Preferred focusing loupe?

[jmcguckin]

Calumet has two versions: a 7x Calumet branded loupe and a 3x Toyo.

Is there a preference for either one? Is 7X magnification too much?

Thanks,

Joe

[Graeme Hird]

An old 50mm lens from a disused 35mm camera is my focusing loupe. I cut the bottom out of a plastic 35mm film canister and stuck it to the lens as a way of keeping the focus distance correct. I look through the front of the lens.

I think it's about 5x. Cost = $0

[Martin Patek-Strutsky]

It depends on the groundglas/ fresnel you use. For most fresnel screens a 7x magnification is too much, as you magnify the structure of it that much that you have problems to see the picture itself.

A 3x magnification would be too small for me, personally I prefer a 4x loupe.

[Frank Petronio]

Your images will be just as well focused with either - it's what you get used to using. Just buy one and live with it for awhile.

[Gem Singer]

Hi Joe,

B&H, in New York, sells the Toyo 3.6X focusing loupe for under $44.

The Toyo loupe has rubber protective rings where the loupe touches the groundglass, as well as at the eyepiece. They help prevent scratching the groundglass and eyeglasses, if you are wearing them. It is made of lightweight aluminum tubing and is long enough to fit inside of a folding focusing hood.

I like my Toyo loupe very much, and I highly recommend it.

[Tim Curry]

Agree with Eugene and his reasoning. The Toyo is a good compromise between magnification, convenience, weight, simplicity and just a good basic design. I've tried others, but still prefer my Toyo.

[Jean-Marie Solichon]

I have been using the Toyo focusing loupe since I started LF and never felt the need for anything else.

[Ted Fullerton]

Joe,

I currently use the Calumet 7x loupe on a Bossscreen, which has a finer "grain" that the stock screen that came with my camera, and I'm happy with it. I found that the 4x did not allow me to take advantage of the detail that I could see in the Bosscreen. The 7x on my original screen, however, would scatter the image into individual points which did not present a cohesive image on which to focus.

-Ted

[Bob Fowler]

I've had several loupes over the years, the Toyo 3.6X is my loupe of choice. 7X is overkill for me...

[David A. Goldfarb]

I have two loupes. The Schneider 4x loupe is a better loupe--bright sharp image, focusable, no distortion, but the longer Toyo 3.6x will clear a folding focus hood on a 4x5" camera, and with the rubber rings at each end, it's better protected if I drop it, so I tend to use the Toyo with my 4x5" cameras that have folding hoods, and I use the Schneider with the big cameras and a darkcloth.