb.jpg... [Read more]
I didn't pay it because I got a carton of used equipment for free (from the same set is this camera ), and I searched the price of $50 online to get some idea. From what I can see from the SD card dates,... [Read more]
For a very beginner, the one with the LCD is better. The other ones are a total crock. A friend wanted one then got one. I have an old Russian Naturalist toy. You can definitely see more on it. Unfortunately... [Read more]
I've been using a purely optical microscope from Delta Optical for several years now, without any electronics. And it is probably one of the better choices for professional use when it comes to working... [Read more]
. Skywalker2, can you provide the model of this microscope? [Read more]
Delta Optical Discovery L. It is a stereo microscope with a wide working field due to its high and quite long adjustable arm. [Read more]
I have a similar one with a "no name" LCD https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/6920454300_1726390772_thumb.jpg . for over 200£ and it is much better than this "Cheapest USB "microscope" for the hobbyist... [Read more]
AVE... I once bought a similar piece of equipment for myself, but the "quality" of the image and display made me get rid of it, having previously committed review . I then bought myself a slightly... [Read more]
I have a similar microscope, only with a fully plastic stand. I bought it for about £85, in fact for half that amount, because the vertical 'post' on which the microscope moves up and down was bent and... [Read more]
For a quick look at electronics, such a camera with a screen still makes sense. However, it is no longer suitable for soldering. How to approach there at all with a soldering iron when the eye of the camera... [Read more]
. You are exaggerating. Here an example. About 6cm distance. Soldering iron for scale. https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/8220974900_1726488895_thumb.jpg . [Read more]
. Well it can be done, but it is better to have more space. I once assembled myself a device to view what I was doing from a metre away. Formally it wasn't a microscope but a telescope but it doesn't... [Read more]
I would definitely touch this plastic cover with a soldering iron when soldering for the first time. 6 cm is really very little, even though it seems like a lot to some people This is a piece of equipment... [Read more]
And as we have already started unusual microscopes, here I present a folding microscope. Eakins WD100 x500 276,29 Aliexpress soczewka Barlov'a x0.35, x0.5 101,25 Aliexpress kamera TechReball T250 399,99 Allegro Luowei... [Read more]
interesting kit, but my suggestion seems cheaper and better. Only you can buy an Eakins WD100 x500 for it and for about £700-800 you can have a nice camera and optics. If you do a good job of looking... [Read more]
I have a respectable PZO microscope but it is in the Greenough system. https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/8018892700_1727355543_thumb.jpg . A venerable PZO in the CMO arrangement arrived today. https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/2641562500_1727355621_thumb.jpg... [Read more]
And a photo of this marvel, please ? [Read more]
Added after 2 [minutes]: MST-2 microscope (in Greenough layout) https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/viewtopic.php?p=20567612#20567612 What I can see through it here: https://imgbox.com/VozjmLMS Click... [Read more]
. And which model do you have? The top one in the picture or the bottom one? [Read more]