For close upwork, do you prefer an Optivisor, or Adjustable Swing Arm Magnifier Lamp ?

I got my dad an optivisor, and he seems to like it better. He does a lot of paint by numbers as well as models. I would suggest that you try a couple of the options to see what works best for you. You can always return the items that don't work.

Defiantly an optivisor. I used to have a magnifying lamp but didn't like it. I often found it difficult to position where I really wanted it. Plus I found it awkward to work around, trying to paint with my hands behind the lamp. With the headband, you simply magnify exactly what your looking at without having to get it into position. And one less thing to clutter up the desk.

And most headbands come with different lenses for different magnifications.

Optivisor.

optivisor. it gives a proper "depth" to what you see rather than a 2d view, Try sticking on tiny pe with an eyeglass!! and you dont have to have what you are working on in one place.

be carefull tho' . i am forever fliping the front lens up and banging it into stuff.

Visor.  

I have both.  I had to press my nose into the big magnifying lens of the swing lamp and hold the piece just right on the other side.  Paint brush handle kept banging into the lamp.

Paul

Optivisor hands down!  I had the same questions not too long ago.  I went to Staples and checked out all the magnifiers, looked on Amazon for best prices, you know the routine.  Then one day my wife found a cheap set with a 5 lens case.  Can't remember where she found it, but it was an Optivisor type.  Best purchase I have ever made!!!!!  I can't do a lot of the detail work without them, and you have more freedom of movement with the visor.  If you get one with changeable lenses, you have even more options depending on what detail work you are doing.  I think you would be MUCH happier with the visor.  Just my .

Definitely let us know what you decide and get!

Eagle90

with my eye sight, should i combine both?

Okay, I am a contrarion.  I find the more light I have on the area, the better I see (stopping down the eye to a higher f/#).  So I use one of those ring light magnifiers.  But, I also use a pair of high diopter reading glasses as my primary vision aid.  Only if that does not work do I lower the light (which is my normal bench light) down so I can see through the magnifier.  So with both the supplemental glasses plus the ring magnifier, I REALLY get magnification.  BTW, the magnifier is large- five to six inches, so I can see through it with both eyes, maintaining my depth perception quite well.

I use the optivisor when building plastic and the swing lamp magnification for paper models. Some times both for both types of modelling.

I only have a magnifying lamp, but one thing I don't like about it is going back and forth from items under magnification and not.  I find it messes with my eyes focusing.

The lamp is fixed, whereas the visor seems like it goes where your head goes.  One day maybe ill get one too.

Something to consider.

You might also try a "loupe" set. Its one of the monocle looking things that goes over one eye.

I've used them in painting face detail on figures.

Harbor Freight has a set for about $4.

I stopped at Harbor Freight, and thier knock-off Optivisor was on sale for $3.99. It's got a fixed 1.8 lens, a flip down 2.3, and a loop for 4.8. It has lights (a bit cheesy) - but the lens are really good. Overall,   a very good buy !   I like it

Scott

www.harborfreight.com/magnifier-head-strap-with-lights-38896.html

I use a magnifier as I my eyes don't work like "normal" people so I don't technically see in 3D ( I can swap doninant eye for those of you who kow about these things) so the depth precetion isn't a problem and I get a much larger area to work with under a lot more light.

Phil

R-4360

I stopped at Harbor Freight, and thier knock-off Optivisor was on sale for $3.99. It's got a fixed 1.8 lens, a flip down 2.3, and a loop for 4.8. It has lights (a bit cheesy) - but the lens are really good. Overall,   a very good buy !   I like it

Scott

www.harborfreight.com/magnifier-head-strap-with-lights-38896.html

I had one of those to start with, minus the light. The monocle piece didn't last long, but it did me for a couple of years until I bought my current one.

In addition to an optivsor,I also keep a pair of glasses I got from orvis,used for tying fliies. About twice the power you can get from those reading glasses from the drug store.depends on how much magnification you need for the task at hand

Optivisor, 1.25 readers, and 2.50 readers in combination believe it or not!  The Optivisor with the 2.5 readers for close up work (#3 lens), the 1.25s are for seeing the game on TV, the 2.5 readers are also used to find stuff on the bench.  If I need a lot of light, the lighted magnifier is right there waiting.  And yes, I do get mixed up when the big play goes down and I'm hurriedly tilting my head back and forth to find the 1.25s.

May go 1/24th scale 

Well, for now I just use a magnifying glass but finding 48th scale is getting a bit challenging as my eyes continue to weaken, perhaps 1/32 scale as a step though.

I have both but prefer my Optivisor.  I know a lot of people buy the bigger, more expensive versions of the Optivisor but may I suggest this one for Optivisor: www.doneganoptical.com/.../optisight .

I really like it because it's light and since there is no "top" to it, it provides a lot of light to come through.

-Jesse

I prefer reading glasses, 2.5 and up to 3.0. That is ample for me.

cheers Leo

nose prints and safety glasses. will have to practice more with optivisor

Have you decided yet?

This is one of those things where you will just have to try both and see which one YOU like.

Unless you want the top of the line products these items are cheap enough to have both.

Optivisor, no doubt. Set it and forget it.

Well I agree on saving $$$ when possible but I did not want to buy a cheep product and the first time I go to adjust the head band or something it breaks. It looks like a lot of you buy the cheaper ones and are having good luck with them. Off to Amazon to take a look, Thanks

If you want the name brand Optivisor, Squadron, Mega Hobbies, and Sprue Brothers sell them. I'm sure Amazon does too.

That said - consider the reading glasses. I've worn prescription glasses since I was 15, I'm near sighted, so when I was younger, I took my glasses off the work on models. But now I'm 51, and my closeup vision has suffered.  Yes, I have bifocals, but they still weren't working for modeling. Never even considered readers - but one day in Walmart, I just decided to slip on a pair  -  I was amazed ! I bought some 1.5's, and 3.0's.

I wear the 1.5's most of the time, and 3.0's for small stuff. When teamed up with optivisor - it's like looking through a microscope!

Scott

Hi Scott, i use reading glasses 2.5 7 3.0 and use 2 IKEA bench mountable lamps for lighting. I tried  the Optivisor and found it uncomfortable on my head.

Cheers

Leo

Optivisor, since it doesn't limit me to sitting pretty much in one spot when looking at things. airbrushing, etc.