FAQs
Why Eschenbach?
"For over 100 years, the name Eschenbach has been synonymous with quality, innovation, reliability and service. Eschenbach Optik GmbH has received the prestigious ISO 9001 certification for exceptional quality in the “Development, Production and Distribution of Precision Mechanical and Optical Products”. ISO 9001 Certification is awarded only after a company has demonstrated it has developed and implemented a quality management system necessary to prove its ability to consistently provide a product that meets customer, statutory, and regulatory requirements and enhances customer satisfaction.
Throughout its history, Eschenbach has become renowned for its continuous innovation. In fact, one of Eschenbach’s company mottos is, “Innovation vor Augen” [in German], or “Innovation in Sight” [in English]. In fact, Eschenbach introduces more magnifying devices than all of its competitors combined.
Eschenbach has introduced important innovations such as the first illuminated magnifier, the first injection-molded aspheric lens, the first application of diffractive optics to low vision, and the first all-plastic telescopic system for the visually impaired. Innovation is part of the fibre of Eschenbach’s culture, leading to greater and better solutions for their customers.
Eschenbach has introduced important innovations such as the first illuminated magnifier, the first injection-molded aspheric lens, the first application of diffractive optics to low vision, and the first all-plastic telescopic system for the visually impaired. Innovation is part of the fibre of Eschenbach’s culture, leading to greater and better solutions for their customers.
In addition to consistently staying ahead of the technology curve with new products, Eschenbach strives to ensure that all of our customers realize the full value of each product through the longest useful life. This is backed by our warranty policies, which represent our commitment to stand behind our products.
The reliability of Eschenbach products is also supported by engineering developments such as cera-tec® coating which makes plastic lenses 99% as hard as glass, and our proprietary lens material PXM® which allows for lightweight optical solutions in the most demanding designs." - Eschenbach Optik of America (Learn More About Eschenbach, 2022)
So when you buy an Eschenbach magnifier you can be sure you are buying the best quality most innovative German made magnifier which you will use for many years to come.
How is magnification measured?
Magnifiers are measured in two ways. There is times (X) and dioptres (dpt). Times refers to the image enlargement value of the lens. So, for a 2X magnifier the image you are viewing will be twice as big. A dioptre is the measurement of the power of a lens. Most commonly you will see dioptre used in a person’s optical script or commonly when buying the type of readymade reading glasses you often see in a chemist. So you will often see +1, +1.5 + 2 etc.
We use times (X) on our website. As a general rule of thumb dioptres (dpt) are approximately one quarter of a times (X), for example 5X = 20dpt. It is important to distinguish between the two measurements to be sure you are ordering the right magnification for you.
How do I select the right magnifier?
If you are experiencing a deterioration in your vision, you should see your optometrist to discover the cause. It may just be the natural process of ageing, causing a gradual loss of the eyesight you once had. You may require a magnifier for very close or detailed work and hobbies that is not due to a deterioration in your vision. Or you may be suffering with a diagnosed condition like Macular Degeneration that means a magnifier can help with your day to day life.
The first thing to do is to decide what you want to do with the magnifier. No single optical magnifier will fulfill all your needs. Do you want to read? Knit? Watch TV? Do you just need occasional help reading very small print? Once you have decided on your primary task you can then consider which magnifier might be the best fit. Our website offers suggestions for reading magnifiers as well as magnifiers for hobbies and craft. On each product page we have noted the most suitable use of each magnifier. Of course it is also important to consider how you will use a magnifier. Does it need to be portable? Or handsfree? For instance if you are knitting you need a handsfree magnifier.
The next question is how powerful do you need the magnifier to be? The strongest magnification is not always the best option. As magnification increases, the size of the lens of an optical magnifier decreases and this decreases both your field of view and your working distance. Often the best option is a lower magnification with a larger field of view.
If you have normal, or ageing vision, then the lower magnification will be sufficient to enhance your vision whilst maintaining good field of view and a comfortable working distance. If you want magnification for specific tasks such as watching TV we have options on our website such as the Max TV. Other specific occupational or hobby tasks may require higher magnification. For instance if you are interested in mining or geology then the stone magnifier at 15X or precision folding magnifiers at 20X might be the thing you are looking for. Search keywords on the website for suggestions or send us an email on bec+nz@magnifiersaustralia.com.au and we will be happy to help.
If you have low vision or deteriorating vision we recommend you ask your vision specialist for a recommendation of which magnification you may find useful.
If you have low vision or deteriorating vision we recommend you ask your vision specialist for a recommendation of which magnification you may find useful.
What power magnifier do I need?
Generally speaking the most commonly used magnifiers are in the lower powers. As stated above, when magnification is increased, the size of the lens of an optical magnifier decreases and this decreases both your field of view and your working distance. Our most sold magnifier is by far the 15113 Mobilux 3.5X LED illuminated magnifier. It is powerful enough to be useful but still offers a large field of view and comfortable working distance.
What are digital magnifiers?
Digital magnifiers are electronic low vision aids comprising of a camera and a screen to provide magnification, as opposed to optical magnifiers which use an optical lens made of glass or plastic. Digital magnifiers come in two styles, portable digital magnifier and the desktop digital magnifiers. As you would expect, the portable version can be taken anywhere and used on the go whereas desktop digital magnifiers are for at home use as they are much larger.
Digital magnifiers provide a higher magnification with a wider field of view at a comfortable working position, than optical magnifiers are able to.
Why use a digital magnifier?
Digital magnifiers have a number of features that set them apart from optical magnifiers. Whilst optical magnifiers have the advantage of being relatively low cost, portable and simple to use there are significant limitations. An optical magnifier is restricted to one level of magnification and cannot alter the color or enhance the clarity of the text being viewed. A powerful optical magnifier has the serious limitations of a small lens which means a reduced field of view and short working distance. This can limit reading speeds and comfort. It is just not possible to have a large optical lens at a high power.
A digital magnifier can magnify from 2X to 22X on the portable versions and from 2X to 45X on the desktop. Whilst optical magnifiers are limited to a maximum of 12.5X.
A digital magnifier has variable magnification. This means that you can use it for all kinds of different tasks. You may find that you need more magnification for some tasks but less for others, for instance you may need 12X magnification for reading a medicine bottle but only a 6X magnification for reading your favorite magazine. The variable magnification on a digital magnifier means you only need one device rather than a selection of optical magnifiers for different tasks.
Variable magnification is also really important for those with a degenerative eye condition. You learn to use the magnifier while your vision is still reasonable and you need a lower magnification but then the same magnifier will allow you to increase the magnification as your vision deteriorates. Generally, people find that this means you maintain your ability to read and your independence for longer than if you were struggling to learn to use a more high-powered optical magnifier as your vision deteriorates.
For more information on Eschenbach digital magnifiers please contact our New Zealand partner MSO LTD on sales@mso.co.nz or by phone on 098493415.
Why is lighting important?
Our eyes like every other part of us suffer the effect of ageing. As you age you will likely notice that you need more light to see clearly, you are less sensitive to colour variations and you take longer to adapt to changes in light conditions. For many this is due to a decrease in pupil size and the weakening of the muscles that control our pupils as we age. Good quality lighting can make a huge difference to our visual outcomes in general but also for conditions such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The best results seem to come from task lighting (lighting a specific area) rather than ambient lighting. Daylight Company have an excellent range of task lighting.
Likewise LED illumination in concert with magnification offers a superior result to non-illuminated magnification.
How to use a magnifier?
You should always make sure that you use a magnifier whilst wearing any glasses you have been prescribed by your optometrist. Then it is dependent on the type of magnifier you are using. Often if it is a stand magnifier then the only instruction is to turn on any light the magnifier contains and look through the magnifier, adjusting your position until you can focus. This should only take a moment.
If the magnifier is an Eschenbach hand held illuminated magnifier, there will be numbers on the handle. The last number will be something like 250. This indicates that the magnifier should be held 250mm from the eye. If you are using a higher powered magnifier this number will be much lower than 250. For instance a 5X, 20 dpt magnifier needs to be held 140mm from the eye. So as you can see as the power increases, the eye to lens distance shortens. These numbers are a guide only but they are a good place to start.
Hint: if you are using a high powered magnifier and you find that the image is upside down then it is because you are not holding the magnifier close enough to your eye.