Refractometer: Correct Version...?

[balrog]

foreign material and bubbles will degrade the sharp line
brighter light is also much better to read it

And bonus points when wanting to use the outdoor sun to read refractometer, when you suddenly dart out of your garage into the bright sun super early on a Saturday, and scare the living daylights out of the Jehova's Witnesses coming to your door. Ah. Good times.

 

[Carolina_Matt]

To be clear, it's not necessarily that the line itself isn't sharp. I do adjust the focus on it so that it's clear. It's just that the window is pretty small. Maybe refractometers are different sizes and I just have a small one - I'm not sure - but I can't imagine someone with mediocre eyesight seeing the numbers inside the tiny looking glass on my refractometer.

 

[dmtaylor]

It ain't easy taking a reading. Measure twice, cut once... or something like that.

 

[Smellyglove]

To be clear, it's not necessarily that the line itself isn't sharp. I do adjust the focus on it so that it's clear. It's just that the window is pretty small. Maybe refractometers are different sizes and I just have a small one - I'm not sure - but I can't imagine someone with mediocre eyesight seeing the numbers inside the tiny looking glass on my refractometer.

I feel the same way sometimes, It's sharp, but I feel that I reeeally have to try to zoom in with my eyeball, which is a kind of quite hard to do. But also, If you try to read it several times it becomes easier, I don't know if it's the eye which need to refocus or what and just get used to the small numbers and lines.

 

[Robert65]

I like the digital refractometer. For many reasons, not the least of which is that it never has any trouble reading itself. I know the price is off putting to many, but I've spent my money worse in this hobby.

 

[balrog]

and don't even start me down the rabbit hole of trying to cobble something together to photograph the refractometer "because it should be easy and remove the issues with astigmatism I have and shaking hands when it's 15°F and and"

It's not easy. I'm about ready to go the @Robert65 , digital refractometer path.