May be a silly question, but my ageing eyes are telling me that if I'm going to work on models with teeny-tiny parts, I need assistance. So ... where would one buy a handy visual aide like a jeweler's loupe?
In addition (or instead of?), what about a free-standing magnifying lens? Is there such a thing as an illuminated free-standing magnifying lens (i.e., one with a little lamp built in)?
Bruce from Australia, eh? Remonde me of a Monty Python skit. But I digress...
Get yourself one of these:
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can't model without it. Best magnifier purchase I've ever made (about 20 years ago). And don't be tempted by any cheaper imitation. This one is worth every penny! IMO, it is not all that expensive.
If you want to spend some serious cash, you could buy some of the maginfiers dentists use. Those are very expensive but I'm sure they also work well.
...and now another option, I have tried an optivisor at a show, found it didnt give me the working distance and magnification I hoped for. Short sighted people will get greater mag but shallow depth of field whilst long sighted types get lesser mag and much greater depth of field (dof is distance from eye in which item is in focus) Then I discovered, at a UK model show, on a stand selling wood bases (dave Armstrong Bases) for £2.99 a set of glasses in an aluminium case with pocket clip. Fantastic. Optically top notch quality, like glasses from an optician. Build quality excellent. Magnification four strengths available 2x 2.5x
3x and 3.5x and choice of colours. Recommend different colour for each mag. Also now available in UK libraries as reading glasses ...about £7.99. They give a decent working distance for me (short sight) and for someone long sight, so should work for you. Enables the use of tools between glasses and object !
There were 4x, but withdrawn as EEC banned sale of pre-made glasses, you must get an optician to make such at that strength for reading with they say. £100 I am quoted. Now look here EEC, I dont read with the things, I model, I now have got a pair, dont ask me how, but I did, and they are fine for modelling, no eye strain, darn site cheaper than £100. EEC please dont apply blanket rules, modelling optics should be exempt.
No plastic clutter around the head, simple specs you can peer over the top of when doing something else.
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