4x loupe

[BKP]

I'm looking to buy a 4x loupe. I have used a Toyo loupe for years. I would get another or Rodenstock or Schneider. Something up to 6x with a non clear base and rubber on gg side. (like the Toyo) B+H does not seem to list them anymore. Are they still available new? Where? Thanks? bkp

[Drew Wiley]

I really like the Peak 7X version, which also turns up under Horseman, Wista, and Nikon brand labels. Most of the fancy 4X versions seem just too bulky for me.

[BrianShaw]

There is a 6x loupe (new) at various eBay sellers and at CatLabs. I have no knowledge of quality, though. I’m tempted….

[esearing]

You can wrap a clear base with electrical tape , So even an inexpensive loupe will work. I tend to drop them into rushing water or off steep slopes so I keep several of the peak inexpensive models on hand. I have added a string and a floating keychain to my kit for when near water so I at least have a chance of retrieving it.

[Drew Wiley]

I've never scratched a groundglass with one; but if you are paranoid, it's easy enough to apply your own soft tape or thin rubber to the bottom.

[Tin Can]

How do you know you need 4X? I ask that for all readers of this thread

I went through many loupes, finding an adjustable 9X best for me

2 years ago I bought this in the all black, discontinued version

https://www.edmundoptics.com/p/9x-transparent-base-magnifier/1845/

As pointed out below, cover the light on the clear ones with black

[Daniel Unkefer]

I just bought an old Pitman 10X Printer's Magnifier to replace a similar one that hit the floor and cracked.

[Benjamin]

I have the Rodenstock Aspheric 4x. Got it from eBay. Works wonderfully.

[Songyun]

I got one from China. I don't think it is available in the US yet. I think the optics are similar to the toys loupe I used to own. I don't have side by side comparison. I like the look better.
216685
216686

[Hugo Zhang]

I have two Rodenstock 4x loupes and used it a lot. A few months ago I got a Chamonix 5x loupe. Not adjustable, but much brighter. Now the Rodenstock loupes are not in my camera bag anymore.

[Hugo Zhang]

I got one from China. I don't think it is available in the US yet. I think the optics are similar to the toys loupe I used to own. I don't have side by side comparison. I like the look better.
216685
216686

It is available from Chamonix website at $160.

[Bernice Loui]

Historically the Schneider 4x loupe with the snap interchangeable closed or diffuser base was very common and accepted standard for a good film viewing light box loupe. Did double duty as a ground glass focuser loupe with the closed base.

IMO 4x is not enough magnification, but bright aiding focusing for some, not all eyes.

The all time fave GG focusing loupe has been the Horseman 7x. Larger diameter GG loupe does produce a larger/brighter image at lower magnifications, trade off being the physical diameter and size of the loupe tends to limit where the loupe can be placed on the GG. Long style focusing loupes tend to get in the way in the weirdest ways. Having owned-used a long list of these long GG focusing loupes, they have all found another home.

Other option of the Horseman 7x loupe, it can be flipped 180 degrees and used off angle (tilted) making it a LOT more effective when working with a really wide angle lens. This is where a fresnel, long and larger diameter focusing loupe does not do good at all.

After a few decades and LOTs of looking into, these loupes are not so pretty any more.
216688

Regardless, of loupe preference, it is important the distance between eye to GG is adjustable and stay adjusted. Rubber base ends to have too much traction against the GG (slows down and adds grief to the focusing process). The GG is not gonna scratch that easy given the base of the Horseman 7x loupe is anodized aluminum, slide easy and good on the GG. Never scratched the GG during the decades of using this loupe.



Bernice

[rfesk]

I have used the Horseman loupe and still have it. I like the Toyo 4x loupe the best. And, have used a late model Hasselblad chimney finder also.

[BKP]

Thankyou very much, I'll look into finding one. Any suggestions where to look would be appreciated. Years ago I was very near sighted, which was not a problem for gg or easel close up viewing. I have since had cataract surgery, my distance viewing is better than it ever was but I have lost my "natural macro viewing." I feel the advice of 7x is sound. Thankyou bk

[Alan Klein]

Historically the Schneider 4x loupe with the snap interchangeable closed or diffuser base was very common and accepted standard for a good film viewing light box loupe. Did double duty as a ground glass focuser loupe with the closed base.

IMO 4x is not enough magnification, but bright aiding focusing for some, not all eyes.

The all time fave GG focusing loupe has been the Horseman 7x. Larger diameter GG loupe does produce a larger/brighter image at lower magnifications, trade off being the physical diameter and size of the loupe tends to limit where the loupe can be placed on the GG. Long style focusing loupes tend to get in the way in the weirdest ways. Having owned-used a long list of these long GG focusing loupes, they have all found another home.

Other option of the Horseman 7x loupe, it can be flipped 180 degrees and used off angle (tilted) making it a LOT more effective when working with a really wide angle lens. This is where a fresnel, long and larger diameter focusing loupe does not do good at all.

After a few decades and LOTs of looking into, these loupes are not so pretty any more.
216688

Regardless, of loupe preference, it is important the distance between eye to GG is adjustable and stay adjusted. Rubber base ends to have too much traction against the GG (slows down and adds grief to the focusing process). The GG is not gonna scratch that easy given the base of the Horseman 7x loupe is anodized aluminum, slide easy and good on the GG. Never scratched the GG during the decades of using this loupe.



Bernice
Why is it important the distance between eye to GG is adjustable and stay adjusted?

[Bernice Loui]

Distance between loupe base to optics to eye must be properly adjusted, then set to focus the magnified image into your eye. Given this distance is different for each individual, this must be a fine incremental adjustment and stay fixed once set.

Every good Foto loupe has this adjustment.

This is the all time fave non-ground glass loupe, Schneider 6x Aspheric. Got this when Schneider first introduced it. Previous to this was the Schneider 4x (essentially industry standard back then) Compared to all others including the Rodenstock Aspheric (think it was re-designed after introduction), it was by FAR the best. Lowest distortion, bright with GOOD resolution and adjustable.
216721

Back side, skirts off. The leather case was from another German made long ground glass focusing loupe that got another home.
216722


Fujifilm gave away these 4x loupes back in the day when Fuji introduced Velvia and their "new" Fujichrome. These have a metal housing with a skirt slider, multi-coated glass optics and very good loupe as a free promo item.
216723


The big Peak 6x.
216724


All these lopues have adjustable optical system to bottom of skirt adjustments that are damped to resist movement once set. Keep in mind these loupes were designed to be used to view film on a light table. Ground glass duty was an option.



Bernice






Why is it important the distance between eye to GG is adjustable and stay adjusted?

[Exploring Large Format]

Why is it important the distance between eye to GG is adjustable and stay adjusted?

Once I re-dialed in the loupe for my eye, it eliminated big frustration after the focus point had shifted. Painting the two white dots on the barrels to mark "my perfect focus", all guesswork was eliminated. Due to damping on my 7x loupes (same but one branded Horseman, other branded Calumet), the focus tends to stay put...but not always. Dots are insurance.

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51249088706_781749f8a3_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2m5GYzG)PARAGON Loupe by Pitman Co 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2m5GYzG) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Easy to see all the edges and corners at 10X with the PARAGON by Pitman Co. I used to use one of these when I worked in a Color Separation House. Great for viewing film or groundglass. Bought well used on Ebay for $25. Available brand new around $55.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51250137540_7f9cbaabec_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2m5Nmn3)PARAGON Loupe by Pitman Co 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2m5Nmn3) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Here fine focusing the top (taking lens) of my 4x5 TLR Sinar Norma.

[Drew Bedo]

I like my 4X Rodenstock.

In the past I have used an "Optivisor" head set like jeweers and watchmakers use.

I have also used a pair of perscription "reading" glasses with high magnification ("high" for reading glasses).

[Greg]

My main loupes are a Pentax 5.5x, simple magnifier, Agfa Lupe 8x, small 10x loupe, and a pair of prescription eyeglasses.

Pentax 5.5X: This is my favorite loupe except for using it with WA and extreme WA lenses. The top lens on the Pentax is almost double the diameter of the Peak/Horsemen 6x that it replaced. This makes a huge difference when using them on a GG. The bottom base is clear. I have heard that an interchangeable opaque base was also available.

Plain/simple magnifier used by Eugene Smith: Excellent for using with WA and ultra WA lenses. Most people think that W Eugene Smith only used 35mm cameras. According to his son, who I got the loupe from, he also was very adept in using an 8x10 Sinar Norma to photograph his Pittsburg essay.

Agfa Lupe 8x: Honestly the loupe I use the most. Totally plastic but it just works and takes up very little room. Can be accidently dropped onto a rock without worrying about breaking glass. Lots of times I leave the much larger Pentax home and take another lens in its place.

Small 10x loupe: Use this one on the GG of my 4x5 Nikon Multiphot. Came with the Multiphot but I don't think that Nikon offered it. Too much magnification for me in the field.

Prescription close up eyeglasses allow me to view the GG from approximately 5-6 inches away. My Optometrist called them jeweler's eyeglasses since the only other pair he ever had made was for an amateur jeweler. With these both hands are free, but they are not as precise as my Pentax loupe.

Addendum: Just found my Linhof 8X loupe. Being smaller than my Agfa 8x Lupe, it regularly got misplaced, and one time even left behind. Presently I am trying to figure out how to attach a fluorescent sunglass strap to it using heat shrinking tubing. It will then replace my Agfa lupe.

[BrianShaw]

Sorry to dig up an old and seemingly resolved thread. I've ben following this (and others, perhaps) because I've never had a loupe that really satisfied all my needs. Smaller 4x loupes worked with some cameras but gave me fits with cameras that had hoods. Yes, I could always remove the hood but like them for GG protection when not in use. So looking for a vintage loupe and frustrated because of cost and that most are in Japan. So opted to try a new made-in-china loupe, eTone 6x. For under $100 received a really well made loupe that really works great for my applications. Adjustable focus; rubber ends; metal construction; clear glass... and a neck strap too. There are several eBay vendors (who I think really might be the same organization using different names) - some shipping from China; others shipping from Kentucky. Delivery time was about 7 days from order.

[Joshua Dunn]

Peak makes an inexpensive 5x loupe (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/40687-REG/Peak_1301960_5x_Loupe.html) for about $15. It works pretty well and if you drop it or step on it in the field you haven't broken the bank.

-Joshua

[eli]

To protect the contact edges and prevent them from scratching glass, etc, simply clean the bottom edges with alcohol, and dip the first half to one inch base, repeatedly in a can of Plastidip (plastic dip), which is easy to find in North America.

Just allow the unmolested layers to 'cure' on a clean piece of polished glass or very clean stainless, sitting flatly upright.

You can use this with the entire clear base, but work cleanly, and quickly enough no to overcoat the piece or cause ugly drips/runs or protrusions.

[John Kasaian]

I've been served very well by a Silvestri 6x tilting loupe, the Sophia Loren of loupes.

[DougD]

I am a fan of the Pentax 5.5x lupe for looking at negatives. It's too big for practical ground glass use.