|
You're a professional geologist, so act
like one.
Own a top quality hand lens. |
|
Hand lens on a lanyard itself having a breakable link.
Note the custom high-visibility markings. © 2002 Reuben Johnson |
When compared to
hand lenses of lesser quality, a
Bausch & Lomb™ Hastings
Triplet
is remarkably superior.
The Bausch & Lomb lenses offer an excellent quality of view; one
that's crisp and bright, and its triplet lens design is wonderful at correcting
chromatic aberration. (Note the
custom high-visibility markings.) 10x
is optimum. Anything less
powerful and you'll miss important details.
Anything more, and the field of view and depth of field will likely be too
small. |
| Don't be a
dope on a rope! If
wearing your hand lens around your neck, make sure the lanyard has a
breaking strength that's less than what it
would take to hang you should it
become snagged on something (note the breakable link in the photo). |
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Always use a
photographer's lens brush to clean your hand lens as it will easily
get dirty and require frequent cleanings. Dusting it off with your
shirt will guarantee a short life span for this tool. Read more
about other tips on
protecting your delicate field gear. |
The proper way to clean a hand lens. © 2003 Reuben Johnson |
|
A hand lens is only one type of hand-held viewing aid designed for the
field. Don't forget about the assistance a small pair of
binoculars can provide for examining portions of an outcrop that are
impossible or too impractical to access directly. 10x or 12x is
sufficient. |
A geologist using binoculars. © 2001 Reuben Johnson |
