Which Loupe?

[Rich1990]

Hello,
This is my first post. Im interested in all wildlife and have recently become very fascinated by fungi. I generally use a 10x magnification Belomo triplet loupe for plant identification and was wondering if this is a good magnification to use for fungi ID? Any help would be great.
Rich.

[cervinae]

Welcome

According to the more knowledgeable mycologists here 10x should be enough. I just recieved my oxford precission 10x lens through the post yesterday so will be trying it out this weekend

Regards, David

[cervinae]

Oh and then when you really get obsessed with fungi you need a microscope

[Rich1990]

Thanks Cervinae,
Thought it would be OK, havnt had any problems so far
was looking at the Oxford precision the other day, looks great!
Thanks again.

[cervinae]

The only place I could find the Oxford lens to buy was here:

Cromwell Industrial Tools UK: Oxford Precision : PM 3010 LED POCKET MAGNIFIER : OXD-316-2010K

I can see why those who praise it do so. I can't imagine using a hand lens without an LED light now

Regards, David

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by cervinae

Oh and then when you really get obsessed with fungi you need a microscope

nah! - that's for merely "very keen" . . . . .

for "really obsessed" you need two

C

[stigofthedump]

Hi all, sorry for my intrusion into your forum but could I ask ...Why 10X, what is the benefit of this magnification over say 15X or 20X?

Just a Query you understand


Vince

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by stigofthedump

Hi all, sorry for my intrusion into your forum but could I ask ...Why 10X, what is the benefit of this magnification over say 15X or 20X?

Just a Query you understand


Vince

hi

it's (as are all things optical) a compromise, based on a combination of what you need to see (and can possibly see with just a handlens) and the area in view

this is why binoculars are generally in the x8 to x10 area . . . . any bigger and the field of view decreases; it's like that with handlenses, plus you need to hold the lens closer to your eye and the object closer to the lens the higher magnification you go

I have a range of handlenses - illuminated and not - most are x10 but I do have x15 and x20 (I carry several with me when on meetings as there is nearly always someone there who hasn't got one of their own - on forays for the public often several people - though interestingly if they come back the following year they have usually obtained one!)

Chris

[stigofthedump]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

I have a range of handlenses - illuminated and not - most are x10 but I do have x15 and x20 (I carry several with me when on meetings as there is nearly always someone there who hasn't got one of their own - on forays for the public often several people - though interestingly if they come back the following year they have usually obtained one!)

Chris

Cheers Chris- which magnification do you opt for - even recommend for the budding mycologist (not myself you understand, I'm on the darkside- bryology )

Given that this might well be a hit of a Google search for said budding mycologist....10X?

Vince

[johhnrobbs]

A loupe is a type of magnification device used to see things one is looking at more closely.An optical loupe is a head worn magnifier. Worn like glasses, the loupe will magnify an image. It will NOT correct your vision. The amount of magnification depends on the curvature of the lenses and the lens spacing. Loupes are designed to meet specific magnification requirements and working distances.There are different types of loupe available like Binocular loupe, Eye loupes, Magnifying loupe,Surgical loupes, Medical loupe, Dental loupes etc.

Loupes are used in a number of industries, notably the jewelry trade, watchmaking, photography, printing, dentistry, education and ophthalmology. Loupes are also used in academia and life sciences, such as geology and biology. Amateur naturalists may also find a hand lens or a loupe a useful tool when looking at or identifying species.