Illuminated magnifier - advice please

[JennyS]

They don't post to Ireland so I've contacted their Dublin suppliers .....

[stigofthedump]

Has anyone had any experience of Iwamoto hand lenses? Not Illuminated I fear to add! I’m after a 20X mag loupe and these seem to have a good press in the USA. Expensive, yes but I’m happy if the quality is there.
Your views would be most welcome.

Vince.

[Alantb]

Hi Vince; are you sure you really need 20X? I had a dual 10 and 20 for some years and I don't think that I used the 20X more than once because it was so difficult getting enough light - I had to hold it so close to my eye that it was almost impossible to see anything. I suppose that an illuminated 20X might work but you can see most things you need to see with 10X.
Eventually the 10X lens fell out, by the way. I now have an 8X which is perfect.The illuminated ones are fine but I don't think there's an illuminated 20X available at reasonable price anyhow.
Cheers, Alan

[stigofthedump]

Hi Alan and cheers for the reply. I have a Belomo 10x triplet which is a good lens but just not powerful enough for my needs. My interest is in mosses. I fully understand your concern over the available light and the depth of field issue, I thought that paying a little more for superior optics might lessen those issues somewhat. You have at least made me think again about it, the wife will just love you!

Cheers again.


Vince

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

Hi Neil. Mine is the Oxford precision x10 model which looks identical to the Opticron model Jenny has. It has two lenses and no distortion. It’s a real joy to use! John

I have this exact model, and fully endorse John's comment. The larger than average lens size, combined with a good "in focus" depth of field, and virtually no image degradation/fall off towards the edge of the field of view makes for great ease of use. The quality of the glass 2 element lens is faultless, and the white light produced by the LED is exceptionally uniform and bright, across the full field of view.

(I might add that I have non illuminated Opticron x10 and x20 hand lenses, but since obtaining the Oxford x10 illuminated model, the Opticrons haven't been used).

My one and only criticism is the case as supplied with the lens - It is a very cheap and nasty plastic wallet, on which the belt loop soon started to tear. (A nylon wallet would have been much more durable. The provision of which would not, in my opinion, have added any significant cost).

Regards,
Mike.

[fairplay]

I'm really tempted, it's just that I tend to loose things easily (once left my sample collection box behind and forgot where I left it) and with my Opticron 10x tied round my neck, it is always to hand, and I'm not likely to loose it, and also the 'case' is all part of the same body.

The only real problem is with use - every time the lens is swung out of it's protective housing the screw works loose a little, but I only need to tighten it once a year, and I think I have even solved that by placing a tiny piece of Duck tape over the screw head stopping the screw working loose.

The Oxford mentioned here, seems to be a quality item, but if I bought one I would have to adapt it somehow to take a cord so I could hang it from my neck and from the photos, I don't see how I could do that, and having to take it from a belt clip/pouch and putting it back again with a wax jacket on would be a real hindrance.

Neil.

[jaybie]

I've had a chance to compare the Oxford and the Opticron. The Oxford is 10x 30mm and the Opticron is 10x 26mm which makes the Oxford just that bit larger and allows more light through as a result. The led illumination is the same and is really bright on both and they both handle the same being of very similar construction and size. In good light though there is no need to use the led. Its when viewing with the loupe at at varying distances (1-3 inches) away from the eye the difference really can be seen. The Opticron falls off at the side the further away it is moved from the eye especially at 3in from the eye when the undistorted viewing area reduces to approx 18mm. The Oxford performs much better and remained practically undistorted across the the lens. With either loupe close to the eye the performance is similar but 4mm makes a difference and I preferred the overall performance of the Oxford.

I have to say that the plastic cases provided leave a lot to be desired and I do not think they will last long.

Santa will be bringing me the Oxford - you get what you pay for - but I think that there is a place for the Opticron. At £15 the Opticron appears good value and I would think it would suit most occasions especially if there is a limited budget.

Neil - looking in the battery compartment there is a bit of space which would allow some careful drilling to provide a couple of holes to attach a cord to it in a similar way to the picture below where I "modified" my IR remote control. "Guarantee may be affected"


I also think that the lenses are recessed sufficiently to protect from scratching.

All this is subjective of course.

JohnB

[fairplay]

Thanks JohnB, that's interesting, I'd probably still be worried about the glass getting caught on my zip fastener, even though there is a recess.

But as you say there should be room to drill a couple of holes, it might be worth trying, but I would need to see the Oxford first before I buy.

I have the remote you illustrated for use with my D90 - a very handy little tool.

Neil.