Want to Buy WTB Inexpensive Focusing Loupe for 4X5

[Paul Sorensen]

I am getting a 4X5 setup together a little bit on the cheap, and am looking for a decent focusing aid. The cheapest that I have found that I am certain would work okay is the 4X Peak from Adorama for about $56. I have heard that Fuji 4X loupes show up on eBay in the $30 range, but no luck so far.

If anyone has something to sell for that range or less, or has other ideas about a decent loupe that can be used for focusing 4X5, I am all ears. I am interested if anyone is successfully using any of the cheapie 4X loupes on eBay, like the Bausch and Lomb loupes that go for $10 - $20. I suspect that they might be rather short, so it would entail focusing from an inch or so away from the GG, which is not probably ideas.

Well, if anyone has any ideas, I am interested!

Thanks,

Paul

 

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[Jon Shiu]

the agfa type 8x loupe works fine. Not sure why you would want to use the loupe an inch away from the ground glass?

A reversed 50mm lens from a 35mm camera would also work - some have added on a tube to that, though I'm not sure why.

The toyo focusing loupe is a good one.

Jon

 

[Paul Sorensen]

What I meant was that if the loupe is short, perhaps an inch high, one's face will be almost pressed against the ground glass to use it. I am sure that there is a reason why 4X loupes marketed for large format photography are in the range of three or four inches long. Perhaps I am wrong about the height of the loupe, I have not tried focusing with a cheapie plastic loupe, it is probably worth a try.

Thanks for the input.

 

[bdial]

I have only ever used the short 8x type loupes that are about 1 inch high, both the Agfa kind Jon refers too, and my current one which is a Nikon branded rectangular one.
They work fine.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

I will get one, since they are so inexpensive and otherwise handy to have around, not much to lose. Thanks!

 

[Jon Shiu]

You might want to try a magnifying visor with flip up lens. That would allow having two hands to control tilt and focus.

Jon

 

[heespharm]

There is a cheap loupe that cvs sells that helps the elderly read their medicine bottles also helps open child safety caps like 8 bucks max

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Thanks so much, lots of great ideas to look into.

 

[GregY]

you might check with local sources, for a 'linen tester'.....those small loupes are used for many purposes...we use them for identifying snow crystals in snow research and avalanche work.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

I got a Kalt 8X from the local shop for $8, it works fairly well and makes a lot of sense financially right now.

Thanks to all who replied.