You don't say how much money is in the pot but there is a vast difference in cost of say Mitutoyo 0-25mm reading to tenths and the same make in a digital version.
Personally I would stay with the traditional mic although digital measuring instruments are very convenient to use.

Emgee

If you go for Mitutoyo you will not be disappointed, you will also pay top dollar for it, it all depends on how much you are going to use it, personally the older I get the harder it becomes to justify top quality equipment, there just isn’t long enough left to get my money’s worth out of it. I certainly wouldn’t go for a digital one, the ones I have used were heavy and not that reliable although things may have changed in the time since I last used them in the day job.

If you go for Mitutoyo, br warned that there are a lot of counterfeit copies out there and I recommend buying from a reputable source even if the price is slightly higher.

Any machinery I have is imperial, though the Warco GH1330 has dual dials, so I work in imperial.

I have two or three second hand metric analogue mics acquired over the years, but don't use them much.
I did however buy one of these, albeit not from Chronos; mine came in a sale direct from China, but I was fortunate in that it is one of the higher spec ones, with nicely finished carbide anvils. I've seen reports of mics which look the same, but with a very poor finish on the anvils, so beware.
https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product/electronic-digital-micrometer/
I note that Chronos correctly differentiate between accuracy and resolution, but is does seem better than the quoted figure.

I find it's accurate, going by imperial gauge block readings, and easy to use, though the overall finish isn't up to high spec models.
Unlike some of the other cheaper digital mics, it has a metal analogue thimble, (in metric) for when the battery goes flat, which it will do.
The main downside is short battery life; my M&W 2-3" one fares much better with that aspect, and an SPI one somewhere between the two. Also I doubt it is coolant/water proof.

The main reason I pick it up, in preference to my usual analogue mic, is either for being able to toggle between units, or for comparative measurements as one can zero it at any size; it saves errors in maths.

Bill

Edited By peak4 on 30/11/2021 20:22:33

I have digital 25mm/1” mitutoyo which was purchased second hand, years ago. Discarded due to a small chip on one anvil, l think.

It only gets used when I really need precise measurements. So I purchased a 25-50mm/1-2” digi from Arceuro. While not quite in the same league as the mitty, it does a good job (bought for measuring engine parts, mostly), but is now used like the mitty – reserved for precision jobs.

My mitty depth gauge, likewise, is kept safe in the house.

They are all better than my machining skills, but will be more use when I get more practice with the surface grinder.

I now always buy measuring kit which will reliably measure to a tenth of my machining capability.

While they need batteries, they are easier to read than a vernier device – a sure sign of getting old, I think!  Easy to measure in either metric or imperial, too.

Edited By not done it yet on 30/11/2021 22:12:53

I realise we all do different model engineering but the talk of measuring to 1/100000" and buying micrometers with heat shield to stop finger temperature affecting the reading is mind blowing. I doubt many engineering companies work to these tolerances.

Can't really add too much other than to say that due to battery problems in the main, I always use manual reading equipment – micrometers & calipers.

It's worth remembering as well that shops do not know the difference between ,eg, SR41 & LR41 cells (I think those designations are correct). One of my two electronic calipers specifies SR41 which are Silver Oxide and a slightly higher voltage than the supposedly equivalent LR41. The device will work with an LR41 initially, but because of the voltage difference, and I believe the discharge characteristick, will soon fail. Once I realised the difference between the cells, I ended up having a row with one shop who tried to sell me the LR41 saying it was an equivalent to the SR41 which it may be for some equipment, but definitely not for my calipers.

Another problem maybe cold weather – mine seem to give up all too readily in the cold. Unless, of course, it's me giving up because of the cold!

As far as eye problems go, I have no compunction in using a magnifying glass, or a set of clip-on magnifying lenses, or even both simultaneously.

Regards, (is that an unfortunate pun given the subject matter?)

Peter G. Shaw

Same as me, once into 'tenths' territory we used slip gauges & comparators.

Tony

I dropped on a lovely Starrett 25-50 second hand for £12 about 12 months ago, that started me looking on ebay for 2nd hand Starrett mics to make an identical set and now have 0-25 through to 175-200. All lightly used I don't think I paid more than £20 for any of them. I've stripped, cleaned and oiled them as I get them and thoroughly enjoyed doing that as well. The smaller sizes usually cost more, of course, and have probably had more use so more care needs to be taken with those…

Dave S mentioned 1/10000".

Tony