Does anyone know what the warranty for the Nike Skylon Ace loupes are? I know that the optic portion is lifetime warranty but what about the frame? I'm thinking about returning these and getting orascoptics because their lens are better apparently. but i also want a pair that will last a long time and be covered by a warranty. thanks!
DFV Loupes
- Thread starter omgdats
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Look into the Buddy HOlly. I'm not sure if they are life time warranty. When you use them and see the frames, I don't think it'll matter. You'll love them. Go with the expanded field 3.5x.
a good idea is to get a very sturdy frame so the occulars will remain in one position. If the frame are slightly bent or distorted, it will change ur focus, working distance, etc and u will develop headache and nausea real quick.
the DFV Buddy Hollys or the 'Tank' is very sturdy. Only downside is its weight and its 'looks'
The orascoptics have lifetime warrant on their frames (at least for their titaniums if i remember correctly). Just give them a call and ask.
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If you utilize the chums properly the weight is not noticeable. The looks of the Buddy Hollys are second to none. They are stunning.
The looks can be a hit or miss. I personally don't mind the looks at all. The optics are very good. I have the 4.5 EF.
I do have to disagree with the weight. My friend has orascoptic 3.8x also expanded field. However, the weight of those seems to be almost half as the weight of the dfv 4.5 expanded field. Even if i tighten the croakies to alleviate the weight issue, the orascoptics still feels lighter especially around the nose. I will most likely stick with the DFV depsite being the heavier loupe only because so many dentists spoke highly of the DFV's quality optics after going through several loupes in their careers.
If I recall correctly, you have the 3.5 EFs right? I think those are around 60 grams wherease my 4.5 EFs are around 95 grams. This is a rather notable difference.
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I noticed the weight for the first few weeks on the nose. Thereafter, it becomes nonexistant. Plus you will realized if your posture is off. Looking into the mouth by bending your head instead of having your head over the trunk of your body. How do you like those 4.5 EF? The optics are stellar 😀
I hope the weight becomes a non-issue after using them for a while, but I ll have to try it out for a few weeks. I will be practicing some preps with the loupe + light tommorow at the sim lab and I ll let you know my experience with them. So far the magnification is definitive stronger than the 3.8x orascoptic my friend has. With stronger magnification comes with better detail, so thats a plus 👍
I ll have to decide whether to stick with the 4.5 and enjoy the higher level of detail or go down a power to 3.5 EF if I can't get over the "weight" issue, but so far i feel like i m getting accustomed to the loupe after looking at few different typondonts for the past 2 days.
Optics are definitely the plus for DFV lenses. With the 4.5xf, I could only see half an arch though. I m pretty sure you can see the entire arch with the 3.5 xf 👍
I got the time to prep some teeth with the 4.5 EF + light today. The light is a must with 4.5x. Even the overhead light was not strong enough to illuminate the typodont. 3.5x or lower loupe will prob do okay with the overhead light. Without proper illumination, I was never able to get the crystal image.
Image is crystal clear and magnification is superb. Being a 4.5x the Depth of Field is not as wide as lower powered loupes (3.5x and lower) so working distance is extremely important to being in focus so you get that crystal clear image. I have my working distance set at 19 in now, but will send the loupes back to have the working distance adjusted to 18 in.
Now for the weight of the 'heavy' loupe. I wore the loupe for a total of few hours today and it's not bothering as much as i thought it would. I still notice its weight on my nose but I don't feel any discomfort from the loupe. So far so good. Looks like I will be keeping the 4.5 EF.
One more thing. This is also my frist loupe. So i jumped from using nothing to 4.5x. Learning curve wasn't long, but i believe this is b/c I already had my 1st year doing lots of preps. I wouldn't recommend any D1 jump to 4.5x w/o taking your 1st year operatory course. I remember i couldn't prep any teeth with my classmates 2.5x, yet today i did ok right away with my 4.5s.
Image is crystal clear and magnification is superb. Being a 4.5x the Depth of Field is not as wide as lower powered loupes (3.5x and lower) so working distance is extremely important to being in focus so you get that crystal clear image. I have my working distance set at 19 in now, but will send the loupes back to have the working distance adjusted to 18 in.
Now for the weight of the 'heavy' loupe. I wore the loupe for a total of few hours today and it's not bothering as much as i thought it would. I still notice its weight on my nose but I don't feel any discomfort from the loupe. So far so good. Looks like I will be keeping the 4.5 EF.
One more thing. This is also my frist loupe. So i jumped from using nothing to 4.5x. Learning curve wasn't long, but i believe this is b/c I already had my 1st year doing lots of preps. I wouldn't recommend any D1 jump to 4.5x w/o taking your 1st year operatory course. I remember i couldn't prep any teeth with my classmates 2.5x, yet today i did ok right away with my 4.5s.
Can you post a link of where I can find the exact loupes you guys are talking about? I am thinking about buying some soon so I would like to know what is out there
http://www.designsforvision.com/DentHtml/DExpTel.htm
Put your mouse cursor over the "3.5X-EF" "4.5X-EF" "6.0X-EF" to see what you will see under those loupes.
If you have the finances to get a lower power loupe to start (ie:2.5x) and then purchase a higher power loupe (ie: 3.5x or greater) a year or so later, then go for it. For me, i didn't want to spend $900 and then spend another $1K+ a year later on another loupe.
Cons of getting higher powered loupe right off the bat is longer learning curve. It varies from person to person. Some get used to it in 1 week, others get used to it in 4 weeks.
I remember swearing to never buy a loupe after trying on 2.5x a few times during my 1st year operative course. Now, here I am blowing $1500 on a 4.5x loupe. Go figure. Eventually, I would move up to a microscope for endo. BUt that ll prob be 100 years from now.
There are two types of loupe systems on the market. Galileon and Prisms. The prisms. Many manufacturers use different terms for Prism loupes: DFV sells them as Expanded Field loupes. Orascoptic sells them as HiRes Plus loupes.The non prism loupes are referred as Galilean. The advantage of prisms are larger field of view (see more teeth) and higher image quality (less distortion) and higher magnification.
Cons of prisms are size, weight, smaller& sensitive focal distance (or called working distance), and more $$.
I would suggest you go with Prism Loupes with magnificaion in the 3.x range to start. You have many manufactures to choose from: DFV, orscoptic, surgitel. The few that comes to mind.
These companies usually have a 45 day trial period for all their loupes. I advise you to use the full length period before deciding to return them. Chances are when you first start using them you would prob wish you've never blown $1K on something so "useless." But once you get used to them (in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd week) you ll never want to drill without them.
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For those who went straight to higher mag in my class had no issues adjusting right away.
Cons:They cost more initially but save in the long run. I wouldn't personally buy 2.5x. Usually weigh heavier. Some make take some time adjusting to the differences in depth of field (I never realized this since I went straight into the 3.5efx.
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I started with 2.5x DFV's (titanium frame) D1 year and I love them - I do somewhat regret not getting the 3.5s, but I'll probably invest in another set sometime in the near future anyway.
I'd definitely recommend starting with a 3.5x - my classmates who did so did not take any longer to adjust to using them than I did for a 2.5.
I'd definitely recommend starting with a 3.5x - my classmates who did so did not take any longer to adjust to using them than I did for a 2.5.
Today we had a vendor fair and for the first time I got to shop for my first pair of loupes. Knowing nothing about loupes I'm happy to find that my favorite vendor, DFV, seems to be a solid company.
The sales specialist, who seemed to be one of the most knowledgeable persons selling loupes at the fair, told me that I didn't want to get flip-ups. But, considering DFV doesn't have flip ups I don't know if he's just trying to market what is available from his products or if he was being honest?
What do you guys think about flip ups?
My second favorite was SurgiTel. Any quick Opinions on them?
The sales specialist, who seemed to be one of the most knowledgeable persons selling loupes at the fair, told me that I didn't want to get flip-ups. But, considering DFV doesn't have flip ups I don't know if he's just trying to market what is available from his products or if he was being honest?
What do you guys think about flip ups?
My second favorite was SurgiTel. Any quick Opinions on them?
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Hey Everyone,
I figured I would ask a couple questions on here as well! We are having our vendor fair in a month and I have done a lot of research on loupes and have narrowed it down to either surgitel, DFV, or Zeiss(if they come).
My main question is are there any good comparisons/reviews of surgitel's "prismatic" v. DFV Efx? I have done some searching and nothing specifically with these two that I could find. Also, how big of a difference is there between a 3.0 gallilean and a 3.5 prismatic?
Thanks!
-3ph
I figured I would ask a couple questions on here as well! We are having our vendor fair in a month and I have done a lot of research on loupes and have narrowed it down to either surgitel, DFV, or Zeiss(if they come).
My main question is are there any good comparisons/reviews of surgitel's "prismatic" v. DFV Efx? I have done some searching and nothing specifically with these two that I could find. Also, how big of a difference is there between a 3.0 gallilean and a 3.5 prismatic?
Thanks!
-3ph
We had our loupe day about 2 weeks ago and I decided to go with the Surgitel loupes. I had my-self convinced that I was going with the compact prisms 3.5x, then I tried on the 3.0x Galilean and they just seemed so much easier to focus, let in more light and the magnification didn't seem to be very different. The field size was a bit larger with the 3.0x Galilean...
I am wondering whether I made a mistake? I just couldn't justify the cost difference for the little (in my mind) gain in magnification, since in all the other factors the Galilean won out. Then again, I haven't used loupes to actually cut any preps, so I most likely have no idea what I am talking about.
Can anyone compare these loupes? Reasons why I should/need to go to the Prisms? I guess I might end up trying them for 45 days and then upgrading to the 3.5x prisms if nothing else...
Thanks!
I am wondering whether I made a mistake? I just couldn't justify the cost difference for the little (in my mind) gain in magnification, since in all the other factors the Galilean won out. Then again, I haven't used loupes to actually cut any preps, so I most likely have no idea what I am talking about.
Can anyone compare these loupes? Reasons why I should/need to go to the Prisms? I guess I might end up trying them for 45 days and then upgrading to the 3.5x prisms if nothing else...
Thanks!
