The old eyes not being what they were, I am considering a desktop magnifier. I tried one many years ago but found it difficult to judge the range when using a paintbrush. What is the highest magnification that is practical to use? Any recommendations?

Bill

I just use some 3x magnification reading glasses, work great, without them I doubt I would even find my workbench, let alone see a figure to work on.

Steve

I’d recommend an optivisor rather than desk magnifier, because it gives you stereo view, which is needed to better see depth.
Works perfectly for me, except that brush points are also magnified! :-p

Adrian

I use an optivisor in conjunction with my prescription working glasses, especially on fine detailing. I tried a desk magnifying lamp, but couldnt get on with it due to what Adrian has eluded to, above - I also kept catching the brush handle on the lamp!!

I'm the same Steve

For the majority of my work I use the reading glasses and then for really detailed stuff I use an Optivisor clone.
One drawback I found using the Optivisor all the time was that things which looked fabulous when viewed through it seemed a bit lacking when viewed 'normally' so now I only use it for the tricky bits and a final once over of other areas.

Like Ferris says a magnifier takes some adjusting to hence most use a form of Optivisor.

Cheers
Paul

I have prescripion magnifying glasses which I got on Steves recommendation. They are fine for most things, I just wanted a little extra for really fine work. I have an ersatz optivisor and will try that with the specs. If it works I will upgrade the optivsor. Any recommendation for a reasonably priced one?

Thanks for the replies.

Bill

Mine's a Rolson one, about £13 off Amazon. Has a crappy little light, but dont use it and four detachable and interchangeable lenses....

I bought my Optivisor from a jeweller's supplier on eBay, it wasn't that cheap but now I've got used to it I wouldn't be without it.
The amount of detail it reveals on 1/35 & 1/32 figures, as opposed to what I could see previously with my x2.5 reading glasses, is incredible.

Not a dedicated one, at the moment using two pairs of reading glasses together. Tam reckons I look like Professor Branestawm.......dom

I use these: Clip on Flip Up Plastic Power Magnifying Glass (Amazon, eBay).

Mike

Wondered about this myself in the past, but went for prescription reading specs - from an optician - and they're really good.
Just a thought.

I wear prescription glasses normally, and when painting use an Optivisor over them. I find it very useful, especially for detail.

Tried my glasses and optivisor combo last night. Great improvement, felt a bit like Mr Magoo as I was four inches from the subject but it works.
The optician did say she could increase magnification in my prescription but it cut down the focal distance. As this is what has happened anyway I will ask for a second pair with greater magnification next time.

Thanks everyone for steering me away from a desktop magnifier.

Bill