Recommendations for reasonably priced magnifiyer - I wear glasses :(  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: adam.kavanagh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 12, 2017, 08:23:35 pm
content: Hello all, I'm new here!I've been a lurker for a while but I just got a new jobrepairing and servicing guitar pedals!I love itI was a working musician for almost 10 years in and out of "real jobs" Ive always enjoyed tinkering and repairing things of my own and of my friends so thi sis really a dream job for me!So I did a few searches and couldn't find anything helpful that relates to me, so sorry if I missed a sweet thread with tons of options listed and reviewed.I need recommendations for a decently large magnifying lamp / microscope for component lever repairs.I wear large glasses, so I cant use most headlamps or microscopes (as far as I know anyways).My budget is < $200.00, preferably around $100.00Here's what I have which I brought from home to hold me over until I pick one to order through work.It works OK but the viewing angles are ROUGH and working distance barely lets me get my soldering iron in comfortably(I'm always knocking the damn lamp and it makes me dizzy!) plus from my research its not exactly a professional tool but feel free to correct me:https://www.amazon.com/Clamp-Swing-Lighted-Magnifying-Magnifier/dp/B003TX3IJK*Also, I refuse to take my glasses off and lay them anywhere like on my desk for example because I cant stand scratched lenses(because then my vision will always be obstructed and i lived far too long with impaired vision before finally getting glasses)

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2017, 10:05:35 pm
content: How about one of those visor loupes (eg Optivizor). You can get them in a range of magnifications and you can look at your work, rather than trying to fit the work under your magnifier. They will work over glasses. Don't go for the off-brand really cheap ones, they'll give you a headache.https://www.loupe-magnifier.com/Optivisor.htmI use surgical loupes for a lot of close work. If you have the money, you can get them fitted to prescription lenses.

author: cncjerry
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 06:49:40 am
content: I have all the magnifiers, loops, visors, etc. I bought a lighted magnifier like the one you posted, not nearly as good quality, and I found them useful.I finally bought a stereo microscope and love it. It's not for soldering long days, etc but I now use it or my optivisor and parked everything else. I saw a new visor somewhere that has a much wider field but it might interfere with your work.By the way, the scope I bought had a larger range on focus and more height above the table than most, it might have been an option.

author: ruairi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 07:22:33 am
content: I had used the Donegan Optivisor with several sets of lenses and it is good, I can wear it with my glasses. I replaced it with a used Luxo Magnifier Lamp from ebay which is incredible, I have not used the optivisor since. I got the Luxo for around $120 and bought another for a friend. It is light years ahead of the cheaper Chinese stuff I see at Frys.

author: boffin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 07:29:04 am
content: I just bought an OptiVisor. Great product.You can read a little more about it here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/what-did-you-buy-today-post-your-latest-purchase!/msg1108682/#msg1108682

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 07:33:47 am
content: I use this:http://www.newark.com/edsyn/ma10ls/magnifier-headband-2-5x/dp/34M7317together with this:http://www.newark.com/edsyn/ma-1070/spare-lens-magnifying-7x/dp/34M7314

author: capt bullshot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 08:27:00 am
content: At home I've got a Velleman brand magnifier (type LL 05W), this is about 80 Euros.At work, there's a Luxo brand magnifier (unknown type), cost about 400 Euros, as far as I rememberBoth of them have a reasonably large lens and bright lights at the sides of the lens. The working distance is far enough to handle a soldering iron, and I don't have to take off my glasses. I can do SMT hand soldering ugly QFN packages and all sorts of dust (smallest parts are 0402 here) using them. Also important: I can use them for some prolonged time without my eyes getting too tired.In terms of mechanical stability and quality, the Luxo is somewhat better than the velleman. In terms of optical qualitiy and usability, there's not a big difference, the Luxo beeing slightly better (but not four times as the price difference). At work, some other people have other magnifiers with smaller lenses, once I've tried one, they are unusable for me, basically for the too small lens.

author: turbotemp
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 08:57:51 am
content: Does it have to be optical? I know you could get all kinds of small close up cameras quite cheaply now and working on it through video screen would be doable as long as there's no noticeable latency.I can precisely focus my camera using LiveView and manual focus on things that is much too small to see good enough to focus through the viewfinder.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 09:09:01 am
content: You don't have to spend that much; <$20 is probably OK!I wear reading glasses, and find a "Rolson Magnifying Visor" is perfectly satisfactory - plus I can use them wherever I am (e.g. away from desk) and at any angle (e.g. peering into equipment).If nothing else and even if it turns out to not work for you, a cheap visor will allow you to experimentally determine whatyouactually need foryourwork.

author: adam.kavanagh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 08:07:46 pm
content: Quote from: ruairi on January 13, 2017, 07:22:33 amThank everyone for the great recommendations!ruairi, do you know what model you bought twice and use?Thanks!

author: gnavigator1007
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 08:33:08 pm
content: I bought one of these recently:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EUPFSC0/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_K-ElybC71JZ2YMy vision is getting worse and was getting tired of trying to focus my phone's camera while zoomed in and holding a magnifying glass in front of it to identify a component. This hdmi microscope updates just quick enough and has just enough clearance for me to solder, though it took some getting used to.

author: adam.kavanagh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 02:33:58 am
content: Quote from: turbotemp on January 13, 2017, 08:57:51 amI think I would prefer optical since my best guess says that I will get more value out of that option.I dont feel like having a 4th monitor just for video feed.Im not 100% opposed to it though, its a great suggestion.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 02:49:47 am
content: Have you ever tried the clip on flip up magnifying lenses - available at many chain drug stores?

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 16, 2017, 04:01:17 am
content: I bought a headband magnifier at a local hamfest for about $12 USD. It has 2 different magnifications using an additional fold down lens and a little loupe on the right eye that rotates out of the way when not in use. It has a solid locking mechanism so it doesn't loosen up while wearing it. By the way, I wear progressive bifocals and it works fine for me.

author: boffin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 18, 2017, 02:52:06 am
content: I was going to buy a cheapie out of China (10-15 USD), but then realized a decent one made much more sense. It just wasnt that expensive (50 Canuckistan Pesos)