Focusing loupe for 4 x 5 ground glass - recommendation

[sperera]

haha me again! sorry.....recommendations? Obv there will be many answers.....I would say a taller loupe would be best for the neck muscles etc no? in terns of magnification well, you tell me. My eyesight isnt great anymore I wear glasses for reading/computer

 

[bripriuk]

It's going to be trial and error, I'm afraid.
I worked in a professional studio with two other photographers and none of us could use each other's loupe.

 

[sperera]

haha yes I thought so haha I have used a Hasselblad chimney viewfinder in the past myself

 

[Alan9940]

I have a couple of different loupes and, frankly, don't really care for them. I much prefer a pair of magnifying eye glasses.

 

[xkaes]

bripriuk says it best, but this topic has been covered many times on this forum. Try a SEARCH (upper right corner of the screen), and you can spend all day. There are "hundreds" to choose from, new and used, with all sorts of features -- magnifications, height, size, price, etc.

But don't worry, everyone else will jump in with their recommendation(s) on what YOU should use.

 

[sperera]

ok let me rephrase then...what magnifies the ground glass best to get focus haha

 

[sperera]

well as mentioned in another thread, new products come into market so threads can be updated so to speak by asking the same questions......

 

[xkaes]

Some people prefer low mag -- 3X -- others prefer high mag -- 10X. It's whatever works for you. Blondes vs brunettes vs redheads. I prefer 7X about 3" tall.

 

[BrianShaw]

Some like tall and other like short loupes. Between magnification and this choice, there are many in each category.

Which characteristics do you think will suit your needs? You can use eBay as a bit of a wishbook: keywords “large formst loupe” Will show pictures and descriptions of the diversity of offerings.

If you have no idea at the moment, look at the eTone 7X. A lot of loupe for the money.

 

[xkaes]

Don't forget the neck strap, interchangeable bases, protective pouch, adjustable diopter, rubber eye-cup,................

 

[BrianShaw]

Protective pouch... what a great idea. I have lenscaps, aftermarket of course, on both ends of mine but a protective pouch might be a better idea!

 

[abruzzi]

longer loupes are better if your camera has a hard hood or similar. The hood can make it hard to place a shorter loupe on the glass and still get your eye close enough to use it. I'm reccomend starting with something like the Toyo 3.6x loupes. They're reletively inexpensive, and work well. I have one of the eTone loupes, which I don't love. I also have a Nikkor 8-16x loupe, but for most things even 8x can be too much.

 

[BrianShaw]

... I have one of the eTone loupes, which I don't love. ...

May I ask why not? Mine is satisfactory but I wish it wasn't 7x. I'm guessing that the magnification might be the issue for you also, or is it something else?

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Here are my two loupes

So far have not need anything more fancy. Usually they do the job for my Caltar 65mm F/8 which is the one I find harder to focus.

 

[choiliefan]

I have a Mamiya 4x loupe. It's aluminum, focusable, multicoated and bright. Works very well but its the only quality one I've ever used. Beat the heck out of the old plastic 8x AGFA I was using.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

3-4 diopter reading glasses for composing and rough focusing. Some kind of loupe or magnifier for fine focusing.

In the past I've used loupes with and without skirts. Holding the loupe free means you have to move back and forth to find the right focus, but it allows you to hold the loupe at an angle to see into the corners better. Currently I'm using 5-6x magnifiers without skirts.

Doremus

 

[abruzzi]

May I ask why not? Mine is satisfactory but I wish it wasn't 7x. I'm guessing that the magnification might be the issue for you also, or is it something else?

Its not bad, but I dislike that the end I press against the ground glass is metal--needing more care not to scratch things. It also doesn't have adjustable focus and it a tiny bit off for my eyes. (the Toyo loupes don't have focus either, but it spot on for my vision.)

 

[BrianShaw]

Its not bad, but I dislike that the end I press against the ground glass is metal--needing more care not to scratch things. It also doesn't have adjustable focus and it a tiny bit off for my eyes. (the Toyo loupes don't have focus either, but it spot on for my vision.)

Ahhh, I understand. We must have different versions as mine has soft plastic end and diopter adjustment. When I bought mine there was a tapered “new version” and the older version, which I bought.

 

[ChrisK]

Personal opinion...if you wear glasses for reading and the like, consider one that focuses. It takes only a bit to get used to focusing the loupe on the ground glass and then it'll be a snap. For any loupe outside a studio, consider a lanyard. Decapitation aside, if it is around your neck you are not going to lose it or find yourself patting yourself down trying to find which pocket you put it in. If you are decapitated, don't sweat the loupe. You have bigger issues.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

In a pinch a 50mm lens from 135 format, usually works well. But some people don’t slum it with 135

 

[sperera]

Personal opinion...if you wear glasses for reading and the like, consider one that focuses. It takes only a bit to get used to focusing the loupe on the ground glass and then it'll be a snap. For any loupe outside a studio, consider a lanyard. Decapitation aside, if it is around your neck you are not going to lose it or find yourself patting yourself down trying to find which pocket you put it in. If you are decapitated, don't sweat the loupe. You have bigger issues.

Hahahaha good one

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Horizon: affordable and better than you might think.

 

[GLS]

4x to 6x mag is the sweet spot for many people.

Schneider and Rodenstock both made very high quality 4x loupes. I have the following Schneider one (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/214579-REG/Schneider_08_034558_4x_Magnifier.html) but I tend to use that for the lightbox now. My other is a Horseman 6x long loupe which is a bit narrower; I use this in the field now.

 

[Maris]

And then there is the old notion that the focussing loupe should have more magnification that the intended enlargement ratio. For example a 16X20 enlargement from 4x5 is a 4x enlargement so a 6x loupe would offer an additional "reserve" of focussing accuracy.

 

[blee1996]

I tried several loupes, and eventually settled down on a Wista 6x that can focus. The other two are Schneider MC 4x (great for viewing slides) and Toyo 3.6x (long neck, non-focusing). Eventually I find the higher magnification of Wista 6x combined with focusing ability helps me to get critical focus on the 4x5 ground glass of my Chamonix and Tachihara field cameras.

On the other hand, I do use the long necked Toyo 3.6x on Linhof Tech V, which has a focusing hood.

I guess it is best to try a few different types and magnification, and find the one you like most.