I use an Optivisor clone, but I recently I bought myself a variant of the magnifier Balder and Bob Orr have shown. Mine has lenses that are cut to rectangular shape, but otherwise, the design is the same.
It's taking me a while to get used to the weight on the bridge of my nose. I wore glasses when I was a kid, and I use non-prescription drug store reading glasses now, for some things. But the nose piece on this particular viewer is uncomfortable. It's not a mystery-it's got the weight of the lenses, plus the headpiece, with its batteries. I will probably get used to it, but that's something to consider.
I still like my Optivisor, though it's wearing out. I can't flip down the second set of lenses, because the spring that held them in place broke. Also, I'm very used to the loupe over the right eye. Its major drawback for me is the lack of a light aimed along the line of sight. It was for that reason that I bought the other style of magnifier. Even with a well-lighted workbench, I find it useful to have that additional light aimed along my line of sight on the piece. When I eventually have to replace my Optivisor, I'll get one with lights mounted in the headpiece.
Also, the loupe on the Optivisor has higher magnification than the maximum magnification on the "glasses"-style magnifier.
Either way, I need to have the magnification close to my eyes. I have tried working with an illuminated magnifier, the kind with a large lens in the center and a ring of lights around it. I found it difficult to work with the magnification so far away from my face. I imagine that, too, would take practice, if I wanted to use such a magnifier.
Prost!
Brad
