I am interested in purchasing a quality lupe.

The industry standard seems to be a Schneider which I have discovered uses only a 2 element optical system.

The NPC which seems to built by a tank is also only a 2 element lupe.

The EMO that Adorama sold was a 4 element lupe and was high on my list as it came with a attachment to hold uncut film or 2X 2 slides. This lupe is no longer available.

The Pentax lupe is a 4 element lupe and seems to be a good buy.

The Horzon lupes are cheap but I have never physically seen one.

Has anyone seen a Horizon Lupe, and if so, How was the quality of construction?

Thanks

Wes

-- Wes Martinson (wesmartinson@usa.com), July 07, 1999

Answers

Don't get hookied on the number of elements; look at the image quality. The Schneider is outstanding.

-- James D. Steele (jdsteele@erols.com), July 08, 1999.

If you've got an 85mm F1.8 or 2, they make the best loupes for critical inspection but you've got to float it an inch or so over your film. I have a Rodenstock 8x from Kodak, and a Fuji 8x (love them rebates!) which I think is the Schneider and they are both great for editing film. For focusing a veiw camera, I have a Peak 10x. By the way, Peak makes a pretty good 8x rectangular unit that matches 35mm aspect ratio for about $35-40 bucks. It has a neck strap and is focusable. Perfectly adequate...t

-- tom meyer (twm@meteor.com), July 19, 1999.