Magnifaction Devices

pmomberger · Jan 31, 2010

I'm curious what type of microsope/magnifying glass everybody uses to zone in on coral detail. The ones I've tried recently only allow magnification close to the glass. Is there anything that allows you to magnufy your view beyond the front of the tank?

pmomberger · Jan 31, 2010

guessing knowbody magnifies, guess this is an over 40 thing which means it's not gonna get a lot of response.

cherokee_dude · Jan 31, 2010

Are you asking about a Macro Lens for a camera? Of if anyone actually uses a magnifying device held up to the tank glass?

heranatomy · Feb 1, 2010

I think reading glasses would help in your situation over a magnifying glass.
If you're using reading glasses, the higher the plus magnification (like +3.00), the closer you have to hold whatever you're reading/looking at to your face. I'm sure the same applies to tanks. So, if I were you, I would go get a bunch of dime store readers in different magnifications.. ranging from the lowest to the highest (I'm pretty sure it only goes from +1.00 to +3.00). You can get them in whole diopter increments (+1.00, +2.00, and plus +3.00) and which ever works best for you in your situation, you can start to fine tune it by going up or down in half diopter increments. (Say if you decide +2.00 is better than +1.00 and +3.00, then try +1.50 and +2.50) Then, choose the best out of those and go up and down by a quarter of a diopter. (Say if you decide you liked +1.50 the best... try +1.25 and +1.75).
Maybe measure how far away most corals are from the sides of the tank, and you can play with the glasses in the store by holding a newspaper or magazine out at the same distance and whichever comes the closest.

And for the record,
I'm not over 40. I'm 24 =D Just work for an eye doctor lol.

I hope I explained things clearly. If not, let me know.

tangdiver · Feb 1, 2010

There was an octolar device, kinda like a microscope you could suction cup to your tank to look at your coral with amazing detail....was spendy. But used one at IMAC once and man it was neat.

wicked demon · Feb 1, 2010

I made my own macro, that doubles as a magnifying lense, came from a childrens telescope, took the end apart and removed the large lense from the end, then I ghetto-rigged it into a supplement container and cut the end to fit the camera, here is a pic of the lense, and a couple pics I took with it. I think I get good detail pics, especially for a sony cybershot!

Breakin Newz · Feb 1, 2010

wicked demon said:
I made my own macro, that doubles as a magnifying lense, came from a childrens telescope, took the end apart and removed the large lense from the end, then I ghetto-rigged it into a supplement container and cut the end to fit the camera, here is a pic of the lense, and a couple pics I took with it. I think I get good detail pics, especially for a sony cybershot!

hahaha thats great! The picture's do not come out bad either!

joelq · Feb 1, 2010

It might be overkill, but I use my dSLR and 105mm macro lens and basically take closeups of the corals. I use this method to inspect my corals (while in tank) for red bugs, etc.

The lens gives me 1:1 magnification and works really well.