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  1. 250scr Feb 1, 2015

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    What would be the recommended power loupe for a novice like me trying to look at dials etc? Thank you
     
  2. redpcar Feb 1, 2015

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    While we wait for the true watchmakers to chime in. I'm a novice. I like 10X for the loupe for the close stuff and 3.5X glasses for regular work. A stereo microscope would be your next step ;)
     
  3. 250scr Feb 1, 2015

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    Do you have other powers or just those? And any glassmakers you like over the others?
     
  4. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist Feb 1, 2015

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    I like my 5x loupe for eyeballing dials. I also use a 10x loupe for very fine detail, but it's usually overkill for my purposes.
     
  5. 250scr Feb 1, 2015

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    Ok, so a vote for a 3.5x and 5x.
     
  6. redpcar Feb 1, 2015

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    As a hobby, go cheap. But there is a difference between cheapie and a good lens. I've made my own straps out of misc springs clooney.jpg .......I replicate what I see in pics of real watchmakers ;) You can buy just about every power out there. All have different focal lengths. A lot of it depends on your age (strength of your eye's ability to focus)
    I have a friend who used to work at the Rolex facility in Dallas. He lets me sit in his shop from time to time. I watch in awe and make a million mental notes on his moves.
     
  7. flyingout Feb 1, 2015

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    Interesting timing. I just today received a new 10x Triplet (BelOMO). I didn't realize how blind I had been with the el cheapo doublet I had been using before. A huge improvement although I assume even it is far from professional grade.
     
  8. 250scr Feb 1, 2015

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    I do still have 20/20 vision, but I have noticed now that I can't read the fine print any closer than 6 inches from my eyes. That would be a neat experience to watch someone in action that knows what they are doing.
     
  9. 250scr Feb 1, 2015

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    Triplet meaning there's 3 lenses?
     
  10. flyingout Feb 1, 2015

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    Right. Less distortion. Don't ask me any harder questions; I just learned this yesterday.
     
  11. 250scr Feb 1, 2015

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    Ha. You would think looking through just 1 lens instead of 3 would be less distortion. But then again I'm not in the glassmaking business.
     
  12. flyingout Feb 1, 2015

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    I told you. Nothing hard.

    It must be like camera lenses, where elements correct for each other. But I'm just pulling this out of my arse.
     
  13. JimInOz Melbourne Australia Feb 1, 2015

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    Excellent quality for the price, I use mine all the the time.

    Here's a good write-up on them.
     
    NT931 and flyingout like this.
  14. 250scr Feb 1, 2015

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    Thanks for this.
     
  15. ulackfocus Feb 1, 2015

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    That's all you'd ever need unless you become a professional or want to drive yourself crazy seeing imperfections.
     
  16. 250scr Feb 1, 2015

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    Are you a triplet lens person or do you think a single lens is sufficient?
     
  17. flyingout Feb 1, 2015

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    I have no idea what you are talking about.

    IMG_1091.jpg
     
  18. 250scr Feb 1, 2015

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    Is that a 10 power in the photo?
     
  19. flyingout Feb 1, 2015

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    Yeah. It's the very loupe JimInOz's link talks about.

    That was just now taken with my iPhone. It's a pretty good representation of the magnification you see in real life but not the sharpness or brightness.
     
  20. 250scr Feb 1, 2015

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    So, can you tell a big difference in clarity compared to your cheaper loupe?