Carson MiniBrite LED Lighted Slide-Out Aspheric Magnifier with Protective Sleeve (PO-55), 5X, Gray

I bought a few of these. I don't have the greatest sight to begin with and with such small print on so many things, these come in handy. Having the light is a huge (no pun intended) advantage. These use 3 AAA batteries which do last quite a while, but I'd still recommend getting rechargeable batteries if you use it a lot. It's small enough to fit in your pocket or travel bag to take wherever you may need it. The sliding sleeve is great because it protects the glass when you're not using it.

I was looking for something very lightweight to carry in my purse. This was larger than I expected although not big, oversized for my intended purpose. Also this takes batteries which added weight which again did not suit my purpose. For home use these would be fine. Carefully check measurements and details to decide if this product will work for your needs.Easy return for me.

I bought the MiniBrite 5x (PO-55) for reading values on small electronics parts, calibrating an old slide rule, and a number of other tasks that require a bit of magnification. It's not perfect, but I find the MiniBright 5x to be quite decent. I'm only giving a 4-star rating because this magnifier is not perfect, but it is quite good for the price.First, you can't expect such a magnifier to be incredible for $10. I'll explain in more detail. Also, refer to the attached photos (tax form fine print, slide rule, and capacitors) to get an idea of what it's like. Note that these photos may not be as clear as I could have made them, nor do they provide a totally accurate representation of what to expect, but they'll give you a relative idea of how well the magnifier and light work.Is the light amazing? It could be better, but it is decent and usable in lower light. It's certainly not going to light up a large area like a page in a book, but it will light up something small that needs magnification, and that meets my needs just fine.Could the battery door be more sturdy? Yes, but again, it's compact and very inexpensive. Low cost and inexpensive construction go hand in hand. Just be careful with the battery cover, and it will be fine. If you want a more sturdy magnifier, be prepared to pay much more. I've had many expensive TVs, DVD players, etc that had remotes with battery covers that did not stand the test of time. For that price, those remotes should have been bullet proof. This little, inexpensive magnifier has a somewhat fragile battery cover that could be improved. Just be careful with it. Annoying as it might be, if the little tabs on the inside of the battery cover break off, throw a piece of scotch tape on it, and call it a day. It's still a decent magnifier for the price. The thing is only 10 bucks!The 5x magnification seems to be reasonable and is pretty good. I'm happy with it. I have a 30x jeweler's loop, and there's NO WAY it's 30x! I've also read many reviews on other magnifiers, and many of those manufacturers over magnify their magnifier's magnification level (excuse the pun). I don't know how magnification levels are rated, but I'm reasonably happy with the 5x rating on this MiniBrite 5x.The lens is acrylic (ie, plastic), but the clarity is quite good and makes it appear to be glass. Take care of it, and keep it covered when not in use, and the lens should last just fine. Again, you can't expect too much for 10 bucks!For those of you looking for a magnifier to keep in your pocket to read menus and such, the MiniBrite 5x magnifier might not be for you. For menus that are very wordy, it might be slow going to read everything. For more concise menus, it might be fine. Don't get me wrong, it will magnify the words on a menu just fine, but it won't allow you to see much text at any one moment. You could have a wider viewing angle if you place the MiniBrite 5x about 1-2 inches from your eye and equally close to the page, but who wants to look like Sherlock Holmes examining blood spots in a restaurant? You might be better off with the MiniBrite 3x, which should provide a wider viewing angle (how much better? I don't know) but with a little less magnification. Remember, regardless of the manufacturer or quality of the optics, more magnification always means a smaller viewing angle, so it's a tradeoff. This is exactly why you must have your eyes so close to the eye pieces of binoculars--for the largest viewing angle.Lastly, I absolutely love the sliding cover! There's nothing worse than a dusty, scratched magnifier, so having this cover was the selling feature for me. Placing a magnifier in a sleeve or pouch when not in use would be fine, but having a sliding cover rocks! It's so convenient to have that cover.After buying the MiniBrite 5x, I noticed the LumiPop 5x (LP-66), which I kind of like better because of its cleaner design and separate light switch. The lens is probably identical. I suspect it's the newer design to eventually replace the MiniBrite 5x. I still like the MiniBrite 5x and will probably move it from my electronics work bench to the kitchen, and then buy the LumiPop 5x for use at my electronics bench to see if it's as good as it looks. Aside from the cleaner design and separate light switch, both MiniBrites are essentially the same, and I'd be content with either.Reading all of the reviews on similar magnifiers drove me batty. I hope this review helps your search.

I first received one of these magnifiers as a business comp at a conference. It didn't have the Carson logo and I used it regularly foe everyday needs/ Now with my vision impaired I find I need it more often and decided to try to find it on line. A quick Amazon search turned up the identical magnifier and I bought a bunch; one for each room, the car and my pocket. They are just as sturdy and the lens is just as crystal clear as my original which is more than 10 years old and still going strong. I highly recommend this product. It does the job intended. has a bright LED and is protected by the sliding case ensuring long life. A bargain at this price.

This is an excellent product and is of much greater quality than the one that looks like it at the Vision Center of a large retailer. I like it so much, that I just ordered another one to have as a spare in the house.

Would have been nice to know that batteries are NOT INCLUDED, but are required to light this magnifier. The actual glass lens is square, but the grind that makes it magnify images is circular in shape. This means that there's a small area in each corner that doesn't magnify the image and this is a distraction for me. Otherwise I like the product well enough.

I bought one of these 10 years ago and it still works. I keep it handy and use it often for small or dark labels, instructions, etc. I'm using it more as I age so I thought I'd get another one to keep in my purse. Delighted it's still available. It requires 3 AAA batteries which are not included. When you close it, the cover slides over the lens, completely enclosing it and turning the light off. Slide it open and there's your lens with the light on. Neat! (Made in China so might become unavailable or more expensive at some point.)

I'm partially sighted and these help so much . Great for the grocery store