Magnifier for Cart Set Up [Archive] - The Art of Sound Forum

walpurgis

03-01-2015, 22:06

That's a bit tricky. The hand held ones will magnify enough, but they shake a bit too much due to hand movement for you to see the diamond very well. The USB microscopes tend to be too low a resolution for a clear image. Best result I've had is with a proper microscope fitted with a digital USB attachment.

Marco

03-01-2015, 22:08

Hi Rob,

Audio Origami is your friend. Pop Johnny an email (from his website) and tell him you’re looking for a magnifier - they may even be featured on his website, and certainly don’t cost much. I’ve got one and it works a treat! :)

Marco.

NRG

03-01-2015, 22:09

Reading glasses work wonders ;)

DiveDeepDog

03-01-2015, 22:11

Cheap x40 magnifier fixed to helping hand, photographed with iPhone

Can't make out the stylus type, but good enough to check for damage/cleanliness?

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7519/16162589226_06bfe5fae6_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qCeuFu)IMG_1702 (https://flic.kr/p/qCeuFu) by levs the diver (https://www.flickr.com/people/49381909@N08/), on Flickr

Marco

03-01-2015, 22:17

Can't make out the stylus type, but good enough to check for damage/cleanliness?

Precisely... ;)

Here you go, the AO ‘spyglass’: http://www.audioorigami.co.uk/for-sale/

£8 - job done! :)

Marco.

RobbieGong

03-01-2015, 23:33

Hi, Thanks guys. I'm after something for general cart set up ie checking stylus \ cart is parallel with record from front, azimuth etc rather than necessarily for checking stylus condition. I guess the Spyglass should be ok for those things too - cheers.

MikeMusic

04-01-2015, 16:19

While we're on it, I thought this was too cheap not to have

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HELPING-HAND-HANDS-FREE-MAGNIFY-MAGNIFYING-GLASS/dp/B002EIW3Q0/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1420388273&sr=8-18&keywords=magnifying+glass

Marco

04-01-2015, 16:25

Good shout, Mike. I’ve got one (picked it up in Aldi), and they’re excellent! :)

Marco.

struth

04-01-2015, 16:37

used to have one as well and are handy little things. dunno where mine is now

RobbieGong

04-01-2015, 16:43

karma67

04-01-2015, 21:43

i use this from maplins, http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/rolson-2-led-12x-18x-25x-and-35x-magnifying-visor-n70fk

MikeMusic

05-01-2015, 09:26

used to have one as well and are handy little things. dunno where mine is now

Got the hump not being used so walked off !
:)

StanleyB

05-01-2015, 12:10

I got one of these. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handheld-Pocket-100X-Gem-Jewelry-LED-Light-Microscope-Loupe-Magnifier-Zoom-Pen-/301181582716?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_E quipment_ET&hash=item461fd23d7c
It has a LED light that comes in very handy. I also use it to inspect PCBs etc.

Yomanze

05-01-2015, 18:32

I would use a jeweller's loupe. Cheap and durable. x20 would be enough.

struth

13-01-2015, 09:43

Got the hump not being used so walked off !
:)
yeah...on its hands[emoji12]

Andrei

20-01-2015, 22:17

used to have one as well and are handy little things. dunno where mine is now
Oh cripes Grant, ask the missus - you should know that.

struth

20-01-2015, 22:58

walpurgis

20-01-2015, 23:21

I don't know what level of magnification you want, but I just took this with a compact camera set on macro shooting through a loupe.

http://i57.tinypic.com/9atto0.jpg

I daresay I can get it sharper with a bit of experimentation.

(it's an ADC 27 stylus if anybody is interested, not many of those about)

struth

20-01-2015, 23:24

Never tried shooting through a loupe...must try sometime

Remember that rotel amp you liked....it is now 99 quid and no bids Geoff.

walpurgis

20-01-2015, 23:31

Remember that rotel amp you liked....it is now 99 quid and no bids Geoff.

Yeah. I spotted that. Trying to resist temptation.

There's also a Goodmans One Ten receiver that looks in superb condition that I'm also trying not to get excited about and bid on. Very fine sounding and punchy amp section on those and it'll go for peanuts. A real classic and rare now. Somebody here should buy it. I think I'll bung it on 'Bargains on eBay'.

struth

20-01-2015, 23:42

Yeah. I spotted that. Trying to resist temptation.

There's also a Goodmans One Ten receiver that looks in superb condition that I'm also trying not to get excited about and bid on. Very fine sounding and punchy amp section on those and it'll go for peanuts. A real classic and rare now. Somebody here should buy it. I think I'll bung it on 'Bargains on eBay'.

the sony quad one is even cheaper. suppose it would be fine as a steroe; quite fancy one if I'm downsizing.

struth

20-01-2015, 23:44

Found 2 magnifiers today; my jeweler's loupe plus a nice big one with a light and a small part with high mag. I remember buying it for swmbo and it was never used as its still in its packet. Quite nice it is, and think I got it in Aldi

walpurgis

20-01-2015, 23:57

If you want to experiment with macro shots, turn the flash off and use an LED torch or lamp, but keep the room lights on. you'll find the coulur tones come out about right with a bit of working out where to put the lighting and how far away.

Just for a bit of fun, I'll dig my Nikon P7100 out and see what I can achieve. I took the above shot with a 14.1mp Lumix DMC-S7 compact. Even my 5mp LG KC550 mobile with Schneider lens takes good macro shots.

I've got more serious cameras and various close up/macro stuff, but it's surprising what a simple approach can do.

Barry

21-01-2015, 02:25

I would use a jeweller's loupe. Cheap and durable. x20 would be enough.

I have a Colton 50X stylus magnifier which is very difficult to use( so is largely useless), a Swiss Cobronic Spirig 30X "Lightscope" which is much easier to use, having a built in illumination, and a 20x jeweller's loupe, which is the easiest of all to use.

However sometimes I will use a 50mm focal length lens (such as a Zeiss Tessar); which gives about 20x magnification when used as a loupe.