On a previous thread, a 5x zeiss loupe was mentioned which allegedly gave superior eye relief to the leica offering. Does anyone know where I can purchase one? Preferably in the UK? Do I have to move to New York to get access these interesting bits and pieces...?!

-- stephen jones (stephenjjones@btopenworld.com), November 27, 2001

Answers

Hi Stephen!

No, you can drop by in Berlin (or anywhere here in Leicaland). I bought one a few months ago and it's great (has to be great for that dough). If you can't find one in the UK, ask them here in Solms where to try first (or next). Phone +40 6442 2080 or mail info@leica-camera.com.

No, I don't work there :)

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 27, 2001.

Stephen: Did you mean to say "Zeiss", or "Leica'? I own the 5X Leica and I think it is a fine piece. It serves my tired eyes, anyway.

-- Max Wall (mtwall@earthlink.net), November 27, 2001.

The Zeiss Triotar 5x loupe is a Contax item, any Contax dealer can get one for you. I have one and find it to be an excellent loupe.

That said, I like the Leica loupe too. The eye relief is a little shorter but the slide and negative stage attachments make handling very easy.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), November 27, 2001.

Just wondering if my Leica loupe is the same that you're all talking about, because I didn't know Leica had a loupe in it's line, but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, recently I was in Vienna & dropped my M6 (like a kick in the knackers!). Popped in to the local Leica distributor who repaired on the spot at a price. Whilst waiting I was poking around the showroom, where amongst the great museum pieces to view they had some Leica merchandise for sale, tie pins & so on. One item on offer was what I beleive is supposed to be a novelty paperweight,,,,, a square block of glass with bevilled edges, polished convex top, flat bottom, Leica logo on the side, fits in your palm,,,,,,,,,,,,, I had just found the best loupe EVER MADE! It's all I use now. Cost me 300 Austrian schills, about 15 GBP I guess,,,,, the repair a hell of a lot more.

-- Paul Kiss (paul.kiss@skynet.be), November 27, 2001.

Paul, the Leica Loupe I bought recently has the article number 37350 imprinted in white on the (black) barrel side. Full price here is 398 DEM or about 204 Euros or about 180 USD.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 27, 2001.

Anyone with experience using Maxwell loupe?

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), November 28, 2001.

IMO, 5x loupe, no matter how good it is, is barely enough to see finer details of any 35mm negative. It is only equivalent to 5x7" enlargement.

You need a loupe of at least 10x preferably 20x

My favourite loupe is a made in Germany Wetzlar Octoscop

It has eight different magnifications, 2x,4x,6x,10x 14x,18x, 20x and 28x great for viewing any negatives/slides from Minox to 6x6

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), December 01, 2001.

ps: Why 5x loupe is terribly insufficient. A good 20/20 eye can resolve about 5 lpmm, with 5x loupe, you can only see 25 lpmm--- A single use camera has better resolution than that.

A 20x loupe raises the resolving power of eye to 100 lpmm, to the level of a Summicron

A 28x loup raises the resolving power of eye to 140 lpmm, in the ball park of Minox lens

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), December 02, 2001.