magnifying visor - recommendations - what to avoid - ect.

[peteski]

How to tell the real Optivisor? Not even talking about other brands or generics, go to the manufacturer's website http://www.doneganoptical.com/  and look around. OptiVISOR is on top of the list.  Donegan Optical also makes other, less expensive magnifiers but honestly, the 10 or so dollars extra that the OptiVISOR costs is well worth the price.  Again, cost of this price of equipment is less than a price of an N scale locomotive. For example OptiVISOR LX is the same headband but uses plastic (not glass) lenses. Since this piece of equipment will most likely last you a lifetime, get the OptiVISOR which is equipped with glass lenses.

Throughout the years I also bought additional lens plates. Currently I mostly use DA-7.  Like Pnolan48 I often wear reading glasses under my Optivisor so I can quickly look at something without the extra magnification while still being able to focus on the item I'm working from regular viewing distance.

[nscaleSPF2]

You make an excellent point in your last paragraph, Peteski.  When I try to peer over the +4.5 "reading" glasses, everything on the bench is pretty blurred.  Makes it dicey when you reach for the exacto knife....

Jim

[DKS]

Magnification is kind of a personal thing; each of us must find what works best. Optivisors (or anything like them) give me massive headaches and major eyestrain; not to mention they are bulky, cumbersome and just plain uncomfortable--to me. Ordinary reading glasses are my magnifiers of choice. Since I'm naturally nearsighted, peering over the glasses at the workbench is AOK.

My recommendation--see if you can find someone who owns an Optivisor, or see if you can find one in a store, and try it on for a little while. Then, the next time you're in CVS, try on some reading glasses. Use what works best for you. Remember, you may have the thing on your head for hours...

Edit: I neglected to mention that, when I really need to get serious about magnification, I use an inexpensive ("student") stereo microscope.

[GaryHinshaw]

Magnification is kind of a personal thing; each of us must find what works best. Optivisors (or anything like them) give me massive headaches and major eyestrain.

+1.  My choice is a cheap Office Depot clamp lamp with a magnifier, something like this.  It has a nice wide field of view, pretty good depth of focus, and provides good task light.

But a high-quality Optivisor is better than a cheap one, for sure, if that suits you.

[peteski]

Yes, it is a personal preference. I have couple of those pricey Luxo magnifier lamps on my workbenches but I seldom use them as magnifiers.  I find them awkward to deal with. I don't like to have something what I consider  somewhat bulky sitting between my eyes and the object I'm working on.  So I wear my OptiVISOR while I use my magnifier lamps for illumination only. 

[pnolan48]

I was at Lowe's today buying work tables and lighting. I saw the magnifying lens light for about $30. I'll consider it after I get set back up. (Yes, I'm moving stuff again.)

[robert3985]

Like DKS, my Optivisors used to give me headaches too.  The solution was simple for me.  I now wear mine sitting tilted back quite a bit higher on my forehead, which allows gravity to do most of the holding, and I don't have to really crank the tension knob down now like I did when I was wearing them as a tight band around my head, which was what was giving me the headaches!

Something related to this topic is bifocals.  I learned this one from my dad.  He had a pair of bifocals made that had them on both top and bottom if his lenses so when he had to look upwards at wiring or instrumentation, he didn't have to crank his head waaaay back to see.  I've been thinking seriously about doing this myself for working under the layout when trouble-shooting electrical problems or putting in new Tortoises 'cause it really is a pain in the neck when I'm under there for extended periods of time! 

Cheers!
Bob Gilmore

[mark.hinds]

I have always used these "Opticaid" magnifiers, which clip to my glasses and are pretty light weight.  Apparently several companies make them now, but so long as the price is in the $20. - $30. range I assume the quality is similar. 

http://www.edroyproducts.com/opticaid1.html
http://www.penntoolco.com/catalog/products/products.cfm?categoryID=8285

The 2.25X one is most useful, and is the one I usually use for model making and brush painting.  I also have a 3.5X version for special cases, but depth of field is much less. 

MH

[SteamDonkey]

I use an Optivisor, the 4x magnification one (DA-4). I would recommend getting one of the models with the GLASS lenses and not the plastic ones if you go this way. Also, I have an add-on product consisting of bright LEDs and a battery pack made by Novacon. Installation was simple and it works really well.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/515-6010


I chose my magnification power by trying on three or four different magnification levels at my LHS and then just buying what was the best of the options for my own self. I like that these can go right over my glasses with tons of room to spare. You won't win any style points - ever - but you'll be able to see what you're doing.

Adam