magnifier

[John Larkin]

I have a Mantis on my workbench, which is great, but it's bolted down.
Any suggestions for a good quality wearable magnifier? 4X seems about
right for most work.


--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc
picosecond timing precision measurement

jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com
http://www.highlandtechnology.com

[Joerg]

On 2017-08-29 12:42, John Larkin wrote:
> I have a Mantis on my workbench, which is great, but it's bolted down.

Along the San Andreas fault bolt-down is probably a good idea.

> Any suggestions for a good quality wearable magnifier? 4X seems about
> right for most work.
>
>

I have these in 5x and for some reason now they seem to only offer up to
3.5x (which would probably suffice):

http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optivisor

5x works very well for SMT down to 0402. When I have to solder 0201 I
leave my reading glasses on underneath it. Those are non-prescription,
just 1.75x Dollar-store magnifiers. When having to read schematics plus
solder 0402 and up I set it so I can peek above the rims of my reading
glasses through the visor and only through my reading glasses to look at
the scope or the schematic.

Dentists, dental hygienists and root canal specialists have really cool
magnifiers but those are expensive.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

[Jim Thompson]

On Tue, 29 Aug 2017 14:25:05 -0700, Joerg <ne...@analogconsultants.com>
wrote:

I have the OptiVisor DA-5 version (2.5X) which I find adequate except
for a few situations where I use them over my readers (+2.25
diopters), but then the depth of field is crap.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson | mens |
| Analog Innovations | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| STV, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 Skype: skypeanalog | |
| Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Antifa's war cry, "No Trump, no wall, no USA at all!"
Victory for Antifa would be the destruction of society.

-Hector Morenco (@hectormorenco) August 28, 2017

[Joerg]

On 2017-08-29 14:42, Jim Thompson wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Aug 2017 14:25:05 -0700, Joerg <ne...@analogconsultants.com>
> wrote:
>
>> On 2017-08-29 12:42, John Larkin wrote:
>>> I have a Mantis on my workbench, which is great, but it's bolted down.
>>
>>
>> Along the San Andreas fault bolt-down is probably a good idea.
>>
>>
>>> Any suggestions for a good quality wearable magnifier? 4X seems about
>>> right for most work.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I have these in 5x and for some reason now they seem to only offer up to
>> 3.5x (which would probably suffice):
>>
>> http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optivisor
>>
>> 5x works very well for SMT down to 0402. When I have to solder 0201 I
>> leave my reading glasses on underneath it. Those are non-prescription,
>> just 1.75x Dollar-store magnifiers. When having to read schematics plus
>> solder 0402 and up I set it so I can peek above the rims of my reading
>> glasses through the visor and only through my reading glasses to look at
>> the scope or the schematic.
>>
>> Dentists, dental hygienists and root canal specialists have really cool
>> magnifiers but those are expensive.
>
> I have the OptiVisor DA-5 version (2.5X) which I find adequate except
> for a few situations where I use them over my readers (+2.25
> diopters), but then the depth of field is crap.
>

I remember you posting a photo with that, one that would make all little
kids scream and and run away :-)

[Martin Riddle]

On Tue, 29 Aug 2017 14:25:05 -0700, Joerg <ne...@analogconsultants.com>
wrote:

I have the DA-5 too, but I think the DA-4 (2x) would be better since
the working distance is 2" more (10")

Cheers

[Jim Thompson]

On Tue, 29 Aug 2017 15:29:57 -0700, Joerg <ne...@analogconsultants.com>

Who me ?:-) I'm really a teddy bear... ask my great-grandkids.

[Joerg]

The image links on your web site went cold. Could have been this one but
gone:

http://analog-innovations.com/SED/OptiVisorMonster.jpg

[Joerg]

Yes but I need the magnification especially when working with sampling
diodes the size of a salt grains.

When longer sessions are to be anticipated I place the DUT on a block of
wood which reduces neck and spinal strain.

[Jim Thompson]

On Tue, 29 Aug 2017 16:14:10 -0700, Joerg <ne...@analogconsultants.com>

That'd be the one. Looks like I scrubbed in during one of my frenetic
housecleaning modes ;-)

[George Herold]

On Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 5:25:11 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
> On 2017-08-29 12:42, John Larkin wrote:
> > I have a Mantis on my workbench, which is great, but it's bolted down.
>
>
> Along the San Andreas fault bolt-down is probably a good idea.
>
>
> > Any suggestions for a good quality wearable magnifier? 4X seems about
> > right for most work.
> >
> >
>
> I have these in 5x and for some reason now they seem to only offer up to
> 3.5x (which would probably suffice):
>
> http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optivisor

I live in my optivisor at work*, mine has a flip down
inspection magnifier on one side. (How else do you
read the little pin numbers on connectors?)

George H.
*sometimes early in the day I've still got my baseball
cap on, I reach up, pull down the brim, and wonder why
my view doesn't improve. :^)

[tabb...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, 30 August 2017 00:22:00 UTC+1, Jim Thompson wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Aug 2017 16:14:10 -0700, Joerg <ne...@analogconsultants.com>
> wrote:
> >On 2017-08-29 15:58, Jim Thompson wrote:

> >>>> I have the OptiVisor DA-5 version (2.5X) which I find adequate except
> >>>> for a few situations where I use them over my readers (+2.25
> >>>> diopters), but then the depth of field is crap.
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> I remember you posting a photo with that, one that would make all little
> >>> kids scream and and run away :-)
> >>
> >> Who me ?:-) I'm really a teddy bear... ask my great-grandkids.
> >>
> >
> >The image links on your web site went cold. Could have been this one but
> >gone:
> >
> >http://analog-innovations.com/SED/OptiVisorMonster.jpg
>
> That'd be the one. Looks like I scrubbed in during one of my frenetic
> housecleaning modes ;-)
>
> ...Jim Thompson

404

[k...@notreal.com]

On Tue, 29 Aug 2017 12:42:00 -0700, John Larkin
<jjlarkin@highland_snip_technology.com> wrote:

>I have a Mantis on my workbench, which is great, but it's bolted down.
>Any suggestions for a good quality wearable magnifier? 4X seems about
>right for most work.

Without a question, the best is the Carson Optical visor. I have one
that has a series of perhaps six magnifiers.

https://www.amazon.com/Carson-MagniVisor-Head-Worn-Magnifier-CP-60/dp/B007CDJKM2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504053841&sr=8-1&keywords=headband+magnifier+with+light&refinements=p_89%3ACarson

[k...@notreal.com]

Just wanted to add that I had an OptiVisor but when I tried the above
I gave the OptiVisor away. The Carson unit has a larger field of view
and is easier on the eyes.

[Don Kuenz]

Me too. A DA-5 with the OptiLOUPE Option.

Thank you,

--
Don Kuenz, KB7RPU

[George Herold]

Huh, thanks. I'll try one.

George H.

[John Larkin]

On Tue, 29 Aug 2017 20:46:08 -0400, k...@notreal.com wrote:

Looks nice. I ordered one of these today

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XXHRBNS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and if it's not good, I'll move up to the Carson.

This Amazon stuff is so cheap and easy to buy, you can order stuff and
keep it or throw/give it away.

--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc

lunatic fringe electronics

[dagmarg...@yahoo.com]

The OptiVisor is superb. It's the only visor I know that has
prismatic correction built into the lenses, a feature that makes
them much easier on the eyes.

(Prism lets you look with eyes diverged, relaxed, as if looking in the
distance. Without prism you have to converge, yet, due to the magnifier,
your eyes are focused for distance. That unexpected feedback confounds
your eyes' normally cooperative vergence and focus mechanisms, the
turn-in and turn-out extraocular eye-pointing muscles clash and strain,
not knowing what to do, and you get eyestrain.)

The OptiVisor's lenses are glass, too, which means they last forever
and never scratch.

Cheers,
James Arthur

[Trumble]

On 30-Aug-17 3:42 AM, John Larkin wrote:
> I have a Mantis on my workbench, which is great, but it's bolted down.
> Any suggestions for a good quality wearable magnifier? 4X seems about
> right for most work.
>
>

I like this style - the ones Joerg mentioned are good but you lose all
peripheral vision and have to tip your head around to find tools,
solder etc.

https://www.carbatec.com.au/workshop-accessories/magnifying-glasses-and-loups/head-magnifier-w-led-lights

[Tom Gardner]

They work for /me/ too, but the ones I have are about 25%
of that price. That's sufficiently cheap that it is better
to buy one and suck-it-and-see if it works for /you/.

The interchangeable lenses are useful, and then wide field
view is needed they are simply flipped up out of the way.

With devices that are so personal, it is worth doing quick
and cheap experiments to find out what /you/ do and don't
need.

[Robert Baer]

John Larkin wrote:
> I have a Mantis on my workbench, which is great, but it's bolted down.
> Any suggestions for a good quality wearable magnifier? 4X seems about
> right for most work.
>
>

Definitely NOT wearable, but allows a lot of workspace in all
dimensions as well as highly variable magnification AND capability for
video capture..
Set up a Bessler enlarger with digital camera at the film plane.
Ever see a (in-focus) 0402 fill your monitor screen?

[Robert Baer]

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[Joerg]

On 2017-08-29 17:37, George Herold wrote:
> On Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 5:25:11 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
>> On 2017-08-29 12:42, John Larkin wrote:
>>> I have a Mantis on my workbench, which is great, but it's bolted down.
>>
>>
>> Along the San Andreas fault bolt-down is probably a good idea.
>>
>>
>>> Any suggestions for a good quality wearable magnifier? 4X seems about
>>> right for most work.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I have these in 5x and for some reason now they seem to only offer up to
>> 3.5x (which would probably suffice):
>>
>> http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optivisor
>
> I live in my optivisor at work*, mine has a flip down
> inspection magnifier on one side. (How else do you
> read the little pin numbers on connectors?)
>

I also have one of those but prefer the simpler visor and use a hand
loupe in such cases.

> George H.
> *sometimes early in the day I've still got my baseball
> cap on, I reach up, pull down the brim, and wonder why
> my view doesn't improve. :^)
>

That's the marketing idea: Build visors with integrated baseball caps.
In the various team colors, of course. Plus a red one "Make America
Great Again" ... 8-)

[...]

[amdx]

As we all are aware the biggest problem with any of the single lens
magnifiers is the focus distance. With high magnification you need to
get very close. With some products there will be something in the way
so you can't get where you need to be to get focus.
I always get envious when I go to the dentist and see their magnifiers.
The little understanding I have is they are a two lens system that
allows focus at a longer distance. (seems like 12" to 20 ")
Looking at the lens system below, I see the OP has glasses and a
magnifier.
> https://www.carbatec.com.au/workshop-accessories/magnifying-glasses-and-loups/head-magnifier-w-led-lights
I don't have any understanding of optics, but I want to know why we
can't have a pair of glasses and a external lens that mimics the two
lens system the dentist uses? and get the distance for focus I desire.
Mikek

[John Larkin]

The Mantis is superb, brilliant, 3D, like being an insect hovering an
inch over the board. You can move your head around and change
perspective. The resolution is limited only by your vision. But it's
bolted down.

It's great for working and soldering under; super 3D and lots of room
for tools.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wlim2da8cv9q6fj/Bench_Mantis.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1qv6gjt9kc0gjy8/Mantis3.JPG?raw=1


I don't much like video displays for working on stuff.

--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc

lunatic fringe electronics

[John Larkin]

On Wed, 30 Aug 2017 07:55:48 -0700, Joerg <ne...@analogconsultants.com>
wrote:

3.5 or maybe 4x should do for Great.

--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc

lunatic fringe electronics

[amdx]

Here's a Chinese 4x with a focal length of 16.5" $127 Free Shipping
> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4x-Magnification-Nickel-Alloy-Frame-Dental-Loupes-Keplerian-Surgical-Medical-Dentistry/32522121446.html?spm=2114.search0304.4.226.69mItM

Here's one sold from AZ. 4x with a focal length of 13" $529
> https://rosemicrosolutions.myshopify.com/products/rose-safety-frames-4-0x

[John S]

I have one but not this particular brand. The long barrels are heavy on
mine and even tiny movements shake the image so badly that I do not use
them. Be careful about this.

[dagmarg...@yahoo.com]

This is a pretty good public-domain article on the optics:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271839780_Surgical_and_Dental_Ergonomic_Loupes_--_Magnification_and_Microscope_Design_Principles_--_Technical_Aspects_and_Clinical_Usage_of_Keplerian_and_Galilean_Binocular_Surgical_Loupe_Telescopes_used_in_Den

Or if you just want a quick pic,
http://www.care-optics.com/faq.asp?id=5

Cheers,
James Arthur

[Trumble]

The price I pay is the price of living in one of the most isolated
capital cities in the world in Western Australia.