Greetings. The latest saga in my modeling is that I needed to upgrade my bench with a magnifier of some sort. Generally, my readers with clip-on magnifiers are fine. Sometimes, I need a little more magnification. The clip-ons do have the option to change out lenses when needed. But-- it can be somewhat of a pain to switch back and forth. I am all about finding easier and more efficient methods.
I already have a lighted desktop magnifier that stands on the bench. It is similar to the gooseneck type, only this has pivoting arms. I hate it. It takes up valuable real estate, and most of the time the lens does not position where I would like. Usually, I have to stand in order to use it. That is not how I like to work with intricate things. I set out to find a better solution. To the internet I go.
I looked at floor mounted units, and other types similar to what I have now. None of them rang my bell. Then it struck me. All that I need is a small tabletop magnifier that will position between my line of sight, down to where my arms and hands rest while working. To my surprise there are plenty of magnifiers like that. But--I have found only one that will fit my bill.
What I have found is somewhat of a gamechanger for me. For maybe 80% of the time, this can replace using my clip-on system. All that I need is my readers. When I need serious magnification, I will use both. My clip-on system works very well, but they can get painful to wear for long periods of time. The added weight of the lenses makes the rig dig into the bridge of my nose.
Anyway--below is what it looks like. It has a large magnifier, and two LEDs for lighting when more light is needed. (I have not tried the LEDs yet.) More importantly, the arm that holds the lens has 3 pivot points. This allows me to position the magnifier exactly how I want it. I tried this thing and it works great for me. It allows me to work as I normally do, with arms and hands resting on the bench for stability. The large lens doesn't make you feel like you are looking through a narrow field of view. It feels very natural, and very comfortable. The main lens is only 2x, but that is exactly what I need. The smaller 6x is not that useful. It distorts pretty badly.
I bought this from Amazon for $16.95. What a bargain.
https://www.amazon.com/Large-Magnifier-Folding-Light-Jumbo/dp/B075MHXC66/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1535837361&sr=8-9&keywords=magnifying+glass+with+light+large
Thought I'd share the latest.