My new loupe...

edsiajb

A little background first. I am a certified optics nut. I have been involved in optics for years collecting rare binoculars and cameras. I have a (unused) degree in photography and I used to service camera lenses, microscopes and the like. I appreciate fine optics and I understand the expense of their production (not making excuses for drastically overpriced optics).

I have a nice assortment of Hastings triplet loupes but mine start at 10x and go up from there. I also have a couple of B&L 5x slide out magnifiers but they are plagued with distortion (they are a simple biconvex element design and cannot be made without distortion). However, 5x seemed to be a good power. So I wanted a (virtually) distortion free 5x loupe. A couple of weeks ago, I had a flashback to the "photo loupes" we used in classes when viewing transparencies on a light box. We used large 5x loupes that were very expensive ($300 - $400). So I wondered if there was now something on the market that was comparable but more realistically priced. I did some research and discovered that the answer is yes.

Pentax now offers a 5.5x "photo loupe". It retails for only $140 and I found it for an even better $79.95. I decided to order one and it arrived today. First impressions: It is LARGE...I won't be walking around with this in my pocket! It appears to be almost free of distortion and has great depth-of-field. It also has tremendous eye relief (40mm). Best of all, it is large enough to view a Morgan all at once! I really like this loupe.

Here is a shameless plug for the company from which I ordered it:
www.bhphotovideo.com
They are a first class company for any photographic needs.

Here are a couple of shots I took today:

Loupe and a PCGS slab for size comparison

Loupe in my hand

FC57Coins

Those are great loupes - sometimes you can get basically the same thing at pawn shops if they have any dismantled cameras - still - a good buy.

Sequitur

Thanks for the information. I hate looking at coins with a magnifying glass because of the glare and distortion. The third lens in a loupe makes all the difference, at least to my eyes. I may get the loupe you referenced for home use.

How many lenses does the Pentax have, two or three?

robertpr

I'll second your plug for B&H!

This looks like the one you have.
Higher Power.

edsiajb

<< <i>I'll second your plug for B&H!

This looks like the one you have.
Higher Power. >>



That is not the correct photo for the 5-11x. Also the reviews of that model were not nearly as favorable as the 5.5x. It is sort of like comparing a fixed focal lenght lens to a zoom...the zoom can never compare.

Stuart

That type of magnifyer works well on flat surfaces because the focal length is fixed by the depth of the magnifyer.

They may work OK for slabs when they can rest on the surrounding plastic, but they may not be the best for raw coins because the thicker the coin the higher the area will be that you are trying to image -- therefore it tends to decrease the focal length of the magnifyer and the top coin surface to be imaged may be slighty out of focus.

tjkillian

Thanks for the information. Question: Does one hold it away from the coin or set it down on top of the coin where the distance is fixed?

Tom

Barry

I'd like to find something better than the B&L Pakette (5X), but something that is portable and can easily be carried in a pocket for shows. Anyone?

edsiajb

This is the correct listing on B&H with the correct photo:

Pentax 5.5X Loupe

edsiajb

<< <i>That type of magnifyer works well on flat surfaces because the focal length is fixed by the depth of the magnifyer.

They may work OK for slabs when they can rest on the surrounding plastic, but they may not be the best for raw coins because the thicker the coin the higher the area will be that you are trying to image -- therefore it tends to decrease the focal length of the magnifyer and the top coin surface to be imaged may be slighty out of focus. >>



The good news is that you can focus this loupe. Just turn the rubber ring at the top. That was one of my requirements in my selection process because I have slabbed and raw coins. I have tested it with both types and it leaves me very impressed.

edsiajb

<< <i>Thanks for the information. Question: Does one hold it away from the coin or set it down on top of the coin where the distance is fixed?

Tom >>



You can hold it slightly away from the coin and a little farther if you want to refocus.

fivecents

edsiajb......I use a video camera lens, it is about the same size as yours. I love it BTW.

edsiajb

OK...so I've spent the past two hours looking at some of my coins with this new loupe. I can now see them in a whole new way. I really think my grading skills will improve now...