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Best Magnifying Glass

Nutterbuster

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 12, 2017
10,068
24,821
113
Where the skys are so blue!
Looking for a lens to take with me hunting, fishing, and just generally mucking around outside. I find myself more and more reverting to childhood and getting distracted by bugs, flowers, and cool rocks; and having a kid seems to have accelerated that. I'm a blank slate when it comes to magnifying glasses, having only owned a cheap jeweler's loupe back in grade school that came with a geology gem kit my folks got me.

Any field biologists or serious amateur naturalists have recommendations? Not looking for whiz-bang pocket doo-dads, and have 0 interest in multitasking abilities or "running" it as a tool for survival, first aid, bushcraft...whatever. I just want to bend light so I can get a better look at small, pretty things.
 

woodsdog2

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Jun 28, 2019
8,158
10,405
113
Looking for a lens to take with me hunting, fishing, and just generally mucking around outside. I find myself more and more reverting to childhood and getting distracted by bugs, flowers, and cool rocks; and having a kid seems to have accelerated that. I'm a blank slate when it comes to magnifying glasses, having only owned a cheap jeweler's loupe back in grade school that came with a geology gem kit my folks got me.

Any field biologists or serious amateur naturalists have recommendations? Not looking for whiz-bang pocket doo-dads, and have 0 interest in multitasking abilities or "running" it as a tool for survival, first aid, bushcraft...whatever. I just want to bend light so I can get a better look at small, pretty things.
I prefer binoculars while driving down the road!
 

Weldabeast

Well-Known Member
SH Member
May 23, 2019
12,562
26,158
113
Northeast Florida
My favorite magnifying glass is the lens outta an old pair of binoculars that I took apart. Slip into an old sock and roll it up. It's maybe 1/2 thick in the center and tapers out to maybe 1/8 at the outside diameter. If u want a pic just ask
 
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Jammintree

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Jan 5, 2021
2,205
4,636
113
45
Old school loupes for graphic arts / printmaking or for plant and insect ID are compact and rugged and often get you 10x - 50x magnification. There are also now some models that mount to a smart phone - which is quite useful.
 
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