I am considering the purchase of the Optivisor by Donegan Optical for use in the assembly of N scale model structures, etc. What has been your experience with this product? If you have used it in your modeling, what magnifications have you found to be most useful? Magnifications range from 1.5 X to 3.5 X with 20" to 4" focal lengths, respectively.
Any information on this product will be greatly appreciated.
Bob
I couldn’t work without mine. I’m not in N scale but they are useful in every scale. I dont know which lens I have but it was the one that came with it. Best advice get one.
Dave
Yeh’ same here don’t have a clue as to the magnification on mine but their invaluable for seeing the finer details in many of todays models.
Heres a hint buy one of the small battery powered lites that attach to the optivisor ,WOW what differance lighting up the area your trying to look at…mine is adjustable so i can put a spotlight right where i’m looking.
I’ve been using an Optivisor for more than 20 years (3.5x). Using one made for the single most improvement in my model work (I like to do custom work and super detailing).
I would have to put it right up there with the NMRA gauge. Mine is never far away.
-Crandell
I have the 2.5X Mascot version of it ($18). It comes with an adjustable, soft, leather-like strap headband that’s comfortable around my head. (Much more comfortable than the hard plastic headbands using the adjustable knob.)
I model in HO and I find Optivisors or magnification visors invaluable when working on my locomotives, or putting together or painting a kit. Next to my 10 fingers, it’s THE most important tool in my MRRing toolbox. And my 75W task light is not far behind either.
Tom
I’ve been modelling one thing of another for over 20years and its my most important tool. I remember when I purchased my first one, the old master modeller who was selling them made a good point. He said, “if it look’s good to you under magnification, how good do you think it will look to everyone else using just their eyes?” I have two work tables and two optivisiors. I totally agree with the poster that said get the lights, you’ll really be glad you did.
They are absolutely essential to my model making. I avoid the high-magnification models because the range of focus is so small.
Mark
I have 3 of them with different magnifications, and I wouldn’t consider building a model without them.
I have one made by another firm, don’t know the magnification but it is fairly high; I won it in a contest. I use it from time to time. My problem is the weird feeling when moving my head around, the area outside the magnified area is obviously blurry, and is uncomfortable when needing to look out and then back into the magified area. I suspect this is because the magnification is fairly high. And the plastic headband becomes somewhat sticky/sweaty after a while.
I mostly use a swing arm table lamp with a built in magnifier and a circular flourescent bulb. My latest one uses a very small diameter bulb, meaning the lamp with the mgagnifier is relatively thin. It puts the light extactly where I am working, no problem with surrounding area being magnified, and it runs cool.
I’m currently assembling several Z scale kits for a review on a website and I couldn’t work on them without the lamp. I’d suggest checking out one of these lamps at an office supply store; I got mine at a local Staples Office Depot.
I have a cheap knock of that was under ten bucks. It has a flip down magnifier that increases the mag. From 5x to 10x. The field of vision is larger at 5x. I would also consider the table mounted magnifier that has the built in fourescent light around it. Good lighting is equally important
I love mine. I also have a couple of knockoffs that work, but the Optivsor is the best. Mine has 2.5 magnification which works fine for me. Nice thing with the Optivsor is the headband is easy to adjust.
Enjoy
Paul
had mine for a week and cant beleive the differance it makes ,I got the pack deal at micomark where you get the flip down atachment free w/the 2.5 magnifier. now when I drop one of those tiny pcs to the unknown ,Ido my “honey I shrunk the kids” thing but I find my part, I was worried that the magnification of 2.5 would be to much do to the short field of a view .Im very happy with this tool…Jerry
Another satisfied customer here. [:D] I use it always and find it so comfortable that I often forget that I’m wearing it (although I forget a lot of other stuff, too). [(-D]
I’ve also found it useful for taking close-up photos with my cheapie digital camera - simply place one lense directly over that of the camera, focus, and shoot.
As an experiment, I also tried a shot using a jeweller’s loupe - mine fit right into the camera’s lense, giving me this somewhat revealing view of a window screen on one of my cabooses:
Guess I shoulda used the loupe when I was building the caboose - the HO scale bugs can sneak in through that gap under the screen’s frame. [:O] [banghead]
Here’s the same caboose without any magnification:
Wayne
wow;thats an amazing discovery doc…thanks…Jerry
Bob (and all) - go to the local dollar store and get some of the off the shelf reading glasses. The come in various ranges from 1.25 to about 3. At a buck a pair I get tons… one for the truck, work, the layout, the spray booth, work bench etc. I have different ones that fit me. I have “stronger” ones for the fine detail work. If I break or loose one I really don’t care at a buck a pair
I find they work better than the visor or that arm lens light thingy…
ratled
That’s an economical solution, but for those of us already wearing glasses, the Opti-Visor is probably more convenient. If I’m working on something while wearing the Opti-Visor, then need to go into the layout room to find a car or loco, I simply flip up the visor and go. Trying to walk around or navigate a stairway is difficult while wearing reading glasses, and once you put them down, invariably you can never find them again. [banghead] Also, around here, even the “buck-a-pair” ones are $10.00 or more. [(-D]
Wayne
Also, around here, even the “buck-a-pair” ones are $10.00 or more. 
Dollar Tree not in Canada, I presume?
Shoot, the way I go through reading glasses, if it weren’t for Dollar Tree, I’d be bankrupt. Brave, kind, thoughtful, thrifty and reverent perhaps (not to mention supremely intelligent and devilishly handsome), but bankrupt all the same. [swg]
Andre
Not that I’m aware of. It’s so bad around here, we don’t even have a Dollar Store - it’s called the Ten Dollar Store. I’m not kiddin’, we don’t get no respect. [(-D]
Well, at least that solves the mystery of the identity of the guy starin’ back at me from the mirror every morning. [(-D]
Wayne
You keep your fingers in your toolbox?? [:D]