(Login wunwinglow) Registered Users from IP address 82.45.21.118
Old age does not come alone, or so the saying goes, and recently I've noticed a marked reluctance of my eyes to want to focus at close objects, even though I am near-sighted. Puts the dampers on things a bit.... Anyway, while in my local HobbyCraft store (Cribbs Causeway, north Bristol near the M5/M4 junction) I noticed a sale on desk magnifiers, 50% off, so spent £11 on a dinky little glass on a swan-neck and table clamp. Manufacturer is an outfit called Daylight. And it has been a revelation! I might actually get to finish something now, rather than work for 5 minutes then stuff it all in a box, eyes feeling like they had sand in them!! Get one, or something similar! Recommended!
...a sort of visor with a strap that wraps around my pointy little skull. Not only do they save the old eyeballs, but if the details look good under the microscope they look terrific to the naked eye.
Personnaly I found a maginifer did not work for me, as it only magifies in on the horizontal plane but not on the verticle ( or could be the other way round).
Anyway what worked for me was a headband magnifier with 4 different interchangeable lens.
The next best thing was using daylight bulbs. That saved so much eye hurting.
I have put a link to the headband magnifier below. They are not cheap £35.00 GBP. But thats about 2 plastic kits and I ruined more than that 'cause I couldn't see what I was doing. As Pete said if it looks good under a magnifier it looks great to the eye.
I wear perscription glasses. The Lens in the Head band magnifier I linked to are safe to use. They are optical lens ( I think that is the correct term)
As I understand it the bad lens are the ones that are just thick injection moulded plastic ( like the magnifiers you get in christmas crackers ). I know people who have used these 'cheap' version and they all get head aches after about 30 mins.
I don't use the headband all the time, but it helps with the detail parts.
Hi Guys
Sorry to bring back a long time ago discussion.
During this thread Leo mentioned that Headband magnifiers can damage your eyes.(prolonged use)
Just this week i had new glasses and took along my Headband magnifier for the optician to get a professional view and check if its safe to use.
Result was The lens in the set I use are good to use, quality lens with the correct bits in them (Prisms). They are better to use than the single ( one eye - monocle ) type
Cheap i.e. just thick plastic ARE bad.
I agree with Leo any prolonged eye strain even reading a book with or without Magnifiers for long period with without a short break is bad.
Just thought I would add this to put peoples mind at rest.
Dave Reed (Login dave37167) Registered Users 68.53.48.235
What I've found......
March 12 2009, 8:14 AM
I use an Optivisor, with nice lenses. But since my lens replacement surgery, I've found that cheap, magnifier HALF glasses work perfectly. I bought three different strengths for $1.99 each at a discount grocery store. They are perfect for glancing down at the work I am doing(closeup painting, ie.), and then up at instructions, TV, whatever. The half glasses don't bother me at all. I use them to scrutinize pictures for details....then just lay them on my work area and get up and walk to the kitchen for a snack!!
These things are dirt cheap....I'm sure they are not anywhere near the optics of my Optivisor.....but for convienience......they simple can't be beaten. Just remember to get the HALF glasses version. The FULL version?? You WILL get a headache as your brain tries to adjust to looking around the area you are concentrating on......and off into the distance. Like when trying to "see" through the focal area and reach for your elderberry wine glass!!!
HTH, Dave
I went to the Optivisor some years back and it has made modeling in any scale less that 1/18 possible for me (which is good, as I am and ardent acolyte of TOTS ). The Optivisor is an industrial tool and lenses are optical quality glass, so they won't hurt your eyes, and you can wear your glasses under them if you want. Althouh my perscription has not changed in years, as my eyes age and get less elastic (imparing the focus response) this gizmo has become pretty much the must have for any model building I want to come out decently.
My deceased, crazy dad left me three pairs of Zeiss magnifying glasses similar in design to the Optivisors. I figure if these aren't optically correct, then Zeiss is running one of the greatest scams of all time.
This message has been edited by IsamuM from IP address 122.29.52.96 on Mar 13, 2009 9:37 AM
Dave Morris (Login Dave_Morris) Registered Users 77.96.130.66
Not exactly Mr Magoo yet but,
March 13 2009, 2:01 PM
Having started to suffer from blurry vision myself, I have tried various options to give me an edge on old age.
I first tried a pair of those plastic magnifying lenses on a head band and i agree that they do tend to strain your eyes and result in head aches. They are now destined to go in my under the table "For sale" box at the next model show i go to!
I have tried prescription Vari-focals, which allowed me to see things "normal". But i just cannot get the hang of this looking down my nose thing when modelling.
I do use an adjustable magnifying glass lamp, with a daylight bulb in it. Which i picked up on offer from Maplins a few years back for around £20.00. I use it for all my close up work, especially when painting figures.
A couple of weeks back i did pick up a pair of cheap glasses from my local Asda for about £2.00 which have a very slight magifacation on them compared my normal glasses. I have found them a god send when modelling, they are only any good for close up work but i can see where i`m sticking on bits of plastic now, Yippee! I only use them when i need to, so i cannot see there being any problems.
However i have found that if you try to use a magnifyer when wearing reading glasses it is a one way ticket to headacheville. Just use the magnifyer on it`s own to avoid headaches.
