Magnifying Lamps and Optivisors?

[NickNascati]

All,
     So I am going back to working on 15mm figures, after a long time with 28mm and larger. Right now I am using a regular desk lamp, and strong reading glasses (3.25 power).  I was thinking about buying one or the other of the above, to improve my work and save my eyesight.  How difficult are they to get used to, and how much distortion is there?

[Bugsda]

I found it easy to get used to, it was the difference between painting and not painting so I had to 

Don't know what you mean by distortion.

[Mindenbrush]

I have the Optivisor (from Front Rank) with #3 magnification and use this over my normal reading glasses (1.25). Works well for 15mm.

My lights are the photo type ones that look like the new 'eco' bulbs but much bigger. I use them in 2 Ikea anglepoise lamps and they are 'cool' light and do not generate much heat.

[NickNascati]

By distortion, I mean I mean getting used to seeing your hands and the figures "plus sized".  I would think it would have an effect on depth perception.

[NickNascati]

Let me add another piece to my question.  In painting 15mm and smaller, what is more important, lighting or magnification?

[Plynkes]

I couldn't paint without my Optivisor. I'd never go back to not using one, and I don't even paint 15mm, I'm a 28mm sort of fellow.

I've had no depth perception issues. Found it easy and comfortable right from Day One.

[Ray Rivers]

In painting 15mm and smaller, what is more important, lighting or magnification?

Both!

As for the Optivisor, at first I found myself looking around for paint pots and such through the visor. Doesn't work very well. Then I shifted the visor a tad upwards which forced me to bend my neck down a little to see through the visor and work on my miniatures. When I needed to look at other things, I just raise my head a bit and look under the visor normally. So very easy to get used to and no need to mess with it once it is in place.

Personally, I needed the visor to keep up (and even better) the level of detail I wanted. After getting one, I wished I had one a loooong time ago. Still can be tough on the eyes though, because once you see the detail so much better... you want to paint it!

[NickNascati]

So none of you have an issue with the giant paint brush moving in and out of your field of vision?

[Ray Rivers]

Nope. It's not that large of a transition.

[Mason]

Have been considering this myself, so watching this thread with much interest.

Does anyone have an optivisor that they would recommend?

[elysium64]

I have a lamp very similar to this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-80503-22-Watt-Fluorescent-Magnifying/dp/B000EOQ92K/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1329423678&sr=8-3
Could not paint without it now.

[Bugsda]

So none of you have an issue with the giant paint brush moving in and out of your field of vision?

It does feel a bit wierd at first but you mentally compensate for it pretty quickly, and you can flip the optivisor up easily enough.

The biggest problem was knocking paint pots and water jars over  

I've got one of these Ott-lites
http://www.singermachines.co.uk/ott-lite-truecolor-k418-flex-arm-floor-lamp.htm

And a proper Optivisor, I wouldn't bother with a cheap copy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Optivisor-DA10-Headband-Magnifier-x3-5/dp/B001DPOT5I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1329431977&sr=8-3

[artshiraz]

Greetings

So none of you have an issue with the giant paint brush moving in and out of your field of vision?

It depends. I wear glasses (3.0/3.15) normaly.

I have a lamp very similar to this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-80503-22-Watt-Fluorescent-Magnifying/dp/B000EOQ92K/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1329423678&sr=8-3
Could not paint without it now.

Well I realized I could not paint with such a lamp. Where is my brush in relation to the magnifier and why did the brush end hit the glass underside for the upxth time? My depth went and in truth I couldn't paint minis anymore. Kudos to those who can because I don't.

I tried next with headband magnifiers. First with something like this: Tamya Headband.
For myself I noticed that, while the magnification was okay I was rather distracted by the ambient light between my glasses and the magnifier. My wife can work without problem with a headband (I bestowed her mine).

Then I bought the aforementioned Optivisor from FrontRank. Which -for me- works better because of the plastic plate between Visor and head above the lenses. It blocks out ambient light and "forces" my sight to the front, through the magnifier (Not sure if my rambling makes sense ) Anyway without light from above distracting my vision, my eyes are totally concentrated on the mini in front of them. So, yes, better a proper Optivisor than something cheap.

My eyesight has decreased though in the last couple of years and more often than not I find myself painting without any glasses lately (because the eye muscle can not focus so flexibly anymore).

Ah well.
Hope this helps a bit
Jo