Please Help Me - 50th Birthday Gift Ideas!?

[schmitt trigger]

If you want a VERY useful piece of equipment I recommend a hand-held semiconductor analyzer, similar to this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Peak-Atlas-DCA55-Semiconductor-Analyzer/dp/B005NIR8G8

I also have their LCR meter. If you get the tweezers option, you can identify SMT components with no body markings.

**broken link removed**

 

[spec]

The SE400Z is the cheapest microscope from the AmScope range that is suitable for electronics work. It is closer to your budget https://www.amscope.com/5x-10x-binocular-boom-arm-stereo-microscope-with-led-gooseneck-light.html.

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-SE40...9389133&sr=8-1&keywords=amscope+se+wf5x+wf10x

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmScope-SE400X-5X-10X-Binocular-Microscope/dp/B0056X4RRS

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AmScope...192095?hash=item5d3b70939f:g:Pw4AAOSwbdpWYnDh

 

[dr pepper]

If your old man is into building things you can get the above as kits, probably not as good but still usefull.

 

[spec]

This thread may be of interest. It mainly covers the Optivisor headband magnifier: https://www.electro-tech-online.com/threads/headband-magifiers.148288/#post-1266244

spec

 

[StellarRat]

An LC meter is very handy. Also, a super fine tip soldering iron (12w) and some .15 solder is great for working with surface mount parts. I also found some sockets that let you put surface mount parts into a regular breadboard. A function generator is handy too. There are some pretty cheap ones that will go up to 2 MHz on Amazon. Does he own a copy of The Art of Electronics by Horowitz and Hill? Great book.

 

[BobtailLizard]

Thanks guys. I have bought a product that should give my pa an inside into the world of digital microscopes.