Need recommendations for a loupe...

[haagen_dazs]

hi everyone
could you recommend me a decent price loupe please? (model and average used price?)
i would like to use it to view 135mm slides and 6x9 slides (yippp i have a fuji690 to test and play with! )


thanks in advance!

 

[rogue_designer]

I really like the Peak 4x Anastigmatic large base - it has a detachable glass scale, and a very wide and sharp viewing area - perfect for 120 trannies. They also offer a 7x version for a bit less. Cost is not horrible - BH has it at $179 US. ($120 for the 7x)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...700&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

 

[photodog]

For 35mm I use a Leitz LVFOO 5x magnifier originally made for the Visoflex I. Usually can be found for $25 or less.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

I really like the Peak 4x Anastigmatic large base - it has a detachable glass scale, and a very wide and sharp viewing area - perfect for 120 trannies. They also offer a 7x version for a bit less. Cost is not horrible - BH has it at $179 US. ($120 for the 7x)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...700&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

I agree, the Peak 4x large base one is terrific had has better eye relief than its competitors.

 

[peter_n]

I too recommend the Peak brand. I use a Peak 8x for 35mm negs and it is really excellent as well as being inexpensive - around $30 I think.

 

[Trius]

A friend of mine made me a loupe out of an orphaned 50mm Nikkor E lens. He removed the barrel and aperture mechanism, mounted (hot glue gun) a section of a translucent 35mm film cannister to the back side, and bingo, Bob's yer uncle. Not big enough for 120 film, but cheap and high quality.

 

[raid]

I have been using for many years a wonderful Schneider 4X loupe. I like it.

Raid

 

[back alley]

i'm with earl but lazier...buy an old slr 50 and turn it around- works great.

 

[sf]

Peak loupes are fantastic and low price. I tried a nice pile of loupes - including the $180 Mamiyas, and the $30 Peak 22X was the cheapest and best of all.

 

[KoNickon]

Look for the Horizon loupes -- made in Russia by (I think) KMZ. Excellent optics and quite inexpensive -- my 4x was about $50 and the 8x maybe $40.

 

[back alley]

i have a nikon loupe ( made for 35mm use) that i never use anymore. i also have a really cheap no name loupe made for medium format that i use for everything now, especially reading the tiny print on jars and labels...🙂

joe

 

[Grober]

I have a Horizon (Russian) for 35mm chromes only. But since it is small (I don't know if they make larger) I went looking again and landed on a Pentax 5.5x. It's large, well made and I've very pleased with it. My second choice would have been the Schneider equivalent.

Don't overlook Pentax.

-g

 

[mervynyan]

here is some food for thought, a 35mm projector. You can get someting on ebay with very inexpensive for 35mm viewing, however the resolution may not be as hgh. 6x9 projector is hard to find, but for average 35mm viewing, the projector can't be skipped.

 

[Nick R.]

I use a Mamiya 3.5x but that's only up to 6 x 6.

 

[Trius]

i have a nikon loupe ( made for 35mm use) that i never use anymore. i also have a really cheap no name loupe made for medium format that i use for everything now, especially reading the tiny print on jars and labels...🙂

joe

and it even reads in French.

 

[back alley]

and it even reads in French.

pampelmouse...🙂

 

[Trius]

Rotflmao!!!

 

[FPjohn]

3x Schneider

3x Schneider

Hello:

The 3x Schneider 7x7 loupe is great for large negatives. It is also an unheralded ground glass focusing hood/magnifyer.

yours
Frank

 

[Rico]

While for the 135 frame only, I find the Mamiya 4x to be nice and sharp into the corner, and with comfortable viewing. Also features adjustable focus, metal construction, interchangable frosted/opaque skirts.

 

[sf]

http://www.peakoptics.com/

Really, I learned about loupes when I was into large format photography. I shopped around for quite a while to find a really high-power, very clear, high speed loupe for focusing on the grain of my very fine ground glass (and for choosing the sharpest negs come printing time). I looked at Toyo gg loupes, Mamiya gg and film loupes, Schneider loupes, and finally the Peak. It is just as bright and clear, very powerful (see the site for options), smaller and lighter than any out there (this is a BIG deal when you are sifting through negs), and much much cheaper. I have the 15x loupe. I use it now for examining my beautiful 645 frames.