opti visor?

Not a substitute for Optivisors, but what I have done that seems to work well for most close up work is to buy prescription reading specs.  Cost isn't as bad as you think and my eyes are different enough that store bought ones don't cut it.  I started with my standard reading prescription 1.25 and 1.75. (Something like that anyways.)  I added 1.5 and 3.0 to each and ordered a pair of  2.75 / 3.25 and a pair of 4.25 / 4.75 specs.

I used Zenni optical, an online store and you can pick up two pair of specs for under $25 bucks shipped.  My wife is a long time Opthalmic technician and she kind steered me along the way.  Additional info you will need to order your specs beyond teh normal prescription info is your frame size (width???) and your PD. (Info that you should be able to get when you get your eyes checked. 

 With that said, I seem to do all I need with these two pair of specs BUT... I've not tried PE yet. I'm still new to modeling and PE isn't a player until I get to the next kit in my mini-stash.

Cheers

D

With 8 dollar shipping, not a bad tool..

http://www.hobbytool.com/lightedmagnifierheadwearwremovableled.aspx

I ran out to Harbor Freight yesterday and picked up a pair of the $6 optivisor knockoff.  For $6 its not to bad. the lights a a bit a cheap side but the lenses were better than expected. Can't beat this item for $6 though.

Cheers

D

Wrinkledm wrote:

I ran out to Harbor Freight yesterday and picked up a pair of the $6 optivisor knockoff.  For $6 its not to bad. the lights a a bit a cheap side but the lenses were better than expected. Can't beat this item for $6 though. Cheers D

I have one of those as well minus the lights as I think the lights are a gimmick. They do have pretty good optical quality though and are comfortable to wear. 

MikeV wrote:

Wrinkledm wrote: I ran out to Harbor Freight yesterday and picked up a pair of the $6 optivisor knockoff.  For $6 its not to bad. the lights a a bit a cheap side but the lenses were better than expected. Can't beat this item for $6 though. Cheers D I have one of those as well minus the lights as I think the lights are a gimmick. They do have pretty good optical quality though and are comfortable to wear.

Whole things a gimmick. Not taking any chances with MY eyes.          

  ~I was just reading Mark Bannerman's book " Modelling Scale Figures ", and although it's rather basic stuff, it's interesting to hear  how and why a master of our craft does things. Anyways, he  talks about the nessessity of some sort of optics, and says you need at least some cheap reading glasses, but preferablely the Optivisor by Donegan with  a # 5 lens. Similar to what I posted above about the #4 lens, he says about the #5 lens(not alot different), and like we both said,it's up to personal preference....but the weaker ones will have you straining, and the more powerful ones are just impractical.              ~in other words... Cheap optics may be better than no optics, if you are otherwise straining for hours at a time to work, but good quality optics are not very expensive and well worth getting .

Postal wrote:

does anyone know where you can order replacement black knobs that are found on the side of the visor?  One of mine seems to have gone missing.

Presumably you can order replacement parts from Donegan, contact info follows:

http://www.doneganoptical.com/contact.php