Carson MiniBrite 5x Pocket Magnifying Glass with LED Light and Sliding case, Black (PO-55)

This is one of those things you really do wonder how you did without, especially once you start using reading glasses. I bought mine for checking camera sensors, following a Ken Rockwell recommendation, but use it for many other things. I also have the PO-25 version, a 3x magnifier, but now prefer this PO-55. Both work the same way, with a sliding cover which does a good job of protecting the lens. With the cover closed, you have easy access to the battery compartment. Pull the cover open and you have full lens use without the light, another small further pull clicks on the light. This means you can use the lens to its full extent with or without the light; a light (and glare) is not always necessary. The 5x lens gives an appreciable and useful step-up in magnification from the 3x, and is very clear with little distortion. There is also a difference in LEDs (in my two magnifiers anyway); the PO-25 has a cold bluish light, while this PO-55 has a warm yellowish light, which is more restful on the eyes, and seems to give a truer colour transmission through the lens. All in all, an inexpensive, easily-carried, well-designed and extremely useful tool.

Nice little device. Useful at work for reading small print on clothing labels.

Good product. Just the right size for a pocket or small bag. Good magnification and nice clear view. The sliding mechanism makes it easy to use with or without illumination and the light is nice and bright and in the closed position the lens is well protected.Don't forget to make sure you have a supply of batteries if you decide to get one of these as it does not include them (The product page does state this).

I was delighted to find this item on Amazon as I already had one purchased a few years ago from a local store which no longer stocks them. I wanted a couple more as I find the magnification strength (and the light) even more necessary with age and increasingly poor vision and didn't want to need a pocket to carry one about with me all over the house in order to read the very small or faint print or on labels, instructions etc. It is compact and sturdy and the sliding cover protects the magnifying lens. It takes three small batteries for the light, which actually seem to last well, but if you don't need the light you can either not put any batteries in, or not quite fully open the cover so the light does not come on. You do have to be careful to open the magnifier the right way up (smooth side) to avoid the lightshining in your eyes. These little magnifiers are so useful that I would recommend them to everyone!

bit to small for my needs. need a letter reader

I use it to check for eggs in my hive, and it's very good indeed.

I like the Carson MiniBrite a lot. Light weight and well designed. A bit expensive at £12.34, though. You don't have to use the light, just don't fully open the cover, or leave the batteries out. I am getting old and now find the cooking instructions on food is too small to read comfortably.

I have found this very useful and easy to carry around especially as the built-in cover protects the lens. Just to follow on from some other negative reviews: someone said the light was always on - not true as you pull the cover back, at the far end of its reach it clicks the light on - the idea is that if you don't want the light then don't pull it that last little bit of the way out - it says this effectively in the description; someone said it distorts when the description explains how it's designed not to distort - it is my experience that holding it very close to the subject gives a reasonably distortion-free magnified view at the stated power of x5 but if you then begin to pull it away to get a higher degree of magnification then yes there is significant distortion around the edges. Definitely worth having.