What is the range of magnification/diopter strength that would be useful for a 6x9 ground glass for focusing

[loccdor]

I'm looking into getting a necklace with a magnifier to be used for focusing a 6x9 ground glass. What magnification strength would be most useful? I have decent eyesight.

So far I've noted:

A typical TLR magnifier is 3x, so I probably want more than that - at what point does the magnification become too much?

I want to be pretty close to the ground glass when I use it in order to block stray light from dulling the image

I might want something all-purpose that doesn't need to be touched to the ground glass and which can be worn comfortably all day

Not sure how practical these things are, but would something like this with a strength of 20x even be useful for the purpose?

 

[JensH]

Hi,

I like loupes in the 6x (1930s Zeiss) to 8x (1990s Docter) range best here.

Maybe for 13x18cm (once the camera is complete) even the 5x Emo Macromax as the camera has a larger focussing hood...

 

[BrianShaw]

4x; 6x at most. Too strong of magnification causes too much distraction as the grain of the gg becomes the focus rather than the image. More is not better. Trust the conventional and time-honored wisdom. Or try it yourself and see what works best for you. The one I’ve come to like is the recent offering from eTone. About $100 and well worth it. There are more affordable options to explore what strength magnification works for you. Drug store magnifying glasses are often suggested and that make sense.

 

[Shaps]

The type of magnifyer you show os very useful for checking the corners as well as the whole ground glass. Loupes cannot get into the corners. A magnifier made for coins should be fine.

 

[koraks]

I use +4dpt reading glasses for 4x5" and 8x10". Works OK. 6x9cm is smaller, of course, but you can get pretty up close & personal with those reading glasses.

 

[loccdor]

I use +4dpt reading glasses for 4x5" and 8x10". Works OK. 6x9cm is smaller, of course, but you can get pretty up close & personal with those reading glasses.

Reading glasses, didn't even come to mind! I'll have to try borrowing my dad's.

 

[foveon_m]

just look for "focussing loupe"

 

[AZD]

Huh, funny coincidence. Last night I was messing around with a waist level focus hood I made 30 years ago for a Pentax 6x7. My eyes are much different now it seems. I have some Series V closeup lenses, so stacked them until the image looked good. Ended up with the +3, +2, and +1, so +6 total. Fun experiment, but not sure why I ever made that hood in the first place. Makes no sense on the 6x7.

As mentioned, reading glasses are a nice option. Both hands remain free to adjust the camera. I think good old Ansel Adams used them, there’s a picture of him wearing a very strong pair.

 

[Dan Fromm]

I use a 3.5x Toyo loupe with my 2x3 Graphics and Cambo. Works a treat.

 

[BrianShaw]

. I think good old Ansel Adams used them, there’s a picture of him wearing a very strong pair.

Wasn’t good old Ansel severely myopic?

 

[Dan Daniel]

I have a 4x that I've used for years for 6x9.

This is a magnifier, a tube with lenses on top and that you have sit on the ground glass itself. It's a small diameter- 1-1/4 or 1/2 inch- so it can move around most of the screen.

 

[ags2mikon]

I use the Horseman 6x loupe with my Horseman and Mamiya press. The other thing I use is a gas welders goggles without the dark glass installed and replaced with a +2.5 lens and a +2.5 lens in the main housing housing. This has been pretty nice with my 4x5 cameras. Like this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/3747680372...AugqlSX95H1WHn3YvraGlj3mI=|tkp:Bk9SR6am9LCQZw