Here's the Difference

From a supplier webpage (https://www.loupe-magnifier.com/optivisor_lx.htm):

• Optivisor LX is identical to Optivisor, but with molded acrylic lens plate that looks clear and not blue. 
• A very economical alternative to the regular Optivisor, especially when purchasing in quantity
• Acrylic Lenses are molded to precision opthalmic standards.

I have both

I have both (one for my wife) the acrylic and the glass #5 (2 1/2 magnification).  While both are good I think the glass is just a little bit better - a little clearer.  If I buy another in the future it will be glass.  I like the #5, but I haven't tried other magnifications - haven't felt the need.  I do have a 10x jeweler's loupe for those few times I need a lot of magnification.

Paul

What magnification?

Wondering what magnification (or lens #) others are using with the Optivisor on their model railroad?

optivisor magnification.

   The lenses are marked with numbers but they don't refer to the power. My #3 lens is 1 3/4 power. I can use bifocal glasses with it to increase the power. The more magnification the narrower the in focus range so don't go larger than you really need......DaveB 

A good point on range of

A good point on range of focus.  I have an original Optivisor that I bought for plastic modeling and it was a bit of a learning curve to know how close to hold objects so that they were in focus.  I'm away from home right now, so can't say what the magnification is on mine.

Optivisor...

Hello,

I have two Optivisors one equipped with the headlights. I have all the lens plates but mostly use the #2 (20" FL) and the #5 (8" FL) when painting HO people. I like them but they can (I think) get a little uncomfortable during a long painting session. I tried using some desk stand magnifiers but the bases were not heavy enough and kept tipping over while working so I made one using a 3# telescope counterweight on the base and a large 6" lighted magnifier and it works great.

Cheers,

Karl O.

Berkley, MI

a case for cheap knockoffs

I've had an Optivisor with the interchangeable acrylic lenses for many years. Getting it drove a significant shift in the quality of my modeling. But when it came to sharing the pleasures of modeling with my middle school students it quickly became apparent that sharing that one Optivisor was a problem. And the "real things" are expensive.

So I bought eight el cheapo knockoffs. They came with built-in lights and battery compartments on each side with annoyingly bad latches on the compartment covers that made the lights useless. But otherwise, they were better than my original Optivisor and much preferred by the students and by me. This was three or four years ago now but at that time I could buy four of them for the price of a single Optivisor. 

My apologies to the city of Rochester, but that's my experience. 

Jeff Allen

Alternates

About 7 years ago I bought a magnifying visor from Train Station in Costa Mesa. The brand name is Mascot, now distributed by Grobet USA. They now have several models, but not the model H999 I bought. The closest they show is model 29.561. This model like mine has the acrylic lenses for 1.8x, 2.3x, 4.8x, the latter being with the use of the swing down magnifying lens. The model includes spot penlight like lamps on each side of the housing. The lamps use 2 AAA cells on each side. The lamp housing is not too sturdy on my model and I don't use the lamps very often, but it sure made working on N scale a lot easier.

Grobet:

http://www.grobetusa.com/

Quite a varied number of craftsman tools shown on their web site.

I once bought a cheap knock

Jeweler's Loupes.

Personally, I use a double jewler's loupe set... and of course one of those lights you wear on your head.

One lens for some of the close up stuff, and both lenses if you really need better magnification (I rarely need the second lens)

They run about $10, and just clip to my glasses. (My roommate, when painting HO figures, uses a more traditional clip on loupe)

These are what I use:

 

And,

do you know the magnification factor of those loupe's?

Yep...

10x by 10x.

They are quite handy. They allow me to see normally out of one eye should I need to fumble around for a tiny part on the desk.

 

wow,

yup, one eye should be enough to see with!! Enlarged or normal!

Optivisor

I didn't want to spend my hard earned money on an Optivisor. I found some good items on Ebay at a good price. I ordered two, one for me and one for my wife. They come with two sets of lens, one built in and the second set that is built in and is a flip down unit. I also has a loup. The lens are plastic, but I had no problems with them. They fit well and have a adjustable band. It also has built in light which I find very helpful. If I remember right I paid somewhere between $10 and $15 of each one. We have been very pleased with our visors. 

Alternative to Optivisor

This is what I bought:

YOCTOSUN Head Mount Magnifier with 2 Led Professional Jeweler's Loupe Light Bracket and Headband are Interchangeable

Highly Rated on Amazon ...4.4 stars ...$15.79 Prime

5 interchangeable lenses with 1.0X, 1.5X, 2.0X, 2.5X, 3.5X magnification, scratch-resistant acrylic

Headlight with 2 super-bright LED -powered by 3 AAA batteries

Eyeglass frame with rubber nose-pads

Headband included

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H8808H6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1