A good & cheaper option to a stereo microscope is a USB microscope. Priced in the £30.00 to £50.00($45.00 to $70.00 aprox).
I use mine for inspection as I have a old PC running Win XP as my W/bench PC. A chemistry stand with a beaker clamp allows me enough space to manipulate the board below with both hands.
An ongoing project, using a USB microscope on the top of a wooden box with my PCB drill & stand mounted underneath allows for precise drilling of the PCB as the microscope has a "cross type vernier built in)
Hope this is of some use, chester