Cheap Magnifying Glass.

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Jim@sea

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Although I dont need glasses for everyday reading I am struggeling when doing chartwork and decided to buy a Magnifying Glass.
So after looking in a well known Stationers and seeing Magnifying Glasses which not only cost a fortune but were wrongly described as they had a Plastic Lens, So in fact they were "Magnifying Plastics" I had a look on Amazon and ordered 2 Silverline 4" Magnifying Glasses, at £4.26 FOR THE PAIR. DELIVERED FREE.
And I am delighted, and as cheap as chips.
I would recommend them.
 
A cheap pair of reading glasses does the same job, keeps both hands free and gives a wider field of view. And they are about the same price if you shop around. I do need glasses for reading, but have a range of powers available for different uses - I use +2 for reading, +1 for computer screens and +3 for close work.

Most people don't use magnifying lenses correctly. They should be held close to the eye, with the object being observed being moved into focus; holding the lens halfway between the eye and the object reduces the field of view and doesn't give the maximum magnification.
 
We used a plastic magnifying "glass"

It had a little cloth bag to stow it away in when not needed

When "in use" it hung on a hook above the chart table.

No problems with it what so ever ... also unbreakable

On my own boat I have Fresnel magnifier given away free with PBO back in the days when PBO did that sort of thing.
Not very good but marginally better than nothing
 
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I'm with the reading glasses idea. Buy from a Pound shop or similar for (would yo believe it!) a pound a pair & often including a metal case with a pen clip.

I have pairs lying around most rooms in the house, all our cars & a couple of pairs in the boat & also the Motorhome - oh, & a pair in my computer case. At that price, who cares? I have also been known to give them to people who have forgotten their own.

I did actually pay £1.50 ea for a couple of folding pairs in soft pouch cases once as they could sit in a trouser pocket, but not found any more of them since. Excellent for fine electronics, small print, low contrast print & poor light conditions - and my android phone screen!
 
AntarcticPilot said:
A cheap pair of reading glasses does the same job, keeps both hands free and gives a wider field of view. And they are about the same price if you shop around. I do need glasses for reading, but have a range of powers available for different uses - I use +2 for reading, +1 for computer screens and +3 for close work.

Most people don't use magnifying lenses correctly. They should be held close to the eye, with the object being observed being moved into focus; holding the lens halfway between the eye and the object reduces the field of view and doesn't give the maximum magnification.
Click to expand...
My God - another one as pedantic as me! I get ribbed all the time for my three pairs of glasses. Unfortunately my eyes are different enough that I can't just buy them off the shelf.
 
I bought some magnifying glasses recently from a pound shop (for a pound), three different ones in a pack, they were optically excellent, unbelievably good.
 
Amulet said:
My God - another one as pedantic as me! I get ribbed all the time for my three pairs of glasses. Unfortunately my eyes are different enough that I can't just buy them off the shelf.
Click to expand...

With really cheap pairs, can you get "one for each eye" & swop lenses over? even if you only make one pair from 2, that's 2 quid rather than £120. It just makes them "disposable", so it doesn't matter if you sit on them or drop 'em over the side.

BTW, I spoke to my optician about cheapo reading glasses & I was told that for my prescription they will certainly do no harm & would help me read easier.
 
If you want a good quality magnifier go for an aspheric lens. These are generally only available in plastics.

If you ever want really high magnification (for say a tiny splinter) old camera lenses are often very good. Many of these are just thrown out with the change to digital ( although many of the old lenses will work on DSLRs)
 
Amulet said:
My God - another one as pedantic as me! I get ribbed all the time for my three pairs of glasses. Unfortunately my eyes are different enough that I can't just buy them off the shelf.
Click to expand...

Not as different as mine - -10 (ish) and -0.5! I wear contact lenses for distant vision, then just use readers over the top of the contact lenses for close work.
 
noelex said:
If you want a good quality magnifier go for an aspheric lens. These are generally only available in plastics.

If you ever want really high magnification (for say a tiny splinter) old camera lenses are often very good. Many of these are just thrown out with the change to digital ( although many of the old lenses will work on DSLRs)
Click to expand...

Lenses at 10x and 20x are sold for use by geologists; you can generally find them in rock shops. Amazon do a range.
 
Even better than having dozens of pairs of reading glasses in every draw is to get a piece of string and tie them around your neck! When you dress in the morning you put them on you can't forget then. It may not look so cool the string that is but when you get to eventually owning up to dodgy eyes who cares? As they wear out you can then start putting them in every drawer in every place as spares, quids in.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Lenses at 10x and 20x are sold for use by geologists; you can generally find them in rock shops. Amazon do a range.
Click to expand...

It's not difficult to get high power magnifiers, but the resolution is often very poor unless they are expensive. An old camera lens often has much better resolution and you can pick them up for free. That is just the right price for most sailing people.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
A cheap pair of reading glasses does the same job, keeps both hands free and gives a wider field of view. And they are about the same price if you shop around. I do need glasses for reading, but have a range of powers available for different uses - I use +2 for reading, +1 for computer screens and +3 for close work.

Most people don't use magnifying lenses correctly. They should be held close to the eye, with the object being observed being moved into focus; holding the lens halfway between the eye and the object reduces the field of view and doesn't give the maximum magnification.
Click to expand...

Are you seriously suggesting he holds the magnifying glass with one hand and then uses a single hand to move a chart away or closer to his face? :confused::confused:

If he needs to make a mark on the chart he will need four hands!
 
Searush said:
With really cheap pairs, can you get "one for each eye" & swop lenses over? even if you only make one pair from 2, that's 2 quid rather than £120. It just makes them "disposable", so it doesn't matter if you sit on them or drop 'em over the side.

BTW, I spoke to my optician about cheapo reading glasses & I was told that for my prescription they will certainly do no harm & would help me read easier.
Click to expand...

But doesn't that give you just one pair that are OK, with the other only of use if their eyes are a mirror image of yours? :confused:
 
Ex-SolentBoy said:
Are you seriously suggesting he holds the magnifying glass with one hand and then uses a single hand to move a chart away or closer to his face? :confused::confused:

If he needs to make a mark on the chart he will need four hands!
Click to expand...

No, I'm just pointing out that a magnifying glass is not the right tool for the job. Reading glasses come just as cheap (or cheaper), are automatically in the correct position with respect to the eye, and give a wider field of vision. And even if you use the magnifying glass as most people do, you still need at least one extra hand to mark the chart ;)
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Most people don't use magnifying lenses correctly. They should be held close to the eye, with the object being observed being moved into focus; holding the lens halfway between the eye and the object reduces the field of view and doesn't give the maximum magnification.
Click to expand...

OH MY GOD - and I've been breaking the rules for years - better get myself down to the cop shop straight away and confess ...
 
AntarcticPilot said:
No, I'm just pointing out that a magnifying glass is not the right tool for the job. Reading glasses come just as cheap (or cheaper), are automatically in the correct position with respect to the eye, and give a wider field of vision. And even if you use the magnifying glass as most people do, you still need at least one extra hand to mark the chart ;)
Click to expand...

I understand.

Of course the alternative would be a chart blue that can erased or lowered, perhaps with a series of counterbalances like sash windows.;)
 
If you go for the cheap reading glasses don't waste money on the nicer looking frameless ones, the arms ALWAYS break off the lenses. I must have had about ten pairs before I bit the bullet and bought the framed ones like my dad wears!
I also have sets with different lens strengths, +1 for computer, +2 for reading, +3 for fly tying.
 
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