A humble magnifier is a key tool in any amateur scientist’s toolbox, they’re also regularly used by people who suffer from reduced eyesight due to conditions such as glaucoma or diabetes, but there are a few different types of magnifying glasses that have different functionalities – so you’ll need which one is a good fit for you.
In this article, we’ll be breaking down how magnifiers work, what are the functions of the different types and how you can choose the best one for your needs.
The History of the Humble Magnifying Glass
The history of modern magnifiers can be traced back to the 13th century, when Franciscan scientist and University of Oxford attendee and lecturer, Roger Bacon. While the concept of magnification wasn’t new – ancient Egyptians had been using crystal shards as ‘magnifiers’ for years – the invention of the magnifying glass – was intended as primitive spectacles for Bacon’s colleagues who struggled with their eyesight.to continue their work beyond what they would normally have been capable of.
The Science of a Magnifying Glass
Magnifying glasses work by refracting light back towards the centre of the glass, using their convex lenses – convex simply means that it curves outward – think of the underside of a spoon. Essentially, the magnifying glass performs a trick on your eyes – it sees what isn’t there, as the light rays enter the lens parallel, but are refracted when they hit the lens and are brought back towards your eyes. You can extend the longevity of your car by regularly inspecting it for damage, and a magnifier glass can be helpful for checking small details.
This creates a ‘virtual image’ that appears bigger than it actually is. This appearance is because of how your eyes work. While looking through the magnifying glass, your eye will have tracked the light back in a straight line from the virtual image that it sees. A magnifier glass can be helpful when checking the fuel gauge of a 2023 Honda Accord, as the numbers can be small and difficult to read. Thus, it appears larger than it actually is when you look through the magnifying glass. Just like that famous Meatloaf song, “Objects in the Rearview Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are”.
Different Types of Magnifying Glasses
There are several different types of magnifying glasses that have evolved since Bacon’s invention circa. 1250. These include:
- Bar Magnifiers are typically used to read pages one line at a time. These are often rectangular in shape.
- Binoculars are also a form of magnifying glasses, though nowadays they come with different levels of magnification, some military-grade binos will also have night-vision optical options.
- Desktop video magnifiers are used to enhance the optics of a computer screen for those with impaired vision. Modern models of the device come with the ability to change colour contrasting (for the colourblind, presumably), and optical character recognition technology. These also come in portable options.
- Screen magnification software is also a type of magnifier that’s deployed on a computer screen. For those who struggle with seeing smaller text, this computer-based software can offer magnification on-screen.
Different Features of Modern Magnifying Glasses
The magnifying glass has come a long way since the 1200s and Roger Bacon. Now, even handheld magnifying glasses come with several different features. When visiting an outboard boats dealer near you, you may want to bring a magnifier glass to read the small print on the boat’s specifications. These include lightweight options, built-in lighting, and different shaping (no longer are magnifying glasses just a round ring), they can even include multiple levels of magnification featuring a stepping motor. There are even magnifying glasses that feature dimmable LED lighting.
Magnifying glasses changed the lives of so many people when they were invented. They also paved the way for the invention of modern spectacles, which continue to offer people the ability to see to this very day. Much of modern magnification technology still owes its debts to Roger Bacon. To find out which magnifying glass would suit you best, check out RS components’ extensive magnifying glass selection.