discussion Wearable magnifiers...

[Peej]

I have been looking into getting a magnifier. I want one that is on a headband, not too bothered about a light as the light on my bench is good. The problem is I wear glasses all the time and I have been reading conflicting reviews on line, someone saying they are fine with glasses then someone saying they aren't any good if you wear glasses. I was just wondering if anyone here uses this type of magnifier and wears glasses. Price is also important to me as funds are slightly limited. Thanks in advance.
Paul.

 

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Paul

i too wear glasses and have not been able to get along with the headband type of magnifiers. A solution I am trying out is to use a magnifier on my Ipad. I got a flexible holder on ebay for about £15 and so far it works ok. It does take a little getting used to since you are working under the camera which is in the corner rather than under the middle of the screen. Here is the link to what I postedon 'latest aquisitions" https://www.scale-models.co.uk/threads/latest-acquisitions-2020.34259/page-50

Peter

 

[Gary MacKenzie]

I bought these @ https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0015IN8J6/
But they are way too expensive now , i paid £47.38

I think a few others bought these @ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Headband-Magnifier-Fozela-Head-mounted-Magnifications/dp/B01MG7IT6I

 

[PaulTRose]

i got some cheap ones....argos as i remember...............i wear them with glasses and have no problems what so ever, works a treat

 

[KarlW]

I used an optivisor from time to time, but now I'm wearing glasses the focal point is so close to my face it's silly, maybe a bit of perserverance is needed to get used to it.

 

[Guest]

I have some headband ones, like these.

I find them fine over my reading glasses, although I have taken to copying a couple of the guys on TV's Repair Shop, and just wear two pairs of glasses! My prescription readers with some cheap poundshop ones over the top, in various strengths.

 

[adt70hk]

Hi Paul

I've been using glasses and an optivisor without issue for a few years now and have varifocal lenses.

Good luck with your hunt.

ATB

Andrew

 

[SimonT]

I use a genuine Optivisor

Fits over my varifocals with no problem - couldn't manage without it these days

Started with a £15 cheapo with plastic lenses - it was rubbish. The lenses distorted the view something rotten and the colour rendering was hopeless. Paint colours looked nothing like they should

The Optiviser has proper optical ground glass lenses so no distortion and accurate colour rendering - what you look at through the lenses looks the same as without, just bigger of course

 

[Tim Marlow]

Agreed ref the optivisor. If you wear one it has to do more than just make things bigger......

 

[Guest]

I know what you mean about the distortion. I find myself moving the item and my head around a lot to get different parts of it in focus, and always have to do a final check with the naked eye to make sure things are straight. I just thought all magnifiers were like that.

I have it less with the double glazing but it still isn't great.

What power do most of you go for with the optivisor? I'm thinking 2.5 as that's the best balance on my cheap ones. I know it's yet more money to shell out but I've got more chance of doing a half decent job if I can actually see what I'm doing :nerd:

 

[SimonT]

Andy - DA5 2.5
They do seem expensive in a single hit at around the £50 mark but I must have had mine for around ten years now

 

[KarlW]

I was always warned off cheaper versions with plastic lenses because of distortion, and all the plastic melting stuff we have in hand.

 

[Guest]

Cheers Simon

 

[Tim Marlow]

Also agreed ref 2.5, that’s what I’ve got as well.

 

[adt70hk]

Hi Paul

I currently use one of the cheaper plastic versions with multiple lenses, 4 my case, because I couldn't afford anything better at the time and had only just rejoined the hobby and so I didn't want to splash out on something expensive. In my case they seem to work fine.

In my case I wear varifocals too as I'm badly long sighted. my standard lens is a 1.8 magnification. Although I fully realise that may not be an exact match because the lenses are plastic.

Hope that helps.

ATB

Andrew

 

[stona]

I wear glasses and got away with a relatively cheap (maybe 15 quid?), plastic lensed magnifier for years. I used a lower magnification than some here, 1.8x from memory.

Wearing spectacles should not be a problem.

I would think carefully before investing 50-60 quid in something like an Optivisor. That's a lot of money if you get it wrong!

You need to establish what magnification works for you for a start. I had already worked this out with my cheapo magnifier. A lot of people go for 2.5x but I found that too much for me. The Optivisor 2.5x magnification has a short focal length at just 8", so you will be very close to your work. I eventually bought one with 2.0x magnification and a slightly more practical 10" focal length (it's their DA-4 lens).

You can buy different lens for an Optivisor (they call them 'lens plates'), but they cost almost as much as the entire magnifier, not something you want to be doing because you originally ordered a set that you don't like.

The Optivisor is obviously a better piece of kit than my old one, the lenses are far superior, but I still use the old plastic one if, for example, I really need a higher magnification. I'm too tight to spend the best part of 50 quid on lenses I use once in a blue moon when I already have the plastic ones, which are good enough, in their cheapo headband

 

[mrtintheweb]

The tech guy from the movie Tango & Cash comes to mind.
T

 

[Gern]

I can't help you decide which sort to get Peej, but I would advise you to check out the lenses! I bought a cheapo version some years ago without realising that the lenses had different magnifications. Nightmare! Every time I shifted focus on the bits I was looking at, the size changed!

The other thing you might want to take into account is the focal length. With higher magnification you get shorter focal length so you need to get closer - every time I tried to brush paint details with the stronger lens, I kept knocking the end of my paintbrush against the frame.

 

[stillp]

I need one that makes the parts larger, but not my fingers!
I've tried a few different magnifiers but can't get on with them. Maybe I need a really good one like an Optivisor, but they're a bit expensive if they don't work out.
Pete

 

[Peej]

Thanks for your input everyone. Might just bite the bullet and get a cheapish one to see how I get on.