Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Evaluating Photos
-- Huyen Seow, January 29, 1999
I've read in both a John Shaw book and an Ernst Wildi book that you need something like 7x to 10x for
critical evaluation of 35mm slides. Wildi said the higher magnification lupe can be a fairly inexpensive
one since you're only evaluating a local area of the slide anyhow(so just accept the middle portion). I
trust these two photographers' opinions, and wonder what others might think. (Shaw and Wildi aren't
anti-4X-- I know Shaw recommends the Sneider 4X to see the whole image-- they're talking of "critical"
evaluation, however this may be defined.)
-- Dean Goldsworthy, March 1, 1999
I have found a very inexpensive oversize 7x loupe being advertised on Ebay in the medium format
section. It goes for $20 and is comparable to loupes priced much higher. I like the large size and dual
glass elements. Also neat is the added measuring scale that you can attach to the base for measuring
subjects in the negatives. Great value! It can also be bought directly from the distributor, MPS. Their
number is (870) 932-4454. I bought four of them.
-- Kent Watkins, March 4, 1999
After dropping and stepping on my two year old Schneider Loupe, I went down to B&H Photo one
afternoon to pick up another one. Well, it turns out Schneider isn't the only game in town, and I came
home with a Fuji Professional 4x Loupe after peering through the dozen they have on display. I don't
think I saved any money, because Schneider had a rebate on theirs, but the Fuji is terrific, particularly if
you wear glasses (I do).
I also picked up the smallest Cabin Light Panel (it was on sale), and I have to say that the quality of the
light blows away my Porta Trace Lightbox. Next trip to B&H, I'll certainly be purchasing one of the
large Cabin Light Panels that can handle a whole page of slides.
-- Eric Edelman, March 11, 1999
Just thought I'd post a reminder for an old trick. If you have a "normal" lens for your 35mm camera (50
to 55mm, f/1.8 or 1.4), it can be used as a loupe. Just pull it off the camera, hold in your hand, and look
through the film side of the lens. The optical quality will probably be better than than dedicated slide
viewing loupes. For heavy use a loupe may be more convenient - the normal lens has no skirt or stand,
and protruding hardware on the back of the lens could damage your eyeglasses, or your eye.
-- Julian Vrieslander, May 2, 1999
The E-6 lab I use has Just Normlicht light tables available for their customers, so I decided to get a Just
Normlicht for consistency and some confidence in knowing I had a table which meets ANSI and ISO
standard viewing specifications.
http://www.photo.net/photo/evaluation (10 of 17)7/3/2005 2:19:24 AM