Leica Universal 5x Loupe vs. ....

I spent an insane amount of money on the Leica 5x. I was willing to

do this because the purchase was preceded by several disappointments

AND because when I looked through it at the store, I was absolutely

astounded. The sample slide at the shop was scratchy and the subject

was a rather dull-looking snail, but the clarity was unbelievable. I

was floored. I had been shopping for a loupe for hours and had

examined the Schneider 4x and 6x, as well as the Rodenstock 4x, the

Pentax 5.5x, and some other obscure thing that was packaged in the

same way as batteries - just paper and hard plastic. I was actually

looking specifically for the Carl Zeiss Triotar 5x, but NObody had

it (I live in an out-of-the way area). By the time I arrived at the

Leica 5x, I was sick of loupes. But I tried it anyway.

 

I had no intention of actually buying it when the saleslady

mentioned that they had it. I was disappointed that they didn't have

the Zeiss and I had agreed to try the Leica out of politeness. (I

really had my heart set on this Zeiss.) And then I don't know what

happened...I just had to have it. I think it was the slide-holding

feature that decided things. If not, then it was simply the superb-

looking dull-grey snail. Zero distortion, crisp edges. Just

brilliant.

 

The first loupe that I tried was the Pentax 5.5x. It was luxuriously

comfortable to use - sizier than the Leica and actually easier to

manipulate, but distortion was a problem. The image looked like its

edges were being vacuumed inwards! This is not to say that it is a

piece of trash, but one can certainly do better. $80USD is a lot to

spend on something that doesn't satisfy.

 

The Schneiders were next on my hit list, but to own the truth, I was

prejudiced from the start. I had heard about their plastic

construction and was turned off before I ever looked through one.

The 4x was $90 and the 6x was $165 - a lot of money to spend on

frosted plastic, as far as I was concerned. When I actually looked

through them, I thought them unremarkable, especially because the

image would fog up whenever I exhaled.

 

The Rodenstock also presented me with this fogging problem (but

since I seem to be the only person who has experienced this, I would

not rule out the possibility of my simply being a funny breather....)

However, the body of the Rodenstock felt much sturdier. It was the

same price as the Schneider 4x, so given a choice between the two, I

would opt for the Rodenstock hands down. Both had little image

distortion.

 

Having found so many loupes unsatisfactory, I was all set to go home

and be depressed about the Zeiss' unavailability, but then the Leica

happened. Before I knew it, I was on my way to the ATM and then

minutes later, I owned it! It was mine and mine forever!

 

The only problem is that the metal barrel that fits over the frosted

one is rather difficult to remove, but this is not a big deal as

long as one is careful.

 

I am happy with my Leica, but I am really curious as to how it

compares to the Zeiss. Has anybody out there done any comparisons?

Does anyone out there actually own them both? I understand that

considering the Leica's $240 price tag, a $180 Zeiss is probably the

wiser choice if one can choose... but as far as optics go, does

anyone have any comments? Price aside, which one is better? And is

it even SANE to spend so much money on what might essentially be

just a trumped-up slide viewer?

I usually use my 50mm Summicron for a loupe. At one time I had a 50mm f/0.95 Canon and a 75mm f1.5 Zeiss Jena Biotar, both without any focussing mounts, that I used for loupes. The 50 'cron works well and it's always handy.

I have the Leica loupe and as you say it's excellent. However I think it may actually be made by Schnieder :-), could be wrong on this though.

Based on my inquiries on the same subject a few weeks ago, Leica has the best solution currently available. The Leica loupe is unique in that it has the slide-mount and filmstrip mechanisms for the easiest viewing.

 

I wouldn't fret too much about the price either; it's the last loupe for 35mm you'll ever have to buy.

I like my Schneider 4X very much - I actually prefer the plastic casing too - lighter. I have an older style metal 8X Schneider and it weighs a ton and if you drop it it would break anything it fell on. Sometimes plastic is actually more practical. Image quality is great too. Still, I think the Leica is good too. How can you tell which one is better? With great difficulty I would guess as they are both excellent. I also have the 3X Schneider loupe for MF. All of them show wonderful image quality. I gritted my teeth when I bought them, but there is no substitute for a good loupe and you just have to cough up in my opinion. The Calumet/Rodenstock 3X MF loupe is a goodie and that's cheaper than the Schneider.

Try the Mamiya/Cabin 4x loupe. Outside of the USA, the Cabin only cost me around $50 new. Mamiya sells the exact same loupe for triple in the USA. You can order this loupe from Canada and get a good deal.

 

It has metal construction (listening Schneider?), great optics, smooth focusing action, comes with clear and solid skirts (for prints & slides), and a cap.

 

I too tried a number of loupes including the Pentax and Schneider, and settled on the Cabin after some side-by-side viewing of a proper Leica test slide which included test patterns. I agree that the Pentax has terrible distortion. I couldn't see any difference between the Cabin and Schneider optically so price and construction won out.

Sorry I guess the Mamiya is more like double the price than triple. Its worth checking out.

<I>"And is it even SANE to spend so much money on what might essentially be just a trumped-up slide viewer?"</I>

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Short answer: no.

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But the real question is whether every time you pick it up you're going to think about how nice it is and enjoy using it or are you going to cringe thinking about the money you "wasted". I say if you can get over the money thing keep it.

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And if it makes you feel any better I probably spent 30% more than I should have for a 5X Mamiya Loupe and I love using it.

Take a look at the Kenko ECX8 Excelupe. You can see a whole 35mm frame at 8X. Great for determining sharpness.

The Leica loupe is actually the Emo Macromax designed by Arthur Seibert, the optical designer of the Minox Complan lens. Leica licensed the design, I am not sure who actually manufactures it, as Emo (also based in Wetzlar) has stopped manufacturing there.

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I have the Zeiss loupe, and it is a fine instrument. I have never tried the Leica, so I can't really compare and I doubt many can. It is very easy to develop a <a href="http://www.majid.info/mylos/stories/2004/07/17/loupes.html">loupe habit</a>, so stop fretting and enjoy what is probably an excellent piece of glass. If you really must, get the inexpensive Edmunds Optics loupe test chart (see above article for details). Your loupe should outresolve almost any real-world film.

I think the best answer to whether you are insane or not is this: I attended a National Geographic photo workshop a few summers ago--one in which the instructors made the rounds each morning, viewing each student's slides from the day before. The instructor kept "stealing" my Leica loupe, and threatening never to return it. It is simply excellent.

 

I think the tight fit you describe, between the two halves, is intentional, as you would not want it to come loose when using the loupe as a slide viewer (i.e., holding it up to ambient light).

My $10 Horizon loupe bought in Moscow works fine for me, or Al's reversed lens technique (doesn't touch the film). I sold my Schneider and Rodenstock loupes soon thereafter.

My favourite loup is EMO Wetzlar Octoscop,( designed by Arthur Seibert). Octoscop has eight differerent magnifications: 2x, 4x 6x

10x 14x 18x 20x 28x <p>

 

4x, 6x is great for viewing overall composition of 35mm negative/slide, 20x and 28x for viewing critical fine details<P><div></div>

i agree with bill. the leica loupe is excellent, and it will last a lifetime. very versatile. i use mine all the time. my only advice is to be careful when removing the adapter (for slides and film strips) from the loupe. once when pulling mine off, one edge released before the other, resulting in it "tilting" which fractured a piece of the plastic retaining ring which holds the rubber gasket in place (which protect film when the loupe is used on a light table).

Hello

 

In France, we have a supplier of dark room equipment named AHEL

 

http://www.ahel.fr/

 

They offer 4x, 5x, 8X, ... And even a zoom 4X to 12X for the price of a leica Loupe.

Ahel is sub contracting in Japan (may be to Cosina!)

 

It is rumored to be quite good quality. I'm using a cheap Horizon from the days I was poor...

Today, I don't want to add more leica stuff to my collection!

G. Lee,

 

If ya wanna see a slide and/ or negative magnifier, the Leica Desk

Slide Viewer B will absolutely blow your mind! The lens is so large

that you can view the slide with both eyes, (3D effect).

 

Jerry

I compared the Leica loupe to Peak's anistigmatic loupe and preferred the Peak. But

both were insanely priced and I bought a couple of Horizon loupes at diff.

magnifications for a fraction of the price and have been happy for years.