Quality Eye Loupe

[Pendimonium]

Can you recommend me a quality eye loupe?. I want something that is in same vein as a Belomo 12x handheld loupe.

 

Thanks

[wastelanded]

Bumping this, I'd like to know as well.

[PaganArcher]

As would I. The loupe I have now is a bit excessive for pen work at 20 magnification, but they don't make loupes like this vintage one as far as I can see.

[praxim]

I bought a Bausch & Lomb 14x late last year. Whether that is a good option I do not really know. In fact, it is either in a storage box or lost in the move and I will not know which until we unpack fully late this year.

[Glenn Atkins]

A little late to the party here I know, but...

 

https://www.amazon.com/SE-MJ37801L-Professional-Quality-LED-Illuminated/dp/B002E0MU7U/ref=pd_bxgy_200_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QT5D0JPVHENP1QPMBC9R

[PaulS]

I have a Belomo x10 - had to buy this from the Continent from memory - and no complaints, it's a first rate loupe. Sometimes I do think that x10 is a tad on the high side - would be useful to have something a little lower perhaps, but if you had to have just the one lens then I guess this power is the best compromise.

[inkstainedruth]

I have a cheap Chinese loupe with an LED light on it. Good enough for my purposes -- picked it up several years ago for $20 US at the University of Pittsburgh bookstore. Although I'm somewhat tempted by one that Ron Zorn showed me which has crosshair markings on the lens -- there are times when I'd like to have a better idea of what width specific nibs are.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Chrissy]

I recommend the Belomo 10X. I think the 12X is a little too difficult to focus for some things.

[Glenn Atkins]

No doubt the Belomo's are great (I've got one) but I really enjoy having one with a light. Oh, my eyes! Something to consider.

 

Glenn

[praxim]

Because, as I said above, I am currently missing my B&L 14X I bought a Belomo 10X to keep me going until we can unpack and I find the B&L or not. The Belomo is good. I find though that I use my 3X jeweller's loupe more often. At that magnification it matters less that it is fairly cheap. The Belomo is for when I really need to know rather than to glance.

[Glenn Atkins]

Does your B&L have a light? I've gotten a couple of inexpensive ones (not loupes, just magnifiers) from office supply stores that have lights as well. I work in a very lighted area but still find the light on the loupes to be nice. I think I'm always within an arm's reach of some kind of magnification. Cheers.

 

Glenn

 

 

Because, as I said above, I am currently missing my B&L 14X I bought a Belomo 10X to keep me going until we can unpack and I find the B&L or not. The Belomo is good. I find though that I use my 3X jeweller's loupe more often. At that magnification it matters less that it is fairly cheap. The Belomo is for when I really need to know rather than to glance.

[praxim]

No, it does not. I rely on a LED desk lamp in one place and multi-jointed work lamp in another. Otherwise I stand by the window (works better in daylight).

[Ron Z]

I have a cheap Chinese loupe with an LED light on it. Good enough for my purposes -- picked it up several years ago for $20 US at the University of Pittsburgh bookstore. Although I'm somewhat tempted by one that Ron Zorn showed me which has crosshair markings on the lens -- there are times when I'd like to have a better idea of what width specific nibs are.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Unfortunately that graticulated loupe that I sold isn't available any more.

 

Edit 10/17: I see that they're appearing on eBay now for about $5, which is cheaper than I could sell them for.

[praxim]

Bumping this thread because today, a couple of months after moving, I finally opened the box and the packet containing the B&L loupe mentioned here above. I was startled to see how tiny it was. Here are the 14x B&L and 10x Belomo loupes.

 

 

The B&L is about a fifth the weight and half the height as well as having a much smaller FoV. As previously mentioned, I tend to use the el-cheapo-unbranded 3x eyeglass for a quick look. The B&L is very nice but for fairly obvious reasons I will continue to use the Belomo rather than the B&L unless really stuck for a close view.

 

edit: posted before completion, plus typos

Edited October 26, 2017 by praxim

[PaulS]

a late comment, but one which I've see posted before but don't think it's surfaced on this thread yet, and that is ...............regarding the Belomo X10 ... continually pivoting the lens part of the unit tends to loosen the two screws which anchor it to the frame. Someone said, remove the two screws and dab in a little araldite/epoxy adhesive to the holes and replace the screws, which presumably will prevent future looseness and prevent the whole thing falling apart.

Edited October 26, 2017 by PaulS

[praxim]

Good point. I recall reading somewhere or other that the screws could come loose. I would be inclined to use Loctite rather than epoxy. I like to be able to take things apart again, if that is how they were originally put together.

[Chrissy]

Good point. I recall reading somewhere or other that the screws could come loose. I would be inclined to use Loctite rather than epoxy. I like to be able to take things apart again, if that is how they were originally put together.

 

Loctite Threadlocker is what Rolex uses on it's screw threads. If it's good enough for them......