Loupe

[STF]

I actually asked about this before I think and ended up putting my 60x loupe away in favour of a 15x triplet.

I'm not all that impressed with it to be honest. I still have to get too close which is obviously not ideal, especially when I'm looking edge on for sparklies. I also notice that the edge is curved a lot more than with my old 60x so I must have a really rubbish triplet i guess. The center of the view looks good but the edges curve so it isn't great to use, are they upposed to be like that?

I am very seriously considering a 10x triplet, hopefully it will have better optics and not have to get so close to my razor.

What do you guys use and what do you recommend as a decent loupe.

My 15X has LED which is very nice because I don't feel I can see as well without the light but again I would love your input so i can get the right thing this time instead of ending up with a loupe collection.

[celticcrusader]

Steve, I have always used a Belomo 10x it works for me. https://www.theloupestore.co.uk/Magn...let-Loupe.html

[STF]

Steve, I have always used a Belomo 10x it works for me. https://www.theloupestore.co.uk/Magn...let-Loupe.html

I've always looked for a cheap loupe, obviously not necessarily the smartest idea if I want quality eh.

[bouschie]

I use a 10X to check bevel and a Paramus for edge micro chips. parang does not magnify or distort image.

[Brontosaurus]

I use a 10x Hastings triplet. Great for viewing the bevel by reflected light and the edge in silhouette. Not sure what the shipping's like to Canada, but Otto Frei has one for $13 US.

https://www.ottofrei.com/Otto-Frei-C...p-Leather-Case

[STF]

I use a 10x Hastings triplet. Great for viewing the bevel by reflected light and the edge in silhouette. Not sure what the shipping's like to Canada, but Otto Frei has one for $13 US.

https://www.ottofrei.com/Otto-Frei-C...p-Leather-Case

Is Hastings a brand i can search for, maybe amazon?

The loupe has Otto Frei printed on it.

[BobH]

I've always looked for a cheap loupe, obviously not necessarily the smartest idea if I want quality eh.

A good loupe will have a flat field of view with no noticeable distortion. One with lens coatings brings the colour spectrum onto the same plane making an edge appear better defined than with an un-coated one. The Belomo has both these attributes at a reasonable price point. When I was honing I use a 10X Belomo and viewed the edge under an architect swing arm table lamp similar to these https://www.amazon.ca/Globe-Electric...64298018&psc=1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achromatic_lens

When you get a good loupe do a comparison to your old one.

Bob

[Brontosaurus]

Is Hastings a brand i can search for, maybe amazon?

The loupe has Otto Frei printed on it.

No, although a search will turn up examples. A Hasting triplet consists of three optical elements cemented together to correct for achromatic aberration (important in viewing things close up). It's named after the designer and is independent of brand-naming. Bausch & Lomb, for example, markets its own Hastings triplet for three times the price.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_S._Hastings

[Tathra11]

I use the Belomo 10x

[Gasman]

Yep, ^^^^^. That's the one I have too. You just need bright light to go with it.