Loupes - for photos and general viewing

CanberraOmega
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After seeing some iphone/loupe photos, I am interested in knowing what loupes people use to examine watches and/or take photos.

Do the loupes attach to the cameras? Etc.
 
Fritz
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I use a 10x Mitutoyo with a No.5 reticle which has scales to allow basic measurements to be performed. Which is wicked overkill unless you're performing surgery on seriously small machinery or electronics. (which I'm stuck doing)

Get something between 3 and 5 power and avoid plastic lenses, too much distortion and they scratch too easily. Unless you neeeeed a Leica you can get a decent loop for under $100 don't be temped by 7 or 10x stuff, way too much magnification.

Any good digital camera with a macro setting seems to be able to get as good a view as a loop, just find a sunny spot.


By the way, if you have a loop with a reticle, its fun to put a small spider in the loop and hand it to the guy you share the lab with.....

If your lucky the spider will be sitting on the reticle in perfect focus (which is to say HUGE) when he puts it up to his eye.

Note: be ready to catch the loop and run......
 
CanberraOmega
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So with both of these, the watch sits on a table,, with the loupe over it? Rather than the loupe in your eye ( ala Warren's avatar). Does that mean that to use it, you need to take off the bracelet/band? What size is the bit that goes over the watch (ie big enough for a speedy?).

Sorry, complete noobie on this.
 
CanberraOmega
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I take that back. The asco isclearly borg style, can you use that for photography?
 
ICONO
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Alternatively - Find an old, cheap, SLR film camera at a 'Thrift' / Charity shop - an old Pentax / Olympus / Minolta - Take the standard lens off - and use that, reversed - the optics will be infinitely superior, & sharper than any loupe.

I use an old Nikon 50mm 1.4 - ( I was an Advertising Photographer for 25 years )

You can use the discarded camera body, as an ashtray / door stop / Something to throw at a noisy neighbour
 
Fritz
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hold the loop against yer noggin, hopefully aligning with an eye, bring the work to be examined up until it is in focus.

this results in the widest view from the loop and you look all rugged to the girls (see Spikispikester avitar)
 
Fritz
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ICONO ICONO
Alternatively - Find an old, cheap, SLR film camera at a 'Thrift' / Charity shop - an old Pentax / Olympus / Minolta - Take the standard lens off - and use that, reversed - the optics will be infinitely superior, & sharper than any loupe.

I use an old Nikon 50mm 1.4 - ( I was an Advertising Photographer for 25 years )

You can use the discarded camera body, as an ashtray / door stop / Something to throw at a noisy neighbour



Did you ever think we would reach a stage where a Nikon was only useful in two chunks as a magnifying glass and a hard object to whip at the noisy dog next door. My 35mms haven't seen film in years!
 
JimInOz
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For general work, I use a pair of 5x flip-down lenses mounted on an old pair of safety specs.

I use a 4x loupe with springy loop for detailed work and a 10x Belomo triplet for quick checks or when I'm out and about.

P1030220.JPG


If I have to get really close to the action, I use one of two microscopes. One is a variable binocular lab scope I got off eBay for the cost of a good loupe, the other is a generic USB one that plugs into my Mac.

P1030221.JPG
 
pitpro
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I use this to take with.
Have other stuff for home use
7x power Hastings Triplet Magnifier has a focal distance of 1.5"(3,9 cm)
The finest magnifiers Bausch + Lomb three separate lenses, bonded together
Also known as the"Jeweler's Loupe"

$_3.JPG
 
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