Optivisor

[robert3985]

My recommendation had nothing to do with the brand name. I have owned my Optivisor for over 20 years. In those years I have tried several other brands of similar magnifiers. The quality of their construction (lens and headband materials) and overall feel (on your head) just wasn't the same. As Greg said, YMMV.

I agree 100% with Peteski.  Optivisors are "it" for my eyes (I have three complete visors which hang on my wall next to my workbench when one of them is not on my head.)  My choice also has nothing to do with brand recognition, but with what works best for me.  I do not give a rat's weenie about being part of the "in" crowd.

[Mark.S+10]

I wanted a Optivisor, but needed something right now while I saved up the money for the Optivisor.  So I bought one of these: "2 LED Lighted Glass Head Headband Magnifier Magnifying Loupe Lens Visor Watch Repair Light 10x Magnification"  from Amazon for $6.80.  That was two years ago.  I haven't seen the need to replace it with an Optivisor yet.

Have fun, Mark

[peteski]

I wanted a Optivisor, but needed something right now while I saved up the money for the Optivisor.  So I bought one of these: "2 LED Lighted Glass Head Headband Magnifier Magnifying Loupe Lens Visor Watch Repair Light 10x Magnification"  from Amazon for $6.80.  That was two years ago.  I haven't seen the need to replace it with an Optivisor yet.

Have fun, Mark

I'm curious,  have ever tried out the Optivisor to see how it compares to your magnifier?

Hey, either way, to some people the quality of the tools they use is not all that important (or doesn't make a difference).

[Philip H]

Hey, either way, to some people the quality of the tools they use is not all that important (or doesn't make a difference).

Peteski,
I think you hit an important nail on the head at the end of your sentence.  With so many choices out there for lighting and magnification, going strictly Optivisor may well not work for folks, because they have tools that are high quality and meet their needs consistently over time, but aren't Optivisors.  As long as they are 1) happy with their tool of choice, 2) modeling regularly with it, and 3) posting their results here for us to nitpick apart (!), then frankly you are wasting your time trying to convert them.

You got lucky 20 years ago to be able to afford an Optivisor - it obviously works very well for you, and for someone considering purchasing new that may be an important data point.  But if you keep shoving that down people's throats - which is how your continued "have you tried it yet" comments will be taken by some folks - you will not only set off needless flamewars (which are already smoldering here) but you'll end up with people having the wrong impression of you as a modeler and TRW member.

Frankly, as someone who used to dive for a living, and has worked far too many hours professionally at microscopes, I won't ever go optivisor - the sensation of restriction the overhanging/covered top brings me (and yes I've tried them on at friend's houses) is just too much.

[Kisatchie]

I just bought another new Optivisor - $50, so the cost isn't THAT prohibitive. It fits better than my generic version, and I NEVER had any problems with my eyes being in shadow, nor did I notice any decreased depth of field (caused by my eye pupils opening wider to adapt for my eyes being in shadows. I think that claim is bogus.


Hmm... Kis is an authority
 on "bogus"...

[PAL_Houston]

Here are the OptiVisor lens specs:

#2 lens is 1.5x magnification, focal length of 20"
#3 lens is 1.75x magnification, focal length of 14"
#4 lens is 2.0x magnification, focal length of 10"
#5 lens is 2.5x magnification, focal length of 8"
#7 lens is 2.75x magnification, focal length of 6"
#10 lens is 3.5x magnification, focal length of 4"


Hmm... while Kiz is listing
technical stuff, I'm gonna
grab me a beer and a
banana...



 

Thanks for this info.  It was very helpful to me:  I have gotten to the point where I can't see well enough with my bifocals what I used to be able to see un-aided.  And now I better just bite the bullet and admit I need even more than that!   

[Maybe Santa will be good to me and put one of these in my stocking this year!]

[Kisatchie]

Thanks for this info.

[Maybe Santa will be good to me and put one of these in my stocking this year!]

Glad to help.


Hmm... Kiz uses an
elephant's stocking
for Christmas...

[spr1955]

I have two, easier to switch instead of just the lenses, #4 & #7. I have tried several magnification methods but the Optivisor is the most versatile and the one I go to first.

[SP-Wolf]

I've gotta trow my hat into the optivisor ring. My nerd hat. My wife cracks up everytime I have it on. But - I can't get my modeling work done with out it.

Getting old can be a challenge,

Thanks,
Wolf

[wazzou]

I should have noted earlier that I have an Optivisor and have had it for years and years.  It's a #4 plate.  The best thing I did was add the 9V LED accessory lighting to it.

[robert3985]

I've gotta trow my hat into the optivisor ring. My nerd hat. My wife cracks up everytime I have it on. But - I can't get my modeling work done with out it.

Getting old can be a challenge,

Thanks,
Wolf

Here's a quote from the perfect woman..." Oooooo...I just LOVE it when you have Optivisor hair!!! "  Hehe...unfortunately, I haven't met her yet...

[Kisatchie]

Here's a quote from the perfect woman..." Oooooo...I just LOVE it when you have Optivisor hair!!! " 

Hell, I'm bald. My wife is a saint for putting up with me and all my N scale stuff.


Hmm... as long as Kiz has
bananas to feed me, I
don't care what kind of
hair (or lack thereof) he
has...

[Mark.S+10]

Peteski,

I haven't tried an Optivisor.  It is unusual for me, I like quality tools and usually find it worth while to buy the best.  My knock off visor was purchased because I need to spend $6.50 more to get free shipping on some books from Amazon.  None the less, I think it is a pretty good unit and an amazing deal for the price.

Have fun, Mark

[railnerd]

I would suggest trying to get hold of a copy of the handout from a clinic given at the 2004 NMRA National Convention in Seattle by Richard Meetz and Rich Weyand entitled "Eyesight, Aging and the Modeler".  They discussed various types of vision aids for the modeller (I will now change to the Canadian spelling) including, but not limited to, lighting and design considerations for visor-type devices.  The main one I recall was that the visor should not be solid across the top.  The reason given was that a solid top tended to place the modeller's eyes in a shaded area and the reduced ambient light level caused the iris to open up, with the resulting loss of depth of field.  An open top frame holding the lenses did not introduce this problem.  They also discussed focal length of lenses for various tasks and the use of lubricating eye drops to reduce dryness of the eyes.

This was a very informative clinic and, hopefully, has been repeated in an updated version at conventions more recent than PSX 2004.  If I can locate my copy of the handout or the Clinic Book, I will let you know.

Cheers,

The clinic was presented in Sacramento in 2011 as well… here is a link to the handout:

http://www.x2011west.org/handouts/MeetzNMRAHandout.pdf

-Dave

[Blazeman]

Friend showed me drug store eye glasses he picked up at Wahlgren's. They came with LED's that would illuminate the object one was viewing. Don't know what power they come in, but I'm planning to make a stop there and check out if they have some that are modelling worthy. And they are only a couple of bucks.

By the way, one can replace the batteries as well.