Binocular loupes

To all who expressed interest in binocular loupes:

All loupes are not alike. Galilean loupe are a lot cheaper than
Panoramic loupes, but the field of vision is not as clear. They tend
to get fuzzy around the edges. Some are easy to adjust, some are a
pain. Some have a large depth of field, some are quite flat…this is
important.

Keeler, Zeiss, and Designs for Vision all make excellent binocular
loupes. Some have separate headbands available, and I believe that
all will mount to an eyeglass frame. I suppose you can find these
used, but I’ve never seen them. Usually what I find are loupes and
scopes used for inspection, like for electronics. You don’t need a
lot of depth of field for a task like this, and you don’t need to
make many adjustments to your scope. So these loupes and scopes don’t
have these features. This will drive you nuts if you’re trying to set
stones.

Also, do not confuse these with the Optivisor-type loupe. These look
like two small telescopes mounted in front of your eyes. If you can
work with 5.5X magnification, and absolute clarity and plenty of
depth of field are required, these loupes are worth the money. But
they sell for over $1000.00.

Doug Zaruba

I have had the Zeiss prism loupes for over two years and could not do
without them now. They are expensive, mine were $1300 but they are
worth every penny. The depth of field and the focal length make using
them a joy. You can sit up straight at your bench and focus on your
work without having to bend over it. You can look at the
specifications and on how they work at
http://www.zeiss.com/spd/loupes/products/ They will send you a set
for a 30 day free trial if you are interested in them.

Jim
James Binnion Metal Arts

@James_Binnion
Member of the Better Business Bureau