For the People That Use Jewelers Loupes... Which Do You Recommend?

[Wild Bill]

Acrylic lenses…

[chrisski]

This was 60x jeweler loupe was  recommended by a forum member

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/illuminated-Jeweler-Kare-Kind-package/dp/B015RINTF

ir light and regular light 

Only $7 so obviously not the best but perfect for a first one

 

 

[Jim in Idaho]

2 hours ago, Clay Diggins said:

You will want a triplet achromatic glass loupe mounted in solid metal. The achromatic lens design eliminates color banding. Aplanatic is good too - no curved edges.

I have used an older version of the Zeiss loupe for nearly 50 years. It's rugged and you will see things you never imagined could be seen with a  simple loupe.

Here's one on Amazon. The usual going price for a Zeiss is about $120 but one at the link is less than $90.

https://www.amazon.com/Optics-Aplanatic-Achromatic-Pocket-Magnifier/dp/B001EIMXLQ

I have a Fuji manufactured loupe that is even better than the Zeiss but those are unavailable to the public. Look around and you can find some pretty good glass for less. Look for 10x triplet, coated glass, astigmatic and a milled metal lens mount. Avoid the loupes with a small long screw holding on a thin metal folding cover or loupes with plastic lens mounts. In my experience those are low quality and don't fare well in the field.

Shoot...as it turned out, Barry, that one has a plastic case, and the lens is only 13mm. I'd really like something a little larger. I'll keep looking.

Jim

[Jim in Idaho]

So, this is what I ordered...should get the job done.

Loupe

[Clay Diggins]

1 hour ago, Jim in Idaho said:

Shoot...as it turned out, Barry, that one has a plastic case, and the lens is only 13mm. I'd really like something a little larger. I'll keep looking.

Jim

Yeah the smaller lens can be hard to get used to. My Fuji has a 32mm lens but good glass gets real expensive fast as you go up in size. I don't take the Fuji into the field.  I'm happy with my Zeiss because the exceptional image quality makes up for the smaller FOV.

Most people use their loupes incorrectly. This leads to eye strain and frustrating searching for the "spot' you have an interest in.

First rule of close lens work - keep your eyes open, peering with one eye closed doesn't improve the image but it does cause eye strain.

Second - you don't need to put your eye next to the lens. Back your head up to allow light in. With a little practice you can stand at a normal posture with the loupe 1 - 2 foot away from your face. The lens image will be just as clear, better lit and easier to find the "spot".

[Wild Bill]

Jim, I think that probably is an excellent loupe.  I might get one myself.  I need to replace mine but I have a ton of bills to pay at the close of the year plus other projects.  German glass is hard to beat but I have seen Japanese glass superior to German, barely.  
Like Clay said “Fuji lens.”  I pulled the lens out of an old film projector and I’ve used that, about 10x and it’s outstanding.  😎   

[RONS DETECTORS MINELAB]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/127046706136?_skw=belomo+10x+triplet+loupe&itmmeta=01K6K1RBCSFZVYFZYRGHE4T9GD&hash=item1d9492e3d8%3Ag%3ApOsAAOSwvoNnR4SQ&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cCNuh%2BY7AtNN0lK5MGDpU6S3RhvlvEowRjiPwhTclnc2xnwlludcIXcRxV7tAbr88Xudhkh7mdy0UOVRmlgwr8I6d3uQn5N%2F9oWI1ZLXqCH%2BIdl24hYI1cRZV8%2FL0S0wFonRV1rIAtAeXQAOOsNLJPYofBhQLOdOlcek1CBhmuy1tYRgFjTItqaVYk5YeLBJFF%2BWE7snZk%2FmSWjDw069sw4aoNRo45QCp2w1mMkLl8XbZFxArbdLqhuB0UlOYi998%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR8K24eG0Zg&keyword=belomo+10x+triplet+loupe&sacat=0&relatedSearch=true
 

I have really like the Belomo made in Belarus for there good build quality and great lenses.

 

 

 

[Bedrock Bob]

The ocular lens from a cheap riflescope works well. It easier than a loupe. It's coated glass, 2 lenses and about 12x. It cost me the time it took to unscrew it.

 

I have a 10x, 30x, and 40x loupe (Amazon cheapos) that work dandy. But I use the scope ocular almost exclusively. If I need more magnification I go to a loupe. 

My little 10x is Japanese glass and cost about $20 many years ago. It's just too tiny and you have to get too close. You get lost on the specimen easily and you often need some light. I'm always dancing around trying to stay out of my own shadow. Same with the other 2 but they are a LOT more powerful. 

The bigger scope lens focuses farther away and you don't need so much light. No fussing with your nose being too long to see gold specks. 

A broken scope is easy to come by. An old binocular works great too but the ocular is smaller. Either one suits me better than a loupe for a field glass.

 

[GB_Amateur]

4 hours ago, Wild Bill said:

Acrylic lenses…

I wasn't questioning that acrylic lenses exist, only whether or not they are used in eyeglasses.  In my post I linked a (detailed) Wikipedia article on corrective eyewear including materials used for that.  It fails to mention acrylic (PMMA being the solid form) although the monomer MMA (methyl methacrylate) is sometimes used in today's soft contact lenses.  Back in the early days it appears that PMMA was used in contact lenses but that practice apparently ceased decades ago.