Question: Thoughts on Eye Loupes?

[Artemiss]

Hi folks,

I'm looking at buying an Eye Loupe.

The GRS site sells a couple for around $20 or $70.
Apart from the embellishment on the latter, are there any known differences between the two?

There are also a number of Loupes on 'fleabay' and was wondering what to look out for where these are concerned as they are relatively cheap. But they are UK based which is good for me.

Is there a recommended magnification which most people use?

Oh, I've just noticed a place selling illuminated loupes too. Are these any good or just a gimmick?

Any thoughts please?

Kind regards, Jo

 

[Arnaud Van Tilburgh]

Jo, as far as I can help on this, a loupe for jewellers, stone setters and diamond traders needs a magnification X10.
A diamond is "loupe clean" when seen with a experienced eye with a magnification X10.
The best lens is a triple, means there are 3 glasses in the lens.

Hope this helps, arnaud

 

[PS_Bond]

I bought a triplet and a 4 element loupe from these guys - http://www.quicktest.co.uk/loupes.htm

The 4 element has, as they say, a lovely image, but the triplet (being larger) is getting more use.

 

[Kevin Scott]

Jo, the choice of loupes or magnification varies with the intended use, and also personal preference. I have experimented alot with different brands and stlyes as a watchmaker. The 10x loupes are mainly for inspection. For engraving I think they would be only usefull for inspecting the graver tip and edges for sharpness and damage. If you are looking for magnification to use while engraving, first establish what your comfortable working distance is: from the work to your eyes. An optivisor brand probably is a good one to start with. In additon to the magnification, they also give the working distance for each of their lenses. In general with magnification it is best to stay away from no name bargain priced items. Poor quality and image can be less bright, with distortion at edges of the view, causing eye strain. I think the Optivisor is the minimum of quality you should try. Stick to known names. They are better, although you could get lucky with a no name, but their quality control etc is not the same, so it is unlikely you will be happy with it. Good luck. Kevin Scott

 

[Artemiss]

Thanks for that guys.

Peter, I found the quicktest website immediately after posting this thread. The guy does mention there is a company now that have actually registered as Triplet and that although he sells there goods, he doesn't rate their quality at all.

I will try to get a Triplet but one that is made by another company - Maybe Zeiss, not Zice!!! :big grin:

Kevin, I already have an Optivisor, I'm now looking at buying a Loupe for the really delicate work.

I know what you mean about quality, I started off by buying a no-name Optivisor-u-like and it was pretty awful. I then bought the real thing and have been exceptionally pleased with it. I guess it's a little unfair to compare the two as the cheapo one had a much higher magnification.

Many thanks, will take another look around.

Jo

 

[James Roettger]

I understand that some very good traditional engravers use 10X loops for doing bulino. I usually use an opti visor or meiji scope which provide very good magnification. I do have a bosch and lomb triplet 10x loop and tried doing some detail engraving with it and found the experience quite disorienting. It left me thinking the people who use loops for their bulino must have very, very high quality loops to be able to hold them in their hand while watching their engraving work. Any expert advice would be interesting on loop engraving. I'm curious what an adequate loop would cost as my bosch and lomb was about $40. I figure you get what pay for but apparently I didn't pay enough to get an engraving quality loop.

 

[Marcus Hunt]

Jo, save your pennies and get a Zeiss loupe. I use the double one which has 2 lenses one at 4X and the other 6X which can be put together to make a 10X (which is too powerful really, especially if you're using an optivisor too). The advantage is that you can hold it away from you and still see clearly as the lens is nearly an inch across. A lot of the jewellers ones are quite small and only really work well if you hold it to your eye.

The Zeiss will also last you years. Mine clatters around my bench and (touch wood) the lens still hasn't scratched. I think they're now just over £80; a lot of dough but well worth it!

 

[JJ Roberts]

Joe..check out this website..ehobbytools.com

They have head visors with a variety of lenses in different powers, and they are very light to wear. Hope this will help.

 

[Sam]

I bought my first Zeiss 10x 25 years ago and it has served me very well. I recently bought a Zeiss 6x which is more suitable for looking at engraving, student work, gravers, etc, and has a larger lens than the 10x (10x is the industry standard for diamond grading). I think Marcus has the best one with combination 6x and 4x. Zeiss glass is wonderfully bright and sharp which many believe to be unparalleled.

I did see a rather expensive loupe made by a company in Antwerp that features an anti-reflective lens coating. Not sure how it compares optically as I didn't have an opportunity to really test it, but it might be worth checking into.

Oh, and there are also Schneider loupes. The 10x is quite expensive but has a nice, large lens (30mm?).

 

[Leonardo]

Optics specialist.

Hi Jo,

You have received great advice in the preceding posts and surely Zeiss is the top level option, but I would like to suggest you visit the following website (the triplets are in this page):

http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/browse.cfm?categoryid=175

This Company is really huge talking about optics and they carry very important Brands as well as they own.
I have bought from them many different articles as laser mirros, lenses, stages, etc. They sell principally quality components at no so low prices but also you can find some bargains. It is important to comment that, when taking about low price optic products here, the lenses they self are always excellent but mounted on plastic frames to get better prices.

Furthermore, they have available a lot of technical and scientific information for each article. I think that it really worth a visit.

All the best, Leonardo.

 

[Artemiss]

Thanks again guys. There were some excellent ideas which I will take on board.

I keep hearing and seeing x10 banded about by quite a few, so it was interested to find out x6 is more suited to engraving.
Also, I had no idea that some of the loupes would only be suitable when place close to your eye. The few I've seen being used were held very close to the work itself.

I do like the idea of a double though, that sounds extremely useful.

I like the Zeiss glass a lot. Although I was testing binoculars the other day, it was between the new Zeiss 8x45 laser range finder vs. the Leica 8x42 Geovid range finder.
I actually rated the Leica more favourably than the Zeiss! But then again, I'm no expert, I just liked what I saw.

My real soft-spot is for Swaro glass though! (I wonder if they make loupes) :big grin:

Jo

 

[Dave London]

Humm
Zeiss vs Leica how do you compare excellence:thumbs up:

 

[Kevin P.]

Jo, I would go with Marcus' recommendation.
The 10X is the standard for jewelers while inspecting stones. It's not for engraving.
The cost of the loupe is determined by two factors: the manufacture, i.e. Zeiss and the diameter of the lens, the wider the better, and also more expensive. The triplet doesn't mean much it's who makes the triplet.
If you buy the right one it will last a lifetime. Don't buy cheap.
Kevin P.

 

[Artemiss]

Kevin,

You've basically said exactly the way I'm thinking of going.
I understand the Triplet thing, it's all to do with manufacturer.

Whilst occasionally you can get away with buying cheap, my thoughts are, 'generally' if you buy cheap, you buy twice. It's something I try to avoid as much as possible these days.

Cheers, Jo

 

[MichaelBaer]

Hello JO,Optivisor has a swing away loupe accessory available that mounts onto one of
the screws holding the faceplate in place.Seemed wobbly at first then put a neoprene O ring on there and it settled rite down.Hold-in-the-eye loupes for wanted to fog up so I drilled vent holes which worked but,then my eye dried out too quickly.Lighting seems to be equally important to me.good luck MichaelBaer

 

[diandwill]

The advantage of a triplet is that they reduce spherical and chromatic abberation, giving a truer magnification of the object and truer color. The quality of manufacture determines how much the abberation is reduced.
Will

 

[Phil Coggan]

Beware! Buying a 10x from various companies does not necessarily mean you will have a true 10x magnification...some are 8x!!!

Phil

 

[Artemiss]

Beware! Buying a 10x from various companies does not necessarily mean you will have a true 10x magnification...some are 8x!!!

Phil,

Is there a reputable place in the UK that you know of where th correct ones can be bought?
As I've mentioned in previous posts, I dislike buying twice, I much prefer to buy the correct thing to begin with.

Thanks,

Jo

 

[Leonardo]

Hi again Jo,
Excuse me but, have you visited the Edmund Optics site that I suggested early?

- I would beg you read this important (professional) info first (How to Choose a Magnifier):
http://www.edmundoptics.com/TechSupport/DisplayArticle.cfm?articleid=262

- Please, take a look at this pages:

The cheapest: http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productID=2368

A nice Bausch & Lomb: http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productID=1739

An interesting one: http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productID=1836

Hasting Triplets (in the more expensive side): http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productID=1730

As I told you, this Company is extremely serious, and have UK offices (actually they sent my orders from UK).
I must say that I have not any personal interest or commercial relation with them other than as a customer but they always solved my needs very professionaly and with high quality products.

I hope this helps a bit more Jo.
Best regards,
Leonardo

 

[Artemiss]

Leonardo,

My sincere apologies, I've only just spotted you other post.
That's an excellent site you've linked me too, so many many thanks.
I'll take a good look around there, and be back... I maybe some time though!!! :big grin:

Jo