Review on AmScope LED-144-YK 144-LED Microscope Ring Light: Enhanced Illumination for Optimal Viewing by Maurice Cunha

I use this LED light ring with my stereo microscope and find it indispensable. The ambient light is too variable when working with a stereo microscope on circuit boards with small components. This ring of light allows me to direct the light to where I'm looking and adjust the brightness as needed using the rheostat on the controller. The higher the rheostat setting, the more LEDs light up. This light ring saves you eyesight and a lot of time. time=$$$. However, there was one major issue that I only gave AmScope 3 stars for. The plastic ring adapter that secures the LED light ring to the lens barrel would not screw in properly when used with a 0.5x Barlow lens I bought a month later. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the threads between the plastic adapter and the metal body of the Barlow lens had insufficient depth of engagement, causing the LED light ring to fall off the Barlow lens with a light mechanical tap, as happens with normal use. I have emailed and called AmScope for help numerous times. In the end, their customer service rep "Travis" said he would send me a replacement metal adapter. Long story short, after several back-to-back emails and phone calls over the course of several weeks, I was finally able to convince Travis to send me a metal adapter, which he did after speaking to his non-customer-facing management. I didn't have to work very hard to get AmScope management to do what was right for their client, but Travis and his management stood up for me. It would be much better for AmScope to replace the plastic adapter with a metal one to avoid the hassle and it's worth the extra cost to get better quality. If you intend to use the microscope frequently, this guide will come in handy.