Reading Magnifier, Close Encounters Of The Physical Kind

[JohnABarnett]

(I could find no obvious appropriate category for posting this; mods, feel free to move it.)

 

As someone who is embarking on re-learning Biblical Hebrew after 35 years' hiatus, I recently purchased BHS Readers Edition. I'm happy with it, except I failed to take into account that the print would be difficult for my aging eyesight to process.

 

So I have begun to investigate reading magnifiers to make it less difficult. I'm sure there are some in this community who also suffer from aging eyesight, and some who might have experience with reading magnifiers. I'm hoping those among you who fit this bill might be able to give me some helpful advice.

 

I went into the investigation hoping to find one that is large enough to cover most or all of a page, and one that sits on the page itself rather than requiring one to hold it a few inches off the page. Since Biblical Hebrews is visually fairly complex, the magnifier must also generate a clear image. Finally, illumination is a plus, though not required.

 

So far the magnifiers I've found that satisfy most of this all require you to hold them a few inches off the page. Having no previous experience with magnifiers, perhaps I am asking for something that simply doesn't exist because of the physics involved.

 

I am wide open to suggestions, and thanks for any that are made.

[JohnK]

Look in hobbies and crafts for a magnifying lamp on a stand. I have one which sits on the floor beside my chair. 

[JohnABarnett]

Thanks for the suggestion, John.

[Timothy Jenney]

At 60, my personal suggestion is to do all your Hebrew reading in Accordance.

 

My "old eyes" really like the fact that I can increase the Hebrew font size. I also use "chocolate" for my font color and "parchment" for the background color, so there is less glare. Any retina Mac, iPad, or iPhone should be clear and easy to read. At night on my iPhone or iPad, I use night mode, which has been enhanced immeasurably by Apple's iOS 9.3.2 Night Shift (Settings>Display and Brightness>Night Shift).

[JohnABarnett]

Thank for your suggestion Dr. J. Thanks for all your contributions here.

 

When in reading mode I prefer a physical book (old school, I guess). I must admit, though, that adding a lighted magnifier compared to using a computer screen comes close to being a distinction without a difference.

 

Still, I spend too much time in front of a computer screen as it is. I had envisioned the Hebrew reading as a sort of break from that. But if I can't overcome this hurdle, the $40 Hebrew reading Bible I just bought will become a paper weight. I had wrongly assumed that the font size would be the same as the printed BHS from my late 1970's college days.

 

We'll see how it goes. I'm still open to suggestions, especially specific models that have worked for people with a similar problem.