optical aids

[tawafa64]

I'm a newcomer to the 54mm figure painting hobby. General suggestions to the relative merits of Optivisor and Optiview type optical aids would be appreciated. Grated that eyesight needs are individual dependent, are there practical guidelines to magnifications and working distances?
Thanks.

 

[Anders Heintz]

I never use an optivisor as they hurt my eyes. I guess its something that you need to get used to though. I have tried it several times but it's still not worth having mojo headaches and eyes more screwed up after each use. I have to focus so hard to be able to see and my optivisor have two lenses instead of one continious one which makes it hard to see through both with out screwing the vision up, and only way I could use it was by looking through only one side. Maybe thats why I can't paint 54's! Oh well, maybe someday I can learn to use it the right way so it dont hurt instead of helping.

 

[Pete_H]

Optivisors with #5 lenses work pretty good for me. Even then, I only use them for painting the finest of details on 54's & 1/35's (eyes, buttons, stripes, etc.). As for the lens number, it's pretty much up to each of us to choose the ones that work best.

Anders - give it time and you'll be using them as well

 

[John Long]

Optivisors have ruined me. I use whatever comes stock with the thing from MicroMark. I also have the attachable loupe that adds on. I'm considering getting another one for the other eye. I once worked under a surgical microscope while sculpting, one of those would be soooooo nice. You get used to using them and then you use them even for cleanup.

 

[RobH]

I had considered an optical aid for some time, but finally gave in and got prescription glasses. I thought my eyesight wasn't bad, but now I know differently. Believe me I can see so much more just with these (time to revisit a couple of pieces I think)

I still enjoy painting what I can see on 54mm. To me, no-one should judge your work wearing optical aids (other than specs)

:lol:

 

[Hardy]

I never use optical aids and work mainly in 54mm, but im lucky and have great vision for detail work. My long distant vision is sh$% though.

The detail on the Red Barons coat was painted with the naked eye.

 

[Jim Patrick]

I used to laugh at my friends while we would get together and build. I swore I'd never wear "Nerd Glasses". Well, I got some (7x) and wondered how I ever modeled without them. It's basically an individual preference. If you know someone who has them, ask to borrow them for a few minutes and see if you like them. If not, ask your local hobby shop (if they have them) if you can do a "test drive". That way you can see what theyr'e like before you buy them.

Good luck,
Jim Patrick

 

[RobH]

It's basically an individual preference

Thats very true!

ask your local hobby shop

They don't seem to exist in the UK!!!

 

[JohnLea]

Everybody's eyesight is different but years ago, I heard that Smith & Wesson would not let their engravers use Optivisor type of visual aids. I think the reasoning was that it would hurt them over time and they did not want to lose a good engraver.

 

[Patrick Kirk]

Hardy,
You amaze me...

All the best

Patrick

 

[Keith]

Like Hardy i paint only with the naked eye (but my results probably show it). Does anyone know a stockist of Optivisor in the UK?

Thanks

Keith

 

[Kamil Feliks Sztarbala]

Originally posted by Hardy@Jul 30 2004, 02:05 PM
I never use optical aids and work mainly in 54mm, but im lucky and have great vision for detail work. My long distant vision is sh$% though.

The detail on the Red Barons coat was painted with the naked eye.

Are You sure thats Richthofen's figure? He was 26 yrs old when he was killed.. that figure looks older- in my opinion ofcourse
~kamil

 

[Lou Masses]

I have an optivisor and have incrediblt difficulty in using it. Mainly because as I get older it takes my eyes longer to re-focus. So when I look down at the figure without the optivisor it takes a few seconds for my eyes to work properly.

I also find that the magnification brings the figure too close and you end up spending more time blending and detailing than you need to because it all looks worse under maginifcation.

I think I probably need a good set of reading glasses to paint, I don't like such massive magnification. Evena 54 mm figure is much larger than what those things were intended to be used with (working with gems, etc).

You're probably better off with a good set of non presrciption bifocals found at most drug stores.

 

[KeithP]

I think mine is a Opti #5. Heck, I am 44 years old. I need an opti just to find my coffee sometimes.

I have not had probs with eye strain or focus after long sessions. The worst thing I noticed is that my scalp get numb. Time to loosen the strap...

I think this is another case of "... if it works for you... great. If not... no bigee..."

Keith

 

[Mongo Mel]

I have terrible eyesight and wear glasses already. When my vision began getting even worse I found something different from the opitvisor that I really like. They're clip-on magnifiers that I got at a local fishing store. Yhey find of remind me of the old clip-on/flip-up sunglasses I had as a kid. They're made for the folks that tie flys. The appear to have glass rather than plastic lenses, with metal wire
frames. They come in different magnifications and they only cost me about $10.
And if you don't already wear glasses, then I'd suggest ckecking into reading glasses. They're available at most drug stores, come in different magnifications and don't cost much either.
Just a suggestion.
Craig.

 

[mikec55]

My optivisor is pretty much essential for the minute details on 54mm figures but, so far anyway, my reading glasses are all my 49 year old eyeballs need for the rest of the figure. My only optivisor complaint is that cheesy plastic headband. If the temperature rises above 65 degrees, I'm sweating like a fieldhand :angry: .

Mike

 

[tawafa64]

Thanks for the thoughts and perspectives. Time to start painting and gaining experience.

 

[Hardy]

Your right Kamil, he really does not look like the Red Baron, more like Hermann Goering.