I’m currently looking to buy a cheap digital fiber inspection microscope for personal use, but I’m really not willing to spend 500 - 1k € on what is essentially a webcam with a couple of lenses and a small light source.
I’ve already tried using a purely optical inspection microscope, but the experience has been terrible. The optics are so poor that I can barely see contamination on single-mode fibers, and inspecting female LC connectors is physically impossible. If I can’t reliably check both sides of the connection, the tool is basically useless for me.
So I’m hoping someone here has suggestions for inexpensive digital options that can properly handle LC connectors (both male and female) for under 150€. I don’t need any bells and whistles, not even a built-in screen, as long as the probe can connect over USB. (Many models seem to use a proprietary 4 pin connector. If someone knows if this just carries USB signals over a different connector, please let me know). Older models or used devices are perfectly fine too.
If you have recommendations, I’d really appreciate it. And if someone in the EU has a old unit they’d like to sell, feel free to PM me.
Thanks!