Reading Glasses as a Loupe

timbo10ca

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I've heard people mention that this works quite well, so I thought I'd give them a try, as I need something better than the plastic P.O.S. I've been using so far. I went into London Drugs to test out some glasses, but I'm not sure how this would work. They come in diopters up to 3 1/4 and I assume the stronger you use the better. I tried some on, and everything went blurry. So I got in nice and close to a sign, and by the time the printing was clear, it was no larger than it was if I took the glasses off. Would I see an obvious difference on a GG? I've used close-up filters in 1,2 and 4 diopters, but don't they just allow you to focus nearer the subject, taking up more of the film to give a macro effect (rather than actually magnifying it to the eye)? I've used crafters loupes before, and they were much different- they actually magnified the object.

Tim
 

juan

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I use them, but the diopters are 3 1/2 and 4. I don't know if the image is larger with the glasses or not - I've never thought about it. The glasses allow me to get close to the ground glass to inspect it - something my normal vision does not allow. I like the glasses much better than a loupe because it allows me to use both eyes.
juan
 

Peter De Smidt

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Lots of people use glasses instead of a loupe. Higher diopters aren't necessarily better. Use what makes print look best about about 6 inches.
 

noseoil

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I use a 3.8 power Toyo loupe from my back pack. A friend uses +3 "El Cheapo" reading glasses and a canvas hardware-store-type nail apron for his spot meter and extras. To each his (or her) own. Best, tim
 

Steve Smith

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If you wear glasses for short (near) sight, just take them off. Equal to using a loupe of a positive diopter equal to the negative value diopter of your glasses.

If you are blessed with good eyesight though, the higher strength reading glasses should work.


Steve.
 
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timbo10ca

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genius! I never would have considered that! I'll give it a try, but my eyes are quite different in strength.
 

phaedrus

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timbo10ca said:
So I got in nice and close to a sign, and by the time the printing was clear, it was no larger than it was if I took the glasses off. I've used crafters loupes before, and they were much different- they actually magnified the object.

Tim
Click to expand...

I think your observations are straight on for young eyes (younger than say 40, 45). Once presbyopia sets in, you enjoy a purely geometric magnification by being able to go nearer to the ground glass again. Loupes, on the other hand, are positive lenses or combinations of lens elements positioned closer to the ground glass than their focal length and enlarge the image by themselves. They'd be useful for young and old.

See ya, Christoph
 

dphphoto

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Seems to me that Fred Picker recommended this years ago. It works better for me on 8X10 than on 4X5. With 4X5, I still use a loupe to focus. But the drugstore reading glasses are great for composing an image.
Dean
 

MurrayMinchin

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I was given a pair of drug store reading glasses as a joke gift last Christmas (I'm 47) and they're great! Now I don't have to focus with my arms stretched out as far as my shoulders will allow

Murray
 

MurrayMinchin

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wclavey said:
So, what was the joke?
Click to expand...

Hmm, thanks for pointing that out to me. If my wife ever starts joking around about Viagra, I'll be sure to 'read between the lines'

Murray
 

rshepard

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Tim,

We (the local fine art photographers group) had a discussion on this topic early in the summer. I searched with Google and discovered a place in Florida that sells high-diopter reading glasses for the nearly blind: 4-6 diopter. As you discovered, the local drugstore carries glasses only up to 3 or 3.25 diopter.

I bought two pair of the 6.0 diopter glasses ($15 plus postage) and they work great with my view cameras (a Galvin 2.25x3.25 and a Cambo SCII 4x5). I have both hands free to work controls, and I can see the entire ground glass by moving my head. Much nicer than using a loupe, IMO.

The one drawback is working under a heavy darkcloth on a hot day; the glasses steam up almost instantly. But, so do I under those conditions.

The company is americanreadingglasses.com.

Rich
 
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timbo10ca

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Thanks Rich- I'll look into it.

Tim
 
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