Any of You Use Magnifying Glass with Ground Glass?

[Jim Graves]

I wear prescription glasses ... as I suspect the majority of us do ... so I like Fisheman Eyewear magnifier clip-on flip-ups that are available in various strengths [1.5 - 4.0] for fishermen @ $14.95: LINK -- also sold by Cabelas. They allow me to wear my regular glasses for set up and then a quick flip down and I can focus ... then flip up for shutter setting, etc.

Because they're so inexpensive, I have one set with my 4x5 and one with my 8x10 ... so I don't get out in the field and realize they're with the other kit .... not that I'm forgetful or anything.

[Leigh]

The Opti-Visor is designed to work with regular eyeglasses.
It's far enough in front of the eyes that there's no interference.

- Leigh

[Drew Wiley]

Ansel Adams wrote a very rare additional volume to his famous how-to series strictly involving focus, but it was never published. It turns out, he was the one who invented the
Stetson hat numbers, much like the Zone System. Whenever he'd use a 3X loupe to focus
the groundglass, he'd wear an XXX Stetson cowboy hat so that the width of the brim would precisly contact the groundglass at the correct distance. For a 5X loupe he'd have
to wear a more expensive XXXXX Stetson, etc. It was a remarkable system.

[cowanw]

Amusing, but the X's refer to the quality of the hat.
"The quality of the hat body used to make a hat is the main factor that determines the X�s. In felt it is determined by the percentage of fur�s used in making the hat body. We use beaver, mink, chinchilla and other animal fur to make bodies. The mixture of which furs we use determines the X�s. In straw, the X�s are also determined by the body used to make the hat. The tighter the weave and narrower the straw reed used to make the hat, the better X quality is marked in the hat."

[Drew Wiley]

I learned about the X's from real cowboys, and at that time was told that the more X's and higher the price was strictly related to how long the hat had been worn and how strong the authentic cow/barnyard smell was! If an urban cowboy walked into the bar without the appropriate curl, stain, and aroma on his hat, he was thrashed. But contrary
to all these stereotypes, I am now in possession of Ansel's original manuscript and contract
with the Stetson company for the loupe-based numbering system. It's actually for sale.
Just contact my lawyer, a Mr. Norsigian, I believe.

[cowanw]

Ah, If only it were so; I would get a short brimmed hat for a 1x loupe and improve my eyesight tenfold.

[cowanw]

And, analogous to pornography, the more X's, the more beaver.

[premortho]

Bless you for the humor. I never saw urban cowboys getting thrashed JUST for having the hat, but not the experience. Usually they were just shunned. And it was social suicide for one of "our" girls to hang with them. One of the girls expressed some admiration for the drugstore cowboy's rig. Her girlfriend told her she couldn't tell the difference between Naugahide and cowhide.

And, analogous to pornography, the more X's, the more beaver.

[John Kasaian]

I learned about the X's from real cowboys, and at that time was told that the more X's and higher the price was strictly related to how long the hat had been worn and how strong the authentic cow/barnyard smell was! If an urban cowboy walked into the bar without the appropriate curl, stain, and aroma on his hat, he was thrashed. But contrary
to all these stereotypes, I am now in possession of Ansel's original manuscript and contract
with the Stetson company for the loupe-based numbering system. It's actually for sale.
Just contact my lawyer, a Mr. Norsigian, I believe.

ROLFMAO! Thanks, Drew!