Gear

hi everyone

i was wondering if you can use a mirror compass the same way as a normal baseplate compass? also, how useful are the mirrors? thankyou kindly

If you are doing micro navigation on a regular basis a mirror compass is more accurate and you can also set the magnetic variation so you don't have to do any calculations. It is used slightly different than the baseplate compass as you are looking at the mirror and linning it up with the small notch on the top.

However if it is just for general navigation a baseplate compass is fine and a lot cheaper.

Slainte 

Lindsay

I use my suunto sighting (mirror) compass (inc clinometer) for field surveying about once a year. (v. similar to TFS above)

Yes - It is a modified base plate compass - same idea in use, just allows greater accuracy through sighting through the notch ( using the mirror to observe the needle postion).

Generally though, I take a Silva type 3 out and about. 

Tom Lawrence wrote (see)

I was also wondering if you can use the mirror compass with the map in the same way as a baseplate one?

Yep... a sighting compass works exactly the same way.

TFS www.walk-dartmoor.com wrote (see)

Which model is it Tom?

If you don't mind the price, and don't want/need a clinometer, then the Silva Expedition Type 54 is absolutely great for both map to compass work and accurate sighting. Effectively it's a Type 4 as far as the baseplate goes, but with the addition of a brilliant sighting mechanism in the compass dial - far more accurate and easy to read than the mirror type.

The only thing it lacks is a 1:40,000 romer scale for use with Harveys/BMC maps.....

(but a separate romer cures that if necessary)