Do you know of any magnifier glasses that can be used for prolonged closeup work?
I have good close range (up to ~50cm) vision, so I only need to magnify, not to correct vision, nor do I need them to go over glasses (but this could be nice if they work for ~1m range).
These http://www.dealextreme.com/p/eyewear-style-eye-glasses-1-5-2-5-3-5-magnifier-with-led-light-3-1130-batteries-35607 give me headache.
I keep about several different magnification cheap reading glasses around so that I can switch to whatever power I need , +1 , +1.25 , +2 , and so on up to +3.75 ( I only use this level of magnification to remove splinters because I can't focus on anything past 10 inches or so.)
I buy my glasses at a dollar store for a buck or two .
How long does it take to get a headache? Perhaps its just unavoidable if you wear them for anything but a short time?
I was thinking of buying magnifying glasses like those myself. Are they usable for short times at all?
I thought about ordering these
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/led-headlamp-with-5-set-magnifier-glasses-2823
they seem better than harbor freight's but a little pricey, too
I can't wear those things for any lenght of time due to headaches. Finally my wife gave me her lighted magnified lamp that she used to use for needlepoint. I can use that for long periods of time and it doesn't give me headaches because I can back away from it easily and move my head from it.
Something on the lines of this kind of lamp.
I use a bosh and lomb (spelling?). head visor. has tons of different magnification inserts for any job. plus it’s hands free and doesn’t get in the way
i kinda like this here
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110780423884?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
i can move it anywhere i want and don't have to have anything on my head.
I use regular cheap reading glasses. No headaches unless you forget to take them off when viewing things farther away.
Huh, reading glasses sounds right, I didn't think about it. Thanks. :)
Unlucky for me, they cost locally more than a buck or two (more like 15$ minimum), so it's again shopping online from abroad.
I think I'll take more than one pair. What do you say - 1.25 and 2.5? Should cover my working range... I think. Maybe 3 instead of the 2.5?
This seller offers the cheapest I've found (with metal frame, I'll probably be able to make a better fit than with set plastic frame), and says it's "aspheric" lens. Looks ok? http://www.ebay.com/itm/CLASSICAL-READING-GLASSES-SPECTACLES-HALF-EYE-GOLD-ALL-10-STRENGTHS-U82-/290640469770
Why not getting the little contraption with helping alligator clips and a magnifying glass? I'ts perfect for soldering circuit boards or similar work.
You can pretty much focus for the required job and stop using it any second if headaches arises. The clips are very helpful for circuit board, wires soldering.
I've seen them going for like 6-9usd shipped so better do a research around.
a good one (if you have soldering in mind):
And the dirt cheap:
And a flashaholic worthy one with leds 
:
I already have one but I find it very inconvenient - the magnifying glass interferes with the soldering iron, and I can only see the soldering iron after it is too close to the board... Also, it's not steady enough for me, I always manage to tip it over at some point during soldering.
And anyway I'd like to have more maneuverability with this magnifying glasses, so I can use it when dismantling electronics, looking at flowers in the field or doing some other close range activity.
Today I received the reading glasses I ordered from eBay seller stuartneil2004 (post #8 above). Extremely fast shipping, but the package was not very good - just a bubble envelope with the three pairs of glasses sitting in there together, no protection from each other and no protection from bending other than the envelope itself. But they arrived in good shape, so maybe it's enough.
I ordered 1.25, 2.25 and 3.5 diopters. The quality of the glasses is not the greatest, to say the least, but I didn't expect much at this price. Probably on par with other non prescription glasses on dollar stores.
Anyway, I found that they don't really magnify, but rather let me focus on an object from a closer distance, so I can see it bigger.
Maybe they'll serve fine for soldering, I don't know.
I guess what I really wanted are binoculars that can focus below 50cm range, and magnify 2 to 8 times. (they're called dental/medical/surgical loupes/binoculars) Can't find one at a reasonable price, unfortunately...
interesting thing to have, probably you find that at 20$, not o cheap and don't looks of the best quality
Exactly, and this is an auction - these things sell at "buy it now" for about 50$, while the better quality ones are north of 200$.
I just happened to notice these on DX frontpage today.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/glasses-type-20x-magnifier-with-white-led-light-2-x-cr1620-116296
I doubt they're very useful.
I bought some sunglasses from them once and the lenses warped your vision enough to give you a headache and make your eyes hurt - but you couldn't tell just by looking at the surface of the lenses.
I don't know anything about optometry, but I suspect that's not very good for your vision lol
haha sry even realized that was an action, 50$ are money for something that you're not sure if it will do the job
what about that? xD
LOL, I can see myself soldering 2cm from the board with these 20X magnifiers... :)
ok.. that
I do own one of those, but I fixed the loupes to another pair of goggles. The quality is mediocre, but very good for a dental loupe that cheap. My colleagues all bought the expensive versions for 800€+, so I deciced to give the cheap one a try before ordering an expensive one. Turns out the performance is quite similar, only the build quality is so so.
I have this, although I don't use the magnifier much
http://www.harborfreight.com/helping-hands-319.html
it works well. there's no way I could solder to drivers by hand. I hot glued it to a coffee can and hot glued the can to a 5lb barbell weight 