Magnifying Loupe ID

[oregon]

While sharpening I will sometimes use a 16X doublet loupe to inspect my progress. It works sorta OK. But could be better.

Blade magazine for August 2006, page #136, has a 4X focusing magnifying loupe with a light-passing base (made in Japan). I have tried to identify this model without success. Does anyone know where I might find this same model?

The focusing ability, along with the light passing base would seem to make this loupe a winner over what I'm using now. Also, the idea put forth in the article about quantifying the radius of the edge appeals to me. I want to know what shaving sharp looks like so I can reproduce it.

The pictured 4X loupe allows you to hold the knife against the base, in the light, and keep your eye on the top of the loupe while you focus on the part of the edge you want to inspect. I think this would work better than what I do now: move my head, move the loupe and move the knife while I spin around to get the right light.

Thank you kindly for your help.

Best,

oregon

 

[oregon]

http://www.opticsplanet.net/pentax-5-5x-super-multi-coated-magnifier-loupe-60051.html

Took me a while. I know where I've seen a loupe like that before. Still pictures of Hugh Hefner hovering closely over spreads of slide photographs editing his magazine. It is a photographic tool. Properly called: a focusable magnifier loupe with transparancy stand.

They can get pretty fancy. The above link shows one with a rubber eyepiece. Nice.

The one shown in the Blade article is probably old school and may not be available on the market. I need to find a photographer's garage sale or pony up some cash.

Best,

oregon

 

[howiesatwork]

A pocket optical comparator or measuring loupe...
I've found them from a $27 Canon to the aforementioned Pentax at $$$.
I've got one at work, and I think it was an SPI.
Nice to have.

 

[tim8557]

Here is one that I use all of the time. It works great and at 15x will give you much more detail than the 4x you are referring to.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=51092&cat=1,43456,43351

 

[gud4u]

I have an assortment of magnifiers, from the 30X RS Pocket Microscope down to 2X magnifiers.

The problem with the higher power magnifiers is the fiddling one has to do to compensate for the narrow focal zone and diminishing light.

I find it much faster to scan a blade edge by rotating the blade under strong light and inspecting the reflection zone with a simple 2x - 3X magnifier.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Pardon me if I chime in here, but it's the latest topic on the subject, and I don't think it's worth creating a new one.

I'm looking to buy a loupe, and am just wondering if I should be looking for a 10x or 15x. Will the 15 be significantly better? I'm new enough at this that I don't think I need anything stronger. If I get to that point I'll get a small microscope.

My 1/2" wide 5x magnifier just isn't cutting it any more, so to speak...

Thanks in advance,

-- Sam

 

[gud4u]

My last purchase was a Belomo Triplet: http://www.geo-tools.com/lens.htm

It's better than any of my other magnifiers for clarity.

Have you checked out concave mirrors? I was in a 'Linens and Things' store with my wife, and fiddled a bit with a 5" diameter concave mirror with claimed 10X mag - the kind women use to check their makeup. I'll probably go back and buy one.

The concave mirror provides:
- Broad focal zone.
- Minimal light-loss.
- Easy to focus for a 5X-capable device.

Hope this helps!

 

[sprokker]

I've been using a 60X-100X illuminated pocket microscope. Works great. I keep it with the rest of my sharpening kit. $8 from Radio Shack.

It's this one:

The new one is supposed to have nicer knobs though:

 

[05dr]

just wanted to second the lee valley lighted magnifier. probably the biggest asset to my sharpening skills i have landed on yet.

oregon,
Great link! they actually have lots of neat magnifiers there.

ryan

 

[JD Spydo]

What about these professional model double loupes like Dentists and surgeons use? My Dentist has one made by ZEISS. He let me look at it and it is a very superb piece of optics.

Other than Zeiss is there any other loupes in their league?

 

[yuzuha]

you mean like these http://www.surgicalacuity.com/ There are some on ebay http://search.ebay.com/5x-surgical-loupes_W0QQfkrZ1QQfnuZ1
There are some jewler's loupes that clip onto glasses or are held with the eye too http://www.jakesmp.com/CSD_Magnifiers/CSD_Magnifiers_005_M.html

 

[Greg]

Remember that as the magnification goes up the depth of field goes down. At over 10x I find the focus too critical for me. I have been using an old 10x loupe but just purchased the 10x Belomo that gud4u referenced and it is quite an improvement.
Greg

 

[JD Spydo]

you mean like these http://www.surgicalacuity.com/ There are some on ebay http://search.ebay.com/5x-surgical-loupes_W0QQfkrZ1QQfnuZ1
There are some jewler's loupes that clip onto glasses or are held with the eye too http://www.jakesmp.com/CSD_Magnifiers/CSD_Magnifiers_005_M.html

Thanks "Yuzuha" You always seem to come to the rescue. I will definitely check them out. The Zeiss stuff does seem to be exorbitantly priced but everything of their's I've ever checked out seem like super quality.
I met a hunter a couple of years ago who had some Zeiss binoculars and they were some pretty clear glass for sure.
You seem to be an encyclopedia for websites>> you must be more addicted to the web than I am