Thank you Brian! Wonderful instructions for something I’ve been doing since I was a kid.Bending down to peer into the beauty of nature, but without a jeweler’s loop. I am pleased to find a new use for the one I own. Here in Vermont , we use a jeweler’s loop for looking at , umm, other botanical buds.
I am putting mine on a lanyard right now. I can’t wait to go out and explorer with new ‘eyes’.
Speaking of ‘play’ . I’m heading out to go play with my lanyard jewelry. First up is what I think is orange fungus disease on a few downed birch branches. Tiny orange bumps closely gathered along the bark?
I still use the doublet 10x hand lens I bought at the student bookstore for my field botany class back in the late 90s. And, it's still on the same cord.
Perfect timing! I’m headed off on a long western immersion tomorrow morning, and today as I was winnowing in order to fit in my trunk better, one of the things I set aside “because I really never tend to use it” was my 10X triplet. But it’s tiny! You’ve reminded me why I’ve kept it with my daypack stuff for years; now I just have to remember it’s there!
I'd been thinking of getting a hand lens for awhile, though for something that does require bending down to peer at things--some wildlife leave very, very small tracks, and as I get older the finer details even in larger tracks get harder to see. I have a magnifying glass but it doesn't really get the job done. So this recommendation is timely!
Thankyou for this. I had a loupe a few years ago but it stayed forgotten at the bottom of my backpack and never got any use before I lost it. This is great inspiration to try again!
Wonderful, Bryan. Looking forward to adding a lens to my exploration tool kit. Also, I loved the tiny universe in Men in Black too. Thank you, as always, for a delightful treat of a post.
Loved the overview and advice on hand lenses (and greatly enjoy all your posts). Now a retired botanist and consultant (former lead botanist for the Michigan natural features inventory) I still have and use my original 10x loupe from my first field botany course with Herb Wagner at U-M in 1977, and still carry that loupe on the original nylon twine on my cruiser vest. I also carry a newer 14x loupe - and also have at hand a 30x loupe with a small embedded light for bryophytes. Wagner gave me a lifelong tip about loupes that has served me well, telling our class to not close the non-viewing eye while using a loupe. It is counterintuitive but causes less eye strain that way. Works like a charm. Best wishes - M.P.
Thankyou for this! I have never been enamoured with the galaxy and visiting other stellar bodies. I think our tax payer money would be better spent on this planet including getting to know our fellow inhabitants, including the tiny.
Hey Brian...I've been carrying a Hastings Triplet for a few decades, but about 7-8 years ago, I forgot it one day and tried flipping my 10x40 binocs "backwards" and VOILA! IT worked nearly as well. Since then, I've maybe busted out the hand lens 3 times b/c I'm pretty much always wearing my binocs. Just thought that might useful info for other binocular-carrying folks here. Great essay!
Thank you Brian! Wonderful instructions for something I’ve been doing since I was a kid.Bending down to peer into the beauty of nature, but without a jeweler’s loop. I am pleased to find a new use for the one I own. Here in Vermont , we use a jeweler’s loop for looking at , umm, other botanical buds.
I am putting mine on a lanyard right now. I can’t wait to go out and explorer with new ‘eyes’.
Speaking of ‘play’ . I’m heading out to go play with my lanyard jewelry. First up is what I think is orange fungus disease on a few downed birch branches. Tiny orange bumps closely gathered along the bark?
That reminds me, I have an old Bausch & Lomb loupe with a 5x, 10x, and 20x magnifier that I keep in my desk. I'll bring it on nature walks!
Very good - speaks to what's left of my soul. The photo reminded J of the deathless verse beginning "Sedges have edges and rushes are round etc ... "
I still use the doublet 10x hand lens I bought at the student bookstore for my field botany class back in the late 90s. And, it's still on the same cord.
How do I send you a photo?
Perfect timing! I’m headed off on a long western immersion tomorrow morning, and today as I was winnowing in order to fit in my trunk better, one of the things I set aside “because I really never tend to use it” was my 10X triplet. But it’s tiny! You’ve reminded me why I’ve kept it with my daypack stuff for years; now I just have to remember it’s there!
I'd been thinking of getting a hand lens for awhile, though for something that does require bending down to peer at things--some wildlife leave very, very small tracks, and as I get older the finer details even in larger tracks get harder to see. I have a magnifying glass but it doesn't really get the job done. So this recommendation is timely!
Thankyou for this. I had a loupe a few years ago but it stayed forgotten at the bottom of my backpack and never got any use before I lost it. This is great inspiration to try again!
Wonderful, Bryan. Looking forward to adding a lens to my exploration tool kit. Also, I loved the tiny universe in Men in Black too. Thank you, as always, for a delightful treat of a post.
Oof, those 14x B&L triplets are hard to find!
Brian,
Loved the overview and advice on hand lenses (and greatly enjoy all your posts). Now a retired botanist and consultant (former lead botanist for the Michigan natural features inventory) I still have and use my original 10x loupe from my first field botany course with Herb Wagner at U-M in 1977, and still carry that loupe on the original nylon twine on my cruiser vest. I also carry a newer 14x loupe - and also have at hand a 30x loupe with a small embedded light for bryophytes. Wagner gave me a lifelong tip about loupes that has served me well, telling our class to not close the non-viewing eye while using a loupe. It is counterintuitive but causes less eye strain that way. Works like a charm. Best wishes - M.P.
Thankyou for this! I have never been enamoured with the galaxy and visiting other stellar bodies. I think our tax payer money would be better spent on this planet including getting to know our fellow inhabitants, including the tiny.
I have two and I never wear them out. I am so inspired, and will wear them as religiously as my earrings from now on. Thank you!!!
Hey Brian...I've been carrying a Hastings Triplet for a few decades, but about 7-8 years ago, I forgot it one day and tried flipping my 10x40 binocs "backwards" and VOILA! IT worked nearly as well. Since then, I've maybe busted out the hand lens 3 times b/c I'm pretty much always wearing my binocs. Just thought that might useful info for other binocular-carrying folks here. Great essay!
Definitely picking up another one of these or a few when I get back home!