Loupes

[bobp]

Hi all, new here just sorting out a few bits and bobs ready to start with 5x4 I would appreciate your thoughts on loupes,
what magnification would you recommend ?, what to look out for and what to avoid.
regards Bob.:confused:

[Bob Salomon]

4 to 6x with a focusing eyepiece and an opaque skirt. You might want one with a longer or telescoping body as well. A quality loupe since you are using it to define focus.

[BrianShaw]

4x to 6x. Watch out for ones that don't focus well on the GG, like some of the cheaper plastic ones. Watch our for the ones that are too high powered.

[Alan Gales]

I use a Toyo loupe and it is round at both ends. Some photographers prefer loupes that are square at one end like the Peak so they can focus right in the corners.

Just something else to think about.

[mikebarger]

I use the Toyo also, it has treated me well

[Dan Fromm]

I use the Toyo also, it has treated me well

Likewise, except with very short lenses. With them I find that a 12x and a bit of racking through focus and back gets me better results. I like my Toyo anyway. Quality product.

[Leigh]

I agree re the Toyo (4.6x) loupe. Excellent product. I have two of them.

An option that works very well and is often overlooked is the Hasselblad stove-pipe magnifier.
It provides a 6cm square field of view, very well corrected.

- Leigh

[John Kasaian]

The Toyo is popular. You can also use a linen tester (Ron Wisner preferred them) or magnifying glasses. I used an Agfa loupe for years before upgrading to a Silvestri.

[Michael Graves]

The Toyo is a nice loupe if you don't need diopter correction. I miss mine, but after eye surgery, I needed something I could adjust to my new eyes. I would up with a Peak that works well...but I still wish it was long, like the Toyo.

[bobp]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for all your replies, very helpful, Iv'e decided on a Silvestri 4X which I shall order tonight,
once again thank you.
from Bob in the sunny UK.:cool:

[Armin Seeholzer]

Maybe I'm to late now, but I have 5 loupes and my fav is the long 1.Horseman 6x you do not get with the nose on the ground glass and you get less foggy on the groundglas from your nose air!
2.Silvestri 6x tilting loupe
Then I have the 10x Peak it is to strong for me!
4. 7x Nikon/Peak is not bad
3. Cheap Hama 5x

[cowanw]

The Zeiss close up lens 1251 from this
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2668370
and this
http://www.trenholm.org/hmmerk/SHBG11.pdf where it is ahown in fig 2 ( the cone shaped eyepiece) makes an excellant loupe with focussing eyepice. i thought they were rare as hens teeth, but for some reason I have two and there are several complete kits for the Zeiss contax on the market now. Harold M. Merklinger used this in the trenholm article.

[federicomar]

I am also in the process of buying a loupe as I find very difficult to focus with an enlarging lens.
Is something like this (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Peak-Loupe-X10-Magnification-/150839607897?pt=UK_Photography_DarkroomSupplies_SM&hash=item231ebdc259#ht_2238wt_906) or this (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Peak-Loupe-X8-Magnification-great-for-use-on-35mm-negatives-/150839606361?pt=UK_Photography_DarkroomSupplies_SM&hash=item231ebdbc59#ht_2276wt_906) enough or should I spend more on a better loupe for large format? I mainly use a 90mm and a 135mm and my eyes are fine..

[Alan Gales]

I am also in the process of buying a loupe as I find very difficult to focus with an enlarging lens.
Is something like this (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Peak-Loupe-X10-Magnification-/150839607897?pt=UK_Photography_DarkroomSupplies_SM&hash=item231ebdc259#ht_2238wt_906) or this (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Peak-Loupe-X8-Magnification-great-for-use-on-35mm-negatives-/150839606361?pt=UK_Photography_DarkroomSupplies_SM&hash=item231ebdbc59#ht_2276wt_906) enough or should I spend more on a better loupe for large format? I mainly use a 90mm and a 135mm and my eyes are fine..

The Peaks are fine Loupes but a 4x to 6x magnification is recommended and as Bob Salomen earlier said, you want an opaque skirt, not the clear that you are showing. The clear is for viewing negatives or slides on a light table.

[WootSK]

Have a docter optics 8x loupe which serves me well since the day I move on into large format. They are great for me to focus on light source when the rest are dark.

[cowanw]

To Federicomar
But we are not talking enlarger focusers here eh! Your head gets in the way if you use a loupe for enlarging.

[federicomar]

To Federicomar
But we are not talking enlarger focusers here eh! Your head gets in the way if you use a loupe for enlarging.

eheh I know, It's 30C in London but I haven't got crazy yet :)
I am using an enlarger lens, not an enlarger focus finder!
You can also use an enlarger lens to check your negatives / slides with a lightbox, you don't need a loupe

[Steve Barber]

I am also in the process of buying a loupe as I find very difficult to focus with an enlarging lens.
Is something like this (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Peak-Loupe-X10-Magnification-/150839607897?pt=UK_Photography_DarkroomSupplies_SM&hash=item231ebdc259#ht_2238wt_906) or this (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Peak-Loupe-X8-Magnification-great-for-use-on-35mm-negatives-/150839606361?pt=UK_Photography_DarkroomSupplies_SM&hash=item231ebdbc59#ht_2276wt_906) enough or should I spend more on a better loupe for large format? I mainly use a 90mm and a 135mm and my eyes are fine..

I do not think those give enough magnification and 10x is too much. Try a 50mm, that is about perfect for me. I like the 50mm El-Nikkors, they are great quality and they are not expensive because there are lots of them. Remember to look through from the front.

[E. von Hoegh]

I do not think those give enough magnification and 10x is too much. Try a 50mm, that is about perfect for me. I like the 50mm El-Nikkors, they are great quality and they are not expensive because there are lots of them. Remember to look through from the front.

I've been using a 10x Peak loupe (with the gaticule removed) for the past couple decades. It works for me, on the fine GGs that I have on my cameras. others may find it worth a try.

[Robert Opheim]

I use the Toyo loupe - it is the right lenght for my Technikardan with the back open. I also use magnifing glasses.

[joselsgil]

I have two of the Schneider 4X loupes. They work just fine for my old aging eye sight.