Good lupe for under 100?

[Imagowan]

Any thoughts?

[Ari]

For general 4x5 and 8x10 use, I have a Peak 5x:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._5x_Loupe.html

For wide angle lenses, or critical focusing on 4x5, I use this loupe from Edmund Optics:

http://www.edmundoptics.com/microsco...2020?#products

[gregmo]

I have had good success with Peak. I use at 10x loop for GG focusing & a 15x loop for negatives/ slides on the light table.

[BrianShaw]

Any thoughts?

Actually, yes, I have had the same thoughts.

For the past 30 years or so I've been making good use of inexpensive 4x loupes and wonder if it is worth spending more money on one.

[Alan Gales]

I use a Toyo 3.5X and I really like it. I paid about $45.00 for it new but you can only find them used anymore.

If I was looking for a new loupe today I think I would buy a Peak.

[photonsoup]

If your handy, make your own http://www.largeformatphotography.info/loupe/

I bought a old junk lens for $10.00 and made one. It works great for me

[John Kasaian]

Agfa 9x is around $8. It works. The tilting Silvestri 6x was a wee under $80 when I bought mine. The Toyos seem to be the most popular.
You can also use a linen tester---not at all expensive and IIRC Ron Wisner mentioned that he actually preferred using a linen tester.
If I had a linen tester, I'd name it either "John" or "Vladimir"
If I had two linen testers I'd call 'em the "Linen Sisters" (cue the champagne music, Lawrence!)

[Rollinhofuji]

I recently acquired a used Schneider 4x MC loupe for 40€ (perhaps 55 USD). Works great for me (4x5), although for extra critical focus something with more magnification would be helpful (say 8x or 10x). The good point on those high-end loupes is the big eyepoint, no distortions, no chromatic aberration. I suggest to get one without at ransparent sleeve/base/barrel or however you call this. The advantage is that you can frequently use it without a dark cloth that way. I usually check composition under the cloth, then check focus with the cloth removed - much more convenient and works for not too critical objects.

[DannL]

I've used a number of loupes over the years, but none of those have ever preformed as well as the front lens assembly taken from a 35mm projector. For many years now I've used the front lens taken from a Minolta Mini-35 projector (Chiyoko P-Rokkor 2.5/75). Hands-down my favorite. For viewing on the light table I'll occasionally use a Kodak Ektanar 5", but for close-up detailed viewing I will use the lens which was taken from an old office copier. An old fast enlarger lens would probably be easier to acquire.

[Regular Rod]

For focusing in the field have any of you tried eschewing the loupe and instead taking a pair of +5 or greater "reading glasses"? It's quite effective because you view the whole image at the same time as focusing. They are dirt cheap from eBay and so I carry a pair in each LF bag.

RR