New Chamonix 45n-2

[Alan Edward Klein]

Yes, that is one way of seeing whether you are actually looking at the true focal lane. You can then note the distance of your loupe from the ground-glass. Again Alan, you can do it your way but it is more a "hit or miss" situation whereas with a focusing loupe you are certain that you are at the same reference each time.
Joel

Who makes good loupes that can be focused? Any also have diopters for people like me who also wear glasses?

 

[Bob S]

Who makes good loupes that can be focused? Any also have diopters for people like me who also wear glasses?

Rodenstock, Schneider, Peak, Wista as well as others.

 

[MattKing]

Correct me if I am wrong, but having the loupe focused at slightly the wrong plane won't cause you to focus the camera incorrectly, it will just make it slightly more difficult to tell when the camera is properly focused.
When the camera is properly focused, the image through the loupe will be at its "sharpest" - it is just that the image through the loupe (not the image on the film) will never be quite as sharp to you as the viewer as it would be if the loupe was correctly focused.
The challenge arises because it is at least slightly more difficult to tell when the image through the loupe is at its "sharpest".

 

[PonySoldier1887]

I really like the Wista... in part because it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I am not aware of any with correction diopters but, because it can be focused, I don't think you would need it! I really think you will be very pleased with the results and find that focusing is much easier. I have been using view cameras for almost 65 years and I wouldn't be without a good loupe!
Joel

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Correct me if I am wrong, but having the loupe focused at slightly the wrong plane won't cause you to focus the camera incorrectly, it will just make it slightly more difficult to tell when the camera is properly focused.
When the camera is properly focused, the image through the loupe will be at its "sharpest" - it is just that the image through the loupe (not the image on the film) will never be quite as sharp to you as the viewer as it would be if the loupe was correctly focused.
The challenge arises because it is at least slightly more difficult to tell when the image through the loupe is at its "sharpest".

That's an interesting observation. But what if I'm focusing on the Fresnel rather than the GG? Or is that basically impossible, that the focus as I see it is really the focus of the lens on the GG regardless?

 

[MattKing]

You can only see an image because of the ground glass.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

You can only see an image because of the ground glass.

OK so what I'm using is fine. Maybe not the best, but it does the job. I move the focus in and out to find the best focal point. If the loupe is slightly off, it doesn't matter. I'll still find the focal point. RIght?

 

[MattKing]

I'll still find the focal point. RIght?

Right, although "focal point" is probably not exactly the right term. Try "point of accurate focus".
You may be able to find that point more easily and reliably with an adjustable loupe set to the right distance.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Right, although "focal point" is probably not exactly the right term. Try "point of accurate focus".
You may be able to find that point more easily and reliably with an adjustable loupe set to the right distance.

Actually, I was thinking about that. It's really no different than when I look through my progressive eyeglasses. I find the focus point even though I may not be looking through the exact part of the lens critical for the distance to the viewfinder. Yet I focus accurately in any case. The loupe would operate similarly. So your original point is correct.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

If your eyesight resolution is good, especially if you are near-sighted, you will find you can focus just fine without a magnifier. I worked without one for years.

In my dotage I now carry a 10x Hastings jewelers' loupe. With it there is no problem looking through a fresnel to the gg.

An adjustable loupe that goes against a surface is made for examining negatives, contact sheets and the like and is quite useless for anything else.

A new 10x Hastings loupe costs ~$30. And when you aren't using it for photography you can use it to fix watches and whatnot. Belomo loupes are well thought of; Bausch & Lomb loupes have hit bottom when it comes to quality.

Don't get any high magnification 8x-10x loupe unless it is a 'Hastings Triplet.' Don't bother with single element loupes. And don't bother with anything more powerful than 10x - a 20x is a tiny little peephole that you hold right up to your eye and whatever it is that you are looking at.

 

[Greg Kriss]

After arriving back home and unpacked my camera equipment, I discovered that my rather expensive eye loupe was missing. Drove back and hiked to the spots that I had photographed in hope of finding my eye loupe but no luck. So I bought a couple of replacement "30X21mm" eye loupes off eBay for around $4.00 each. Now if I happen to misplace or lose one of them, I won't be upset. Honestly in the field the $4.00 eye loupes work out just fine.

My favorite"close up loupe" is not a loupe but a pair of prescription close up glasses. They weren't cheap, but they completely correct my astigmatism and their focus is about 8 inches away. Use them sometimes in the field, but their hard case takes up the room of an extra lens in my Chamonix 4x5 kit.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

After arriving back home and unpacked my camera equipment, I discovered that my rather expensive eye loupe was missing. Drove back and hiked to the spots that I had photographed in hope of finding my eye loupe but no luck. So I bought a couple of replacement "30X21mm" eye loupes off eBay for around $4.00 each. Now if I happen to misplace or lose one of them, I won't be upset. Honestly in the field the $4.00 eye loupes work out just fine.

My favorite"close up loupe" is not a loupe but a pair of prescription close up glasses. They weren't cheap, but they completely correct my astigmatism and their focus is about 8 inches away. Use them sometimes in the field, but their hard case takes up the room of an extra lens in my Chamonix 4x5 kit.

How did get the right prescription? How did you define it to the eyeglass store?

 

[Krist]

Looks like this thread went a way of its own. I did loosen the screws on the back and it went away, then it came again.
I was told by Hugo that: "
It is Newton rings caused by moisture during shipping.

Very easy to fix: unscrew and take out the plastic cover, the Fresnel lens and lastly the ground glass. Use very diluted soapy water to wash them, then dry them with a hair dryer.

Then put them back in the order your take them out.".

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Looks like this thread went a way of its own. I did loosen the screws on the back and it went away, then it came again.
I was told by Hugo that: "
It is Newton rings caused by moisture during shipping.

Very easy to fix: unscrew and take out the plastic cover, the Fresnel lens and lastly the ground glass. Use very diluted soapy water to wash them, then dry them with a hair dryer.

Then put them back in the order your take them out.".

What plastic cover? What's the order?

 

[grat]

screen protector (plastic cover), Fresnel lens (ridges face lens), ground glass (rough side faces lens), I believe.

 

[esearing]

I get the newton rings when I shoot in extremely warm humid conditions and will sometimes disassemble the GG to dry things out after returning home. As far as the focal plane of the loupe, Mine is not adjustable so I tend to look for something contrasty near the place I wish to focus then when the GG is in focus that point should be sharp too. But I also tend to stop down to f22 or smaller so my DOF is fairly wide.

 

[urnem57]

No such thing as a dumb question. Ask away. There are quite a few very kind and helpful people on here. There are a few, well, not so much. But just ignore them. Welcome and happy shooting!

 

[Greg Kriss]

How did get the right prescription? How did you define it to the eyeglass store?

Went to an eye doctor. Eyeglass stores offer great deals on eyeglasses but offer us little on the health of our eyes. For really close-up glasses you have to use a glass with a different refraction index or you will have a pair of very heave and thick lenses. Unfortunately costs a little more initially but money well spent as far as I am concern. Personally have my eyes checked every year, more to check on their health since the prescription changes little if any from one year to the next.

 

[dodphotography]

So why does anyone use a loupe? I'd be better off focusing by eye. No?

Because most of the dudes in LF groups are crusty old timers with terrible eyesight.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Because most of the dudes in LF groups are crusty old timers with terrible eyesight.

Hmmm. I better keep using my loupe.

 

[dodphotography]

Hmmm. I better keep using my loupe.

I mean... that’s cool.

I just don’t get all the boomers on forums getting their panties in a bunch when someone asks about a 4x or 8x loop.

it’s like ... I don’t know, I’m 36 and I can see an Owl four miles away.

I guess someday I’ll need a loop and Metamucil

 

[grat]

I mean... that’s cool.

I just don’t get all the boomers on forums getting their panties in a bunch when someone asks about a 4x or 8x loop.

it’s like ... I don’t know, I’m 36 and I can see an Owl four miles away.

I guess someday I’ll need a loop and Metamucil

Well, first, you'll need to learn to spell loupe.

Secondly, I'm 51, and my distance vision is fine. It's the "up close to the ground glass" that I'm having a little difficulty with.

Third, I'm not a boomer.

 

[MTGseattle]

I thought the OP was simply talking about the "clear" inner circle of the fresnel screen after which the concentric rings start? It seems we are well past the initial question however.
I always thought a loupe was just part of shooting large format. Not 100% necessary, but certainly helpful.