WANTED: good quality headband magnifiers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2011, 07:51:25 am
content: I am thinking of getting surgeon-type headband magnifiers.The cheap Chinese ones I tried are crap. Here they are:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180605907112Mind you, if they weren't crap that would have been surprising indeed.Here are the ones that show more hope and the man who sells them knows what he's talking about.http://www.quicktest.co.uk/acatalog/Head-worn_Magnifiers__binocular_-_professional.htmlI'll need either 4x or 6xIf you have such goods for sale, please let me know.

author: cybergibbons
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2011, 09:13:01 am
content: I don't get on with these types of magnifiers, but I have tried on some "real" surgical loupes before, and the quality was very good. Very lightweight as well. But I think that you are looking at £1k or so for a pair.

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2011, 12:18:17 pm
content: Quote from: cybergibbons on July 31, 2011, 09:13:01 amYes, I have heard that the very expensive ones are excellent. But I trust the Quicktest man, and he praises the £250-£290 stuff. Apparently it's possible to get 'real' surgical loupes for around £600-700 too, but I haven't checked this claim myself.What make of surgical loupes do you own/have you tried?

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2011, 12:19:51 pm
content: These work quite well, a bit more than the Chinese version, and less than those you've linked. The company is well known in the magnifier business. They have other models with loupe attachments and 'heavier' duty.Its US made, so even if acrylic the quality is good. These bands come with 3 lenses, and its easy to find parts and snap then on. I use one.http://www.doneganoptical.com/

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2011, 01:16:40 pm
content: I tried Donegan but wasn't impressed. I think I finally understood that to get something good it has to:1. Not be from China2. Cost 3-digit sums of money3. Be avaiable to try out in personIf there are counterexamples to the above, I haven't yet come across any yet. If you have, please let me know.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2011, 01:42:49 pm
content: I think key is you need to try it in person. The Donegan low cost is acrylic lenses, the most expensive are glass. if these aren't good enough then you need something health care grade to match the peculiarities of your eyeglasses such as astigmatism.

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2011, 04:44:12 pm
content: Quote from: saturation on July 31, 2011, 01:42:49 pmI completely agree about trying it in person.If there is no other choice than to spend £600-800 on actual surgeon's loupes, then ok, I'll have to save up and get them.What I'll do is probably get the ones from Quicktest's website and try them. When I was talking on the phone with the Quicktest expert I told him that I was concerned about trying on the loupes and asked if they had a showroom where I could come and try them. He then explained that he'd be ok with me returning the loupes if they don't fit as they don't have a showroom and he understands my situation.

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2011, 07:57:43 am
content: I spoke too soon, I'm afraid....It turns out that the headband-style magnifiers I tried (recommended above by saturation, post includes photo) weren't, in fact, made by Donegan. I have now tried and bought a 2.5x Donegan Optivisor and am very impressed with the quality.If you are in the UK, I would highly recommend as a source of Optivisors the sitewww.ceramicsrestored.co.uk, the owner of which, ceramics restoration expert Ewart McNab, is a genuinely decent and helpful human being, with detailed firsthand knowledge of Optivisors.

author: KJ6EAD
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2011, 02:20:13 am
content: The Bausch and Lomb Magna-Visor is pretty good. I just wish they'd make an LED illuminated version.http://www.bausch.com/en/Our-Products/Low-Vision-Product/Professional-Magnifiers/Magna-Visor

author: grenert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2011, 02:56:16 am
content: There is a third-party maker of LED illumination for the Donegan Optivisor:http://www.loupe-magnifier.com/quasar_ls_lighting_system.htmI have the Optivisor, the add-on Optiloupe, and the Quasar LS and I am very happy with the setup. Pay attention to the magnification and working distance. Too much magnification and you won't have enough working distance. That's why I like the Optiloupe: Normally a lot of working distance, but added mag when I need it. The whole setup is still under a hundred bucks.

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2011, 08:22:12 am
content: Quote from: grenert on August 08, 2011, 02:56:16 amJust the kind of info I want..You see, I got the 2.5x so I don't have to touch my nose to the PCB when soldering under 3.5x (it had only a couple of inches of working distance, and the iron is still at 325-350C). Are you saying that the Optiloupe will allow me to solder under greater-than-2.5x mag and 'normal' (about 15cm) working distance?What FOV do you get with 2.5x+2.5x?Donegan site says 'monocle use' - what happens if I get 2 and use it for both eyes?

author: grenert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2011, 02:50:48 pm
content: Quote from: img on August 08, 2011, 08:22:12 amHigher mag (whether in the Optivisor or Optivisor + Optiloupe) will always shorten your working distance. No way around that. This page gives working distance for various magnification of Optivisor.http://www.loupe-magnifier.com/Optivisor.htmI don't know exactly what the field of view is with the Optiloupe. It's not a lot. I only use the Optiloupe for brief periods, and not for soldering. I use it to scan an IC for solder bridges, for example. I think that if you are asking about getting two Optiloupes, you should really just get another visor. Personally, I wouldn't find that added magnification would help me during soldering. After 2.5X mag, the process is more limited by the steadiness of my hands and the size of my tools, rather than my vision.

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2011, 04:41:49 pm
content: I tried soldering under the Mantis microscope, at 4x and 6x, and it's been great.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2011, 07:40:52 pm
content: Glad you liked them, its likely you may have tried a copy of the Donegans, if not an outright counterfeit. Copies are far cheaper as they look very much the same at face value particularly on web photos, often cost $5-10, while a real Donegan is at least $18-30. I've tried fake Optivisors and the lens defects are subtle but you notice it after a while, but probably not as long when you're in the store shopping; also the plastic polymer won't hold its tension or comfort because the copies are identical superficially, but not in substance.Copy vs RealQuote from: img on August 07, 2011, 07:57:43 am

author: dfnr2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2011, 11:23:47 pm
content: I was fine with my $5 Donegan knock-off pair until it failed (lens broke, then rivets loosened, so it kept falling on my nose.)I searched a bunch of models and reviews, and finally found this on, called Megaview 3:http://www.nationaljewelerssupplies.com/loupes-and-magnifiers/AMmg3.htmlIt's also available at Amazon. It is great quality, comfortable, and works very well, not much eye or neck fatigue, and--frankly--looks a little more dignified (although I am immune to such concernsI can recommend this one.One thing that really helps when using this type of magnifier is to set the bench height high, and use and adjustable chair that can go low when you're working with magnification.Dave

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2011, 11:08:05 am
content: These cost more than the Donegans so I hope its much better. If you already have them can you review it briefly for us?I don't know the brand. Are they well known?where is it made, China, Taiwan, USA, Germany?Are the lenses acrylic or glass?How do you feel about the optics, is it good quality, no noticeably aberrations with your naked eyes or with glasses?Quote from: dfnr2 on August 28, 2011, 11:23:47 pm

author: dfnr2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2011, 02:10:04 pm
content: Quote from: dfnr2 on August 28, 2011, 11:23:47 pmI will do a brief review over the weekend. After using this for a while, I like it more. In addition to being higher quality and more comfortable than my older magnifier, it has the advantage that you can look around the lens to do brief tasks on the bench, without flipping up the lens.Dave