Glasses for close-up work?

The general rule in the UK was (and is) that you need a prescription after a sight test to buy specs. A limited exception was made for - broadly - age-related change, so limited to reading glasses, between 0 and +4, with both lenses the same strength. Wider relaxation resisted

- IIRC mainly on grounds that people should be encouraged to have an eye test as only that spots other problems, gives right results for driving etc. Search for background to and debates on Opticians Act 1989 if you want chapter and verse.

And, of course, the rules about over-the-counter reading glasses don't affect the sale of various high magnification vision aids for close work.

Being able to change the lenses (quickly) helps, although there is one I use 90% of the time.

This gives me two hands. The loupe stay in as well as the monocle. It's just practice, and the monocle gives me plenty.

On the flip down lenses? It's a flexible plastic band with a knob you rotate to loosen/tighten. There are also friction adjustments on the sides to allow the whole thing to be pushed up and assume the secondary Steve Fletcher position. The lenses flip up too, and you can actually fit two and combine them - I rarely do that.

Interesting, thanks. ;-)

No, that's fine, I just couldn't see how / why anyone would want to restrict the use of super magnification 'glasses' as many of us might use for close up work as our eyes get tired (or before of course), but as I believe Roger mentions after, it (the rules) potentially doesn't / can't restrict such.

And I've had my eyes tested (fairly recently), had glasses made up from the prescription but still prefer my off the shelf readers because they simply work better?

I'm pretty sharp when it comes to the "Better or worse" lens game at the opticians , as proven by the results being pretty much the same for the last few tests and them measuring my readers and confirming they are close to my ideal prescription for reading.

Strangely though they are also good for watching the telly and looking at distant things. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

It if they are used consecutively it should give a compound lens with an approximate focal length fF/(f+F). Mine are 3 diopter and 1 diopter.

You are crudely mocking up a Ramsden eyepiece when you do this. It works best if the glasses being stacked have about the same focal length.

The clip on loupe is much preferable for very fine work.

That's a good point and one I'll now use to re-search the likes of eBay to see if it comes up with what look like 'glasses' but have a greater than 4x magnification. ;-)

I'm thinking that x6 might be good enough to see the detail I'm looking for but not too strong that I can't still move about (say in the workshop or study) and without falling over. ;-)

Reading all the replies so far (thanks guys), I think there could be the need for four stages:

The latter are the devices where I was hoping for some practical feedback on as there are several solutions available and some may be better than others in my usage scenario.

Some of the shrouded visor type seem to need lenses added multiply to get greater magnification and I'm not sure how well that might work if they are plastic lenses or are dirty (I sometimes get a face full of brake / carb cleaner and that would also go on and could dissolve plastic lenses)? ;-(

The skeleton frame type look like they are worn like glasses and so require glasses swap every time I go between detail and general.

Ah, VR goggles with a pair of cameras on the front and voice recognition zoom function, like you see on all Sci-Fi films. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

Yes, that was the sort of thing that could soon become tiring, if it wasn't quick and easy to do.

Which would probably be the same here and so meaning all the others lenses would become lost. ;-(

Ah yes, not though of that. ;-)

Ah, good, I prefer those to elastic for several reasons, primarily they generally provide a more rigid mount without the tension you might need to do the same with elastic, especially when flipping things up and down and moving your head etc.

Cool. They sound well thought out.

Would you be able to find a link to what you use please Bob?

Cheers, T i m

I know that Poundand sells +1.25, +1.50, +2.00, +2.50, +3.00, & +3.50 (because I have most of those in the workbench drawer). I haven't seen +4.00.

What sort of prices do those have? (Probably a lot higher than Poundland "readers"!)

The four lens pairs are in a plastic box with retaining slots. When I put the headset away (IN tend to use it in bursts) I put all lenses in the box.

They're quite old. I think I got them from CPC. I'll take a look.

Ah, hwere we are. The band adjustment is a locking lever rather than a wheel (I think I was remembering the face shield). But this looks the same.

Just type TL08789 into the search box!

Even I should be able to do that (and as you say, may well keep the same one in all the time).

Cheers.

Thanks for that Bob.

I couldn't see any mention of the magnification options on any of the ModelCraft references but it looks very similar (the same as?) the Carson offerings, like this:

Cheers, T i m

I wear contact lenses which correct my distant vision. And at my age have several pairs of ready reads for different things. For reading, I need a bit more power than for using this 24" monitor.

But I've got some +5 ready reads - can't remember where from. Ideal for really close stuff, in conjunction with a decent light.

one of these as well as my glasses

Thanks for that Mark.

So, if I understand it right:

You have the fixed lens that's 1.9x

You can then flip down another 1.9x lens on the inside, giving you and effective 3.8x.

You can then use the loupe that is 4.5x on one eye, making it 8.3x on that eye.

You could also have just the fixed lens and loupe giving 6.4x on that eye.

Given we generally have a 'lead eye', I'm guessing you could fit the loupe to that side?

That solution has the advantage over the one with the detectable lenses in that it looks like it gives a stronger overall magnification and you can't mislay any lens, but on the other hand the light wouldn't be pointing at the job if you flipped the thing up, if you were relying on the light etc.

What sort of things do you use yours for OOI?

Cheers, T i m

Are their any shops (e.g. opticians) that sell suitable (e.g. flip up) magnifiers? I'd want to try them out before buying.

Mostly for PCB work soldering, but mine are over 20years old but without the light or loupe so the type on ebay may be a different magnification- quality certainly a fraction of the price I paid originally

I have a set similar to those but they were (years ago) about £8 from ebay.

Five 5 interchangeable lenses: 1.0x 1.5x 2.0x 2.5x 3.5x

(Good find). ;-)

Do you wear glasses and if so, do you find the two work together ok?

I would prefer the solution that is addition to my 'background' glasses (but thanks).

Cheers, T i m

Thanks Mark.

Cheers, T i m