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

Great magnifier, helps with seeing eggs on bee inspections, the light is very handy

I have vision problems (I'm not a pirate, the eyepatch is a medical necessity) and need to wear strong magnifying reading glasses as my only 'good' eye is actually not that great up-close. I have larger magnifiers for home and office use, but needed something I could keep in my jeans pocket for when I'm at the supermarket or otherwise away from home.The size and weight is perfect, the sliding cover keeps the lens nicely protected from scratches while pocketed, and depending on how far you retract it you can view with or without the LED light. It does need batteries, I am using rechargeable ones and they are still going strong after a couple of weeks.I have found the small magnifying lens to be a good size, fulfilling the compromise needed between magnified surface and portability. I don't have any problems with finding the sweet spot for magnification, and it's not with the lens sitting on the page as some people have suggested.My only criticism would be that the battery cover is poor quality (why is it always the battery cover?) and it cracked when replacing after installing batteries fir the first time. Once clipped into place it doesn't interfere with function.

Great little magnifying glass, just right for the pocket. It’s a valuable help with trying to read very small print especially as one gets older and the old eyesight is not what it was.

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.

bit to small for my needs. need a letter reader

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!

I got this as a replacement to one that slides out from the side with a light in it which Amazon also sells. That one got scratched on the lens which should not happen with this one because it has a stronger case. Unfortunately it isn’t as good a magnifying glass either. It doesn’t increase the magnification when you move it away, so doesn’t make things bigger or clearer.

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