Magnifiers

[chadders1966]

Hi

I bet I'm not the only one here who struggles with which type of optical equipment to use ;). When I need to look/work in detail it's not so much a problem as I either use a microscope I already had, or use a 20x eyeglass on a holder and put my head on the desk. It's more for general inspection/day to day work, when just a bit of extra help is needed. I use clip on watchmakers loupes, which never seem to stay in place. I use a visor, which makes my head sweat and either pinches or falls down. I use eyeglasses with a holder, and I always seem to have to move my head to see. I use powerful reading glasses but keep needing to take them on and off. My next experiment will be to buy some cheap Chinese binocular loupes and try them.

One item I bought recently and have grown to quite like is a desktop magnifier (photo below). This came with a clamp and a stand, and I have been using it with the stand at the back of my desk with the magnifier coming down vertically in front of me. It is big enough that I can see everything in front of me through it. and small enough that I can fit both arms around it to work. I can also push it out of the way quite easily. Of course the optics aren't all that great, it is just a plastic magnifier and can't be used to see things in detail, I just use it for general 2-3x magnification. Also you need to have a high desk to use it like this as you need to look straight through it, looking slightly downwards gives a distorted view. However for about £15 I'm quite pleased with it, and will continue to use it. It seems to me that this is an area that you have to experiment and find what you are comfortable with, and that different people will use different methods. I just thought I'd share this one.

Stephen

 

 

[bobm12]

Hi Stephen,

 

I believe the best optics I've read about are the ones Lawson uses...but they are expensive!

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

[SSTEEL]

I plan on investing in a stereo microscope as some point with long reach boom, but for now, I swear by my Optivisor.

[JimInOz]

A word of caution on the cheap binocular loupes.

 

I tried a set and found them to be extremely difficult to use. You have to adjust for inter-pupilary distance and then change the sight angles so each eye converged at a focus distance. Every time I made one adjustment another was required. They came mounted on safety specs so I ditched the loupes and used a clip on pair of magnifiers.

 

With these I can see most detail work and flip them up for distance vision.

 

For close-up I use a loupe on a head spring and for really close up I have an old lab microscope from eBay. I got a boom for it and use it for oiling etc.

 

I'll post some pics after dinner, I have to cook some nice fillets of rock ling while Ms Jim does the veggies.

[JimInOz]

Here we go, I hope it's all self explanatory and can help you decide on what's best for you.

 

Any questions just fire away.

 

Cheers

 

Jim

 

 

 

[Geo]

Apart from the microscope, your setup is pretty close to mine.

Do you think all that magnification could fins a wee avatar? ;)

[JimInOz]

Apart from the microscope, your setup is pretty close to mine.

Do you think all that magnification could fins a wee avatar? ;)

 

Uh Oh!

 

I thought only ΩForums had Avatar Police  ;)

 

I shall see what I can do Geo.

[Geo]

Good one Jim, I would have been disappointed if you hadn't made comment. :D

[DJT2]

Being a novice to this hobby, I'm not sure I can add anything to this conversation that the experts haven't already suggested. However, I personally use an optivisor for most stuff & a stereo microscope for inspection & oiling.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[SSTEEL]

As mentioned above, another vote for the Optivisor, I have a few different lens too, but find the best sense for general purpose is No'3, which gives plenty of working distance, and enough magnification for working, plus it has a 3.5% loupe which flips down and away easily.

 

Don't go for those cheap Chinese ones though, they are heavy, and very uncomfortable.  Ask me how I know :)

 

Untitled by Micky Aldridge, on Flickr

[Geo]

Hi Micky. When you say No.3, what is the magnification and working distance?

[nad]

Think this may help :-

http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optivisor

Looks like its a DA3 focus 14" magnification 1.75

[Geo]

Thanks for that Nigel it gives me food fir thought. :)

[oldhippy]

All I used were different strength eyeglass from 2 up to a 4

[nad]

Could probably have got away with same when I was a little younger oldhippy. Find that I need a little more help these days.

[oldhippy]

Could probably have got away with same when I was a little younger oldhippy. Find that I need a little more help these days.

I know what you mean. My site is none to good what with being diabetic and having to take insulin.