Want close up views of stuff in museum displays…looking for visual aids.
July 24, 2022 11:43 AM Subscribe
I have magnifiers for closeup works and prescription glasses for driving but there's a sort of “donut hole” distance where I'm not getting much visual information.
My current hobby is making copies of old Egyptian furniture and I'm finding it frustrating that between the museum lighting and my distance issues, I'm not resolving as many construction details as I'd like.
Bifocals or drug store reading glasses don’t solve the problem. Far enough away to focus is too small to resolve detail. This problem distance is about 2+ feet, which happens to coincide with the distance most objects are situated behind ropes or glass. I've found that optical camera zooms (like on my iPad Pro) don't add much info either.
Ideally, I'd like to be able to read the text on a quarter at arms length.
I’m imagining there must be a monocular available for focussing of stuff within arms reach. Any idea of the terms I should be searching?
My current hobby is making copies of old Egyptian furniture and I'm finding it frustrating that between the museum lighting and my distance issues, I'm not resolving as many construction details as I'd like.
Bifocals or drug store reading glasses don’t solve the problem. Far enough away to focus is too small to resolve detail. This problem distance is about 2+ feet, which happens to coincide with the distance most objects are situated behind ropes or glass. I've found that optical camera zooms (like on my iPad Pro) don't add much info either.
Ideally, I'd like to be able to read the text on a quarter at arms length.
I’m imagining there must be a monocular available for focussing of stuff within arms reach. Any idea of the terms I should be searching?
Best answer: Came here to also tout the Papilio binoculars. They’re also wonderful if you’re into plants.
posted by sciencegeek at 12:54 PM on July 24, 2022
posted by sciencegeek at 12:54 PM on July 24, 2022
Response by poster: I am sooooo glad I asked this question. The Papilio seems to be exactly what I'm looking for! Thank you both.
In checking out reviews, it seems the Pentax also makes a VD 4x20 WP, which might be an even better option for me. Lower power but waterproof (I could use them for kayaking) and bigger eye relief/exit pupils. If anyone owns a pair, I’d love to hear how they are on close stuff.
posted by brachiopod at 1:38 PM on July 24, 2022
In checking out reviews, it seems the Pentax also makes a VD 4x20 WP, which might be an even better option for me. Lower power but waterproof (I could use them for kayaking) and bigger eye relief/exit pupils. If anyone owns a pair, I’d love to hear how they are on close stuff.
posted by brachiopod at 1:38 PM on July 24, 2022
It’s an intriguing product, I’ve never seen convertible binoculars before! I notice that the manufacturer claims a closer focussing distance when using them as a monocular than as binoculars, which is interesting. I think that part of what makes the Papilios work well for close up work is that the objective lenses are really close together; trying to look at something too close with binoculars can make you go a bit cross-eyed even if the image is in focus. So maybe that’s why they claim a closer focus distance when used as a monocular?
Of course the fact you can use them as a monocular means that might not be a problem for you.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 2:20 PM on July 24, 2022
Of course the fact you can use them as a monocular means that might not be a problem for you.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 2:20 PM on July 24, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks for explaining that. I was wondering why I was seeing both 1.5m and .5m as near distance numbers on various sites. While the VD is pretty cool, it's looking like the Papilio 6.5 hits the sweet spot with my original requirements. Binocular macro viewing sounds more comfortable than monocular but I'D still be happy to hear from any VD 4x20 owners out there.
posted by brachiopod at 2:42 PM on July 24, 2022
posted by brachiopod at 2:42 PM on July 24, 2022
For insects and flowers, is the 6.5 or the 8.5 a better choice?
posted by rockindata at 3:55 PM on July 24, 2022
posted by rockindata at 3:55 PM on July 24, 2022
Looks to me like the Papilio is designed for the kind of close viewing you are asking about it, and people are raving about how good it is.
Whereas the VD 4x20 WP is not really designed for that, and no one even mentions it in reviews or comments.
Note that the close-in focus for the VD 4x20 WP is listed as 1.5 meters when used as a binocular, and only drops to 50 cm when used as a monocular. That is because the objective lenses are so far apart - the Papilio has them designed to be more centered, which makes it possible to have both eyes focus together on something far closer.
Also, for seeing small details rather close up the 4X magnification is almost certainly going to be worse than the 6.5X magnification of the Papilio.
In short, it looks like the Papilio is designed specifically for the task you are concerned with, and people love it for that purpose, whereas the VD 4x20 WP is not and people don't use it that way. FWIW.
posted by flug at 4:05 PM on July 24, 2022
Whereas the VD 4x20 WP is not really designed for that, and no one even mentions it in reviews or comments.
Note that the close-in focus for the VD 4x20 WP is listed as 1.5 meters when used as a binocular, and only drops to 50 cm when used as a monocular. That is because the objective lenses are so far apart - the Papilio has them designed to be more centered, which makes it possible to have both eyes focus together on something far closer.
Also, for seeing small details rather close up the 4X magnification is almost certainly going to be worse than the 6.5X magnification of the Papilio.
In short, it looks like the Papilio is designed specifically for the task you are concerned with, and people love it for that purpose, whereas the VD 4x20 WP is not and people don't use it that way. FWIW.
posted by flug at 4:05 PM on July 24, 2022
Response by poster: Rockindata: from reading the Amazon reviews; people who've tried both prefer the 6.5. Lower power usually means brighter/less shaky views.
posted by brachiopod at 4:30 PM on July 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by brachiopod at 4:30 PM on July 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Thanks for asking this, because I have never heard of this category of product but now I am considering getting a pair too.
posted by primethyme at 8:15 PM on July 24, 2022
posted by primethyme at 8:15 PM on July 24, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks again for the excellent recommendations. I got the 6.5 power version of the Papilio II and it's better than the monocular option I was imagining in the question. Not only more comfortable viewing but I can hold and focus with the same hand. The monoculars I've tried in the past needed a hand to hold and another to focus.
In decent light, I can read the lettering on a quarter that's on the floor between my feet. At 18”, that quarter fills about half the screen.
At $119 CAD, an amazing value.
posted by brachiopod at 4:17 PM on July 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
In decent light, I can read the lettering on a quarter that's on the floor between my feet. At 18”, that quarter fills about half the screen.
At $119 CAD, an amazing value.
posted by brachiopod at 4:17 PM on July 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 12:15 PM on July 24, 2022 [4 favorites]