Optivisor Recommendations

About 40 years ago, well before I needed glasses, I bought the Optivisor with #4 marked in a corner. Worked extremely well for close up details, but didn't need them often.

Then, at age 45, I suddenly realized that print and model details had become much smaller. (:>) So I went with gradually stronger reading glasses, finding them to be almost as useful as the original strength Optivisor, at last check I could double up the readers if needed, combination of 2.75 and 3.75 worked great.

Now if working really close I can use the 2.75 correction readers, combined with the new #7 Optivisor, looks awful but effective. Like the others, if you can find a reader set from the El Cheapo store, (where I bought mine,) I'd surely recommend that over the Optivisor. $1-$5 is a lot better than the $60 plus Optivisor. It the readers work for you, great, otherwise try the HF model.

The only thing really measurable in effectivenss, is the clearly superior optical quality of the Optivisor. They are really good, but don't buy them unless you find them to be notably better.

This hobby shouldn't break the piggy bank.

Patrick

plasticjunkie

 

gregbale

I picked up a cheap knock-off version at Harbor Freight and have been totally happy with it (going on 2 yrs. now). Item #38896, currently listing for five bucks. Link here

 

 

 

 

Ditto. I've been using the same one from HF for almost 5 years and bought another as spare. I started with the 3 and 4x glasses but find the HF product better to use.

 

My girlfriend gave me a pair for Christmas 2 years ago.  There also good for other uses around the house where a little extra light is needed & you need both hands.

gregbale

I picked up a cheap knock-off version at Harbor Freight and have been totally happy with it (going on 2 yrs. now). Item #38896, currently listing for five bucks. Link here

 

Ditto. I've been using the same one from HF for almost 5 years and bought another as spare. I started with the 3 and 4x glasses but find the HF product better to use.

I find glasses to be easier to use than an Optivisor. I purchased a pair of +5.00 and a another pair of +6.00 reading glasses off Amazon for $9 each. I don't use them for long periods of time, but, they are very helpful in seeing small details. And best of all, I look like a complete nerd.

If you don't need glasses ordinarily, cheap reading glasses may work fine.  We have dollar stores around here that have such glasses at a buck apiece, and places like Walmart have them for around five bucks.  Try some on with about half to one diopter.  The fancy optivisor types are very high magnification.  Once you get to high magification the prisms in those fancy ones prevent eyestrain. If you go above about two diopters with reading glasses you may get headaches if you use them for a long time without breaks, but if you don't ordinarily require reading glasses lower diopters may work fine for you, and the reading glasses will be cheaper and less junk on your head.

I picked up a cheap knock-off version at Harbor Freight and have been totally happy with it (going on 2 yrs. now). Item #38896, currently listing for five bucks. Link here