mangnifying head bands

[Silent bob]

Many years ago I used to be quite a decent painter and really enjoyed painting.
But now age has dimmed my eyes and I have never got round to buying glasses.
Has anyone any recommendations for ‘magnifying head bands’ – obviously you get what you pay for and many of them seem very cheap on e-bay etc.
I have  a table mounted magnifier but struggle a bit with it.......
Thanks

[Citizen Sade]

It happens to the best of us ...

I went for an Optivisor with the number 3 & 5 lenses and have no complaints. In practice, I just use the no.3 as the 14” focal length and 1.75 times magnification suits me.

[SteveBurt]

I find an angle poise with a daylight bulb plus off the shelf reading glasses works fine

[Ray Rivers]

I've been using an Optivsor with a No. 5 lens for quite some time now. It works great. Wish I had known about it long time ago as it lessens the strain on the eyes, good or bad.

As for price... in this case, I believe more expensive is not necessarily better. Mine cost me somewhere around 18 pounds and I have had it for a number of years now. You are paying for the lenses, essentially, and if you look at all the other (more expensive) options, the plastic head piece are all pretty much the same. The lenses also all look exactly alike, expensive or cheap. But hell if you want to pay 150 pounds for the same thing as one for 18... go for it.

I recommend an Optivsor for all hobbyists. Protect your eyes!

[has.been]

I tried the magnifying glasses, but found myself peering around it.
I now, like others, use cheap reading glasses. £1 to £2 a pair, so it
doesn't matter if they break or get damaged.

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

I have an Optivisor but I don't use any more because I found it heavy.

I have a anglepoise lamp (from Ikea) with a daylight bulb and a LED ring light with a magnifying lens.

I wear very cheap x2 reading glasses which cost about £2.50 from Primark.

 I can paint most things comfortably with the reading glasses and the anglepoise lamp.

If I am painting eyes on 28mm figures I use the ring lamp and magnifier with the reading glasses.

[Doug ex-em4]

I got these a few years back
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Modelcraft-Slimline-Headband-Magnifier-Lenses/dp/B07H4ZZSCL/ref=pd_vtp_201_2/258-4386840-3857604?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07H4ZZSCL&pd_rd_r=5551eb11-bd4a-410d-9d02-a7b9a9e57251&pd_rd_w=MdKyi&pd_rd_wg=DNqkW&pf_rd_p=768b5a93-0842-4c9d-8f7f-107f5eb91a6d&pf_rd_r=PB3EZN0BVVBT68DA1JZ1&psc=1&refRID=PB3EZN0BVVBT68DA1JZ1
and they’re excellent and a lot cheaper than Optivisor. Recently, I got a pair of prescription reading glasses for 20 quid from Specsavers (these are not cheapo ones like you get in Poundland - they’re lenses corrected for your prescription). Those two items together make a big difference.

Doug

[Citizen Sade]

I have an Optivisor but I don't use any more because I found it heavy.

This surprises me because mine’s pretty light. Do you have any additional things mounted on it e.g. the light?

My only issue is that I find it a little warm to wear in hot weather. When it is, I either don’t paint or I turn the fan on.

[Tadgie]

I use cheapo reading glasses and just get the strongest ones. Very light cost next to nothing and magnify enough for me.

[fred]

I got these a few years back
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Modelcraft-Slimline-Headband-Magnifier-Lenses/dp/B07H4ZZSCL/ref=pd_vtp_201_2/258-4386840-3857604?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07H4ZZSCL&pd_rd_r=5551eb11-bd4a-410d-9d02-a7b9a9e57251&pd_rd_w=MdKyi&pd_rd_wg=DNqkW&pf_rd_p=768b5a93-0842-4c9d-8f7f-107f5eb91a6d&pf_rd_r=PB3EZN0BVVBT68DA1JZ1&psc=1&refRID=PB3EZN0BVVBT68DA1JZ1
and they’re excellent and a lot cheaper than Optivisor. Recently, I got a pair of prescription reading glasses for 20 quid from Specsavers (these are not cheapo ones like you get in Poundland - they’re lenses corrected for your prescription). Those two items together make a big difference.

Doug

That one looks good Doug. How much focal distance is there? i.e. do you need to keep the model very much in the sweet spot?

[Rick F]

Last time I had an eye test I took a figure with me, explained to the optician what I do and left with a pair for reading and a pair for painting, they're surprisingly different.

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

@ Citizen Sade

RE "I have an Optivisor but I don't use any more because I found it heavy."

I bought my Optivisor from Front Rank about 10 years ago, so it may be an older version.
Heavy is relative. Compared to x2 reading glasses it is heavy and an encumbrance.
In warm weather it is sweaty under the headband.

I am not against Optivisor at all.
I think if you already wear prescription glasses, it is a good solution.
Indeed, I recommended it in my book.

Mick

[Doug ex-em4]

That one looks good Doug. How much focal distance is there? i.e. do you need to keep the model very much in the sweet spot?

Fred - I hadn’t really thought about that but on reflection, I probably do because I’m also wearing the reading glasses so I have to get the two things (glasses and magnifier) "agreeing" with each other. Never seemed a problem, however.

That magnifier, by the way, is very light so not uncomfortable to wear.

Doug

[Orctrader]

I've always used an Optivisor. 

Never tried anything else so can't compare.  I wear prescription varifocals and the Optivisor works fine over them.

[The Dozing Dragon]

Recently, I got a pair of prescription reading glasses for 20 quid from Specsavers (these are not cheapo ones like you get in Poundland - they’re lenses corrected for your prescription). Those two items together make a big difference.

Doug

I gave up on the optivisor types as I found them uncomfortable to wear and, like Doug, got a prescription set of glasses for close up work (you need to specify how close you want to work) as my eyes have different focal points. Painting is now possible again!