Optivisor advice plea (1 Viewer)

[Malcolm Britain]

Good Morning all

I do love painting but have done little in the past few years due to a variety of reasons. I have recently tested a few things on some bargain 54mm castings to test primer / paint type combinations and results. No great revelations there other than the fact that my original Mark 1 eyeballs are not what they were. Like many guys in their sixth decade I find I need good natural light to see well and also that I can no longer focus on the figure when holding it at the distance at which I am comfortable applying paint.

Cheap reading glasses are a help but I was wondering if the Optivisor was a better option?

A few basic questions

A. Optivisor or cheap copy?
B. Is it comfortable to wear?
C. Glass or acrylic lenses?
D. Is there a light and if so does it give off " day light "?
E. Should one buy a range of lenses?
F. Best lense if only one choice?
G. How is it on the eyes? Can you use it for a sustained period?

Be v grateful for the thoughts and experiences of others here before I spend my pocket money.

Thanks

Malcolm

 

[theBaron]

I bought a cheap, Red Chinese knockoff Optivisor for ten bucks at a show about six or seven years ago. It's fine, so I'd say, you don't have to spring for the brand name.

I do recommend getting one that has a light built in. If I were to buy a new one, I would get one with a light mounted in it. My bench is well-lit, but it would help to have that additional bit of light along my line-of-sight to the piece I'm holding in my hands.

When I bought it and used it for the first time, I wished I had bought it five years before, the improvement was so great.

Hope that helps, prosit!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

Sorry, I should have answered your specific questions....

A. Optivisor or cheap copy?

Cheap copies work just as well, in this case, no need to fork over the forty bucks or more just for the brand. Though, I don't know if there is a licensing issue. If there is, then I do recommend buying the licensed product.

B. Is it comfortable to wear?

Yes. The headband is adjustable, and I'll wear mine for a session lasting a couple of hours with no discomfort.

C. Glass or acrylic lenses?

Mine are acrylic. I haven't had any problems with scratches. I wipe them occasionally with Windex, applied with a tissue, and they are crystal-clear.

D. Is there a light and if so does it give off " day light "?

There are models with a light built in, and there are also lights you can buy separately, to attach to the visor. As I mentioned above, I'd get one with the additional light built in, but that's my preference.

E. Should one buy a range of lenses?
F. Best lense if only one choice?

On that question, I can't answer specifically. I really don't know the magnifying power of the lenses on my visor, off the top of my head. It has two sets of lenses, one fixed in place, and one with higher magnifying power, mounted in the visor and which can be flipped down as necessary. It also has a magnifying loupe mounted on the right-hand side, which I flip down and back up as necessary. I think this is the standard outfit for both the brand and for the knockoffs.

G. How is it on the eyes? Can you use it for a sustained period?

No problems. I use it for other things, too, like when I have to thread a needle, or for other things where I need to hold the work close but can no longer focus that close up.

Hope that helps!
Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Good Morning all

I do love painting but have done little in the past few years due to a variety of reasons. I have recently tested a few things on some bargain 54mm castings to test primer / paint type combinations and results. No great revelations there other than the fact that my original Mark 1 eyeballs are not what they were. Like many guys in their sixth decade I find I need good natural light to see well and also that I can no longer focus on the figure when holding it at the distance at which I am comfortable applying paint.

Cheap reading glasses are a help but I was wondering if the Optivisor was a better option?

A few basic questions

A. Optivisor or cheap copy?
B. Is it comfortable to wear?
C. Glass or acrylic lenses?
D. Is there a light and if so does it give off " day light "?
E. Should one buy a range of lenses?
F. Best lense if only one choice?
G. How is it on the eyes? Can you use it for a sustained period?

Be v grateful for the thoughts and experiences of others here before I spend my pocket money.

Thanks

Malcolm

I have two of these devices. My first is an Optivisor - and my other one is a similar head magnifier with light made by Konex.

The Optivisor 3 (1.75x) has fixed lenses and no light .

The Konex "Vuemax pro" has a box of lenses which slot into the visor (1.2x 1.8x 2.5x 3.5x) and has a small lamp which fits on top. It is possible to use TWO of the magnifying lenses together on the visor, to get even more variations of magnification - but I have found this uneccessry - even when painting flats - which are very small. I have hardly used the fitted lamp at all - as my overhead lamp gives all the illumination i need.

Both magnifiers work fine - whilst also wearing normal reading glasses - and I use them both, but always in conjunction with an overhead lamp when painting.

The Optivisor is my normal "go to first" - but the Konex with it's larger range of magnifying lenses can be more useful when I'm painting really tiny detail on flats.

My advice would be get a good adjustable overhead lamp first - and then get a cheap multi-lens type - and just see how you get on with it.

Hope that helps - jb

 

[WBritain]

I use an Optivisor every day to the point that I walk around with it on and think nothing of it. I wear it up to 12 hours at a time when "crunch time" is here with no ill effects.
I personally prefer to have good lighting rather than a lighted magnifier, and use color corrected lighting to insure proper color values.
It might take a short while to get used to the best working distance, but once you do you probably will feel that you are blind without one!
Good luck,
Ken Osen

 

[theBaron]

I need to emphasize what I said about getting the lighted version--I do have a well-lit bench. I have a good overhead light and a couple of adjustable lamps (architect's or draftman's lamps) that focus on my work area and which I can re-position as necessary. But even with that light, I'd still like to have an additional light focused along my line of sight. But yes, good work lighting is important on your bench or work area, even if you don't need magnification.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Malcolm Britain]

I use an Optivisor every day to the point that I walk around with it on and think nothing of it.
Good luck,
Ken Osen

Ken

That part of your post raised a smile. I was picturing you walking round the local supermarket wearing your Optivisor...at least you would be able to read the contents labels on the packaging...

Many thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

Best

M

 

[Malcolm Britain]

Brad / JB

Thanks chaps for sharing your practical experiences. Sounds like the way to go...along with an improved lighting set up over the work area. I think a small investment in good daylight bulbs for the lamps is the first port of call.

Kind regards

M

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Best money you'll ever spend. I have the clip on light, which I never use. Don't waste your money on it. My bench is very well lit. Overhead four foot LED strip, OTT deck lamp, and an OTT portable lamp if needed. I also wear my 1.5x reading glasses with the optivisor.

 

[Malcolm Britain]

Took the plunge. Arrived this morning and ...it's right. I can hold a figure at the distance I am comfortable with and...I can actually see the blighter! Should be able to get down to a practical test before the end of the month and will report back.

Thanks to all who recommended this product.

M