Favorite jewelers loupe? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2014, 07:14:17 am
content: These seem to be dirt cheap on ebay.What's your favorite magnification/size that you use the most?10x. 20x, 40x?Are the head mounted kind of any use? What about eyeglass mounted ones?

author: uwezi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2014, 08:55:49 am
content: I use the dead cheap 30x -21mm foldable from eBay.Never tried anything hanging in front of my face - since I also wear glasses I don't know if this would be working or comfortable.

author: Dr. Frank
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2014, 09:19:47 pm
content: Since the age of 45, I had no chance to solder SMD anymore with naked eyes.The age takes its toll, since then I need glasses for short distances, anyhow.Got an assortment of cheapy ones, from 1.0 to 3.0 diopters.Finally got this one, Eschenbach 16364 binocular loupe, 4x, 200 and something bucks.Galilei telescope principle, with diopter alignment for each eye.Works great especially for fine pitch ICs and soldering junction inspection.Components are really big with it.After getting acquainted to, they are very comfortable for the eyes.PS: Never burnt my nose during usage! (25cm working distance)Frank

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2014, 11:43:00 pm
content: I got a cheap pair of galilean loupes that said they were 3.5X, but they're really more like 2X. They're not bad though and I use them a lot.I got another pair of Keplarian loupes that are 4.5X and the field of view is too narrow and the depth of field is about 1cm. They're a major pain to use. I would avoid cheap Keplarian loupes; they'll only give you a headache.Galilean loupes tend to be short and use only lenses while the Keplarian ones are longer and use prisms as well. The higher mag loupes are Keplarian.I think 3-4X is about the right range to be able to see something along with a reasonable field of view. Finding ones with a reasonable depth of field is important so you don't have to hold your head at an exact distance for things to be in focus.

author: true
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 06:58:16 am
content: I generally don't need them, but if I do use one to review work it is usually my 10x BelOMO triplet. Really nice for ~$30.

author: PeterL
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 09:27:33 am
content: I bought this one on a fleemarket for Radio amateurs. It's good for inspection, and perfect for reading those pain in the arse laser engraved markings on IC's.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 09:59:47 am
content: Quote from: george graves on March 07, 2014, 07:14:17 amThose things are worse than useless. The lenses are not precisely matched but worse is they diverge and you can only look through one lens at a time, that is unless your brain and eyes work like a chickens. I bought a pair to try as the eye loupe I had was the same one I bought back in 69 or 70 when I started as a horologist and I now find that it is often not powerful enough. I took the loupes off the frame in the end and use one on its own on occasion I got one of these in the end as I can wear prescription glasses underneath.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10X-LED-Head-Headband-Magnifier-Magnifying-Glasses-Loupe-Repair-LED-Light-/200780437815?pt=UK_Jewellery_Watches_JewelleryBoxes_Supplies_CA&hash=item2ebf725937They work very well and as the lens are made in one section they don't diverge.

author: ohmineer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 11:45:07 am
content: Quote from: G7PSK on March 08, 2014, 09:59:47 amHow is the working distance with those? I have a couple of models similar at work but of 4x magnifying power. Maybe they are worse than the ones you are linking above but I am not able to separate my eyes from the circuit more than 15 cm.

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 02:30:30 pm
content: My favorite eye piece are the built-ins. So far I don't need a loupe for soldering. For inspection I find a usb microscope + laptop handier than using an eyepiece. But maybe that's just because I'm not used to glasses and the like.Also, plenty of bright light from several sources (no shadows) makes things a lot easier.

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2014, 01:36:30 am
content: Quote from: G7PSK on March 08, 2014, 09:59:47 amI use those as well. Nicely adjustable magnification. Along with a couple of monocle loupes and a single illumnated 3X on an arm. its enough to do 0603 for me. I even have done some 0402 successfully (painful, but successful).

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2014, 03:07:40 am
content: I have all of the above plus these.http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Dental-Surgical-Medical-Binocular-Loupes-3-5X-Optical-Glass-Loupe-420mm-Red-/320948987086?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aba0ce4ceI basically switch between reading glasses, microscope and the dental loupe.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2014, 02:13:31 pm
content: How well does the ebay item work?

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2014, 10:16:01 pm
content: The one I have allows me to work at about 300mm with the single lens 5X with two lens 10X its around 180mm and with 3rd lens 20X the distance is 25mm. It allows me to work 0805 smd without trouble.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2014, 10:53:40 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on March 09, 2014, 02:13:31 pmDental Loupes,The magnification is 3.5x (other magnifications avail), the lenses are coated and 100mm across, images are clear and as bright as the room lighting. The mount is far enough away that you can over and under it without having to touch it. They are highly adjustable. The case is very good.I use them when working inside a case, where a microscope won't go and reading glasses are not good enough. They are certainly worth the money, I wouldn't call them high end but not crap either.You can buy a light for them but I have not found the need.

author: netdudeuk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2014, 08:32:31 am
content: I bought one of those magnifiers that looks like a VR headset, with the strap that goes around the back of the head. They magnify but you can double up by dropping down from the inside, an extra set of lenses for even closer work. There's also a single loupe that can be dropped down as we'll. There's also a AAA powered lamp. Really pleased with them. The only down side is they do work loose from all the ups and down of the front part that holds the lenses.

author: coldframe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2014, 06:09:39 pm
content: Hi, This is My Film Camera loupeWhile once an important component in photograph.These days, I use this loupe as a inspection solder jointPic1. SOT23-6 Tiny Chip & TO-92 Mr. Transistor (Diffcult see the SOT23-6 marking with the naked eye)Pic2. 3.5 diopter magnifier + Zoom-in shot (Not so bad, if you are a young)Pic3. 10X loupe + zoom-in shotPic4. this is the star of the daySearch thoroughly from garret to kitchencoldframe

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2014, 06:50:58 pm
content: I am using an OptiVisor. It comes with changeable lenses (sold separatly). Very handy. You can lift it up when you want normal view. I do all my soldering with it.http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optivisor

author: cybermaus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2014, 06:57:14 pm
content: Quote from: mrflibble on March 08, 2014, 02:30:30 pmShow off! Just wait a few years.....

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2014, 09:14:13 pm
content: Quote from: cybermaus on March 11, 2014, 06:57:14 pmI'm hoping for the few to be many. If my eyes age at the same rate as my father's I should be golden.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 09:59:31 am
content: Quote from: cybermaus on March 11, 2014, 06:57:14 pmHa! I recently turned 40 (although I act like I'm 22 on a good day....) - and yea, need for glasses are a must. Actually I can see more with a good pair of reading glasses then I could when I was 20. I hear that good welders (no mater their age or vision) use reading glasses while welding (behind a welding mask of course!) to help weld up those "roll of nickles" kind of welds and see details in their work. That was new to me.

author: krivx
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 11:48:42 am
content: I believe there is a gap in current LASIK/LASEK technology for correcting this kind of deterioration as well, I'm hoping that can be sorted out by the time I need it

author: StevenB
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 12:23:31 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on March 11, 2014, 06:50:58 pmThis is what I'm using as well and like it. I think I'm using the 2.5x magnification. You can also purchase a 3rd party light attachment for it.

author: uwezi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 03:32:21 pm
content: Quote from: george graves on March 13, 2014, 09:59:31 amI have been myopic since my early teens. I could see everything near and far with my glasses on, but since I turned 40 I have to look over or under my glasses to read some resistors' color codes or even worse SMD markings. Still long until I need bifocals or anything like that - I hope...