Satechi ReadMate LED Desktop Magnifier with up to 5X Magnification - Carrying Case Included (Black)

I received this today and was pleasantly surprised. It is a handsome, nice quality aluminum. It's very nicely finished with no sharp edges. The lens is clear and the LED lights work very well, with no dark or shadowy areas in the viewer. It has a nice heft to it, but it's not heavy. The hardcover case it comes in and the polishing cloth are a very nice touch to keep it clean and dust free when not in use. By pressing on the outer ring to turn it on and off, I find this a very well thought out design.

Too early yet to give it 5 stars, so call it 4 stars with a bullet. This is a very elegant tool. I bought it to use with my compact edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (you know--the ones the Book of the Month Club used to hand out for a pittance to induce people to join up). The magnifier is perfect for that-- it covers the width of an entire column, although even with the 5x magnification the OED print is none-too-large. The light is an even beautiful white, perfect for reading, with no hot spots. It couldn't be easier to operate--just activate a small switch in the interior--then just press down on the silver ring to activate the light. The light stays on until you press the ring again. No need to turn the interior switch off--it seems to be there only if you want to make sure the light can't be accidentally activated. The magnifier is hefty and solid. It feels good in the hand as it glides smoothly over the paper. And--did I say this--it's quite elegant. It comes with a very nice semi-hard shell carrying case and a polishing cloth. All in all, it seems as though the people at Satechi knew what they were doing when they developed this gem. Time will tell whether the obvious craftsmanship holds--I'm betting that it will. UPDATE: After using the device for awhile, I have changed my rating from four to five stars. It has performed flawlessly over and over, and it still serves my needs perfectly. It is a pleasure to look at, to hold, and to use. I like it so much, in fact, that I bought a second--this one to use at work.

I returned this item. It is a nice item and I would recommend this to others depending on your need. For me the size was a bit too big, and I didn’t like the plastic feel on the base. This item was pricey in my opinion so I made the decision to return and select a different item. It was a good decision because the alternative choice the words a crystal clear and nice and big; easy to see when reading.

This isn't any ordinary magnifier, this is a fantastic utility for reading and viewing anything smaller than normal viewing. The larger size provides a huge area for the reader. The lights are bright, white and illuminates the viewing field perfectly. I have a number of books where the smaller nuances of Kanji are hard to read due to the smaller print. This instrument goes above and beyond a normal magnifying glass , and handles that problem with ease. The glass is well built, the batteries are included. All you have to do is remove the plastic strip in between the batteries, turn on the switch, and press down on the top of the magnifier. It even arrives with a storage case and cloth for cleaning the lens. I am very glad I chose this one over the others listed.

I am really impressed by the quality of the item. The body is solid and optics is really good. It's a distortion free glass lens with ~ 2.75" clear opening. The LED's work extremely well. Look at the pictures. They were taken in an average brightness room, looking at my coastal navigation charts. The LED illumination makes a huge difference. The item also serves as a paper weight, holding the chart down and it slides very smoothly over the surface. It comes with a nice semi-hard zipper closure case (similar to some suitcases). I knocked off one star because, as good as it is, it's a bit too pricey. I would have given it 10 stars if it were under $15. It also uses a relatively unusual button battery type. I'll need to buy spares just for this unit. I wish they used a more standard battery. Nevertheless, I will keep the item and recommended to others because it does its job well.

Looking for the best magnifier to use with maps... and maybe for the FAA Part 107 exam? Then look no further, this is the one to get. It comes with a super-nice case that is semi-rigid and has a buttery smooth zipper. It includes a microfiber cloth and the batteries (two CR2016) installed. You simply remove the plastic insulator tab from the battery compartment and click the internal switch to ON and it's ready to go. The lens is large and measures 2-3/4 inches in diameter. The construction of the magnifier is anodized aluminum and is fairly light for the size-- that makes it easy to use but it's still heavy enough to hold your book open as a paper weight, if needed. To activate the light you then push down on the finely milled silver ring and you get a perfect illumination of the surface beneath the magnifier. No shadows and no hot spots. To turn the light off you simply push down again on the silver ring. The clarity of the optic is excellent and more than adequate for reading purposes. Most everything is in clear focus and it's big and easy to see! I tried the basic "dome" style acrylic magnifiers but without perfectly placed lighting they are dark and not usable. This one is probably the best of the illuminated ones available. Your search is over-- get this one. You will be glad you did.

This magnifier is excellent for use at a desk or similar setting. Three L.E.D's evenly spaced give an even light, that doesn't cause glare, on majority of surfaces. Those lights toggle on/off by pushing down on the metal ring surrounding the magnifier. It's a fair price for a well constructed magnifier. Keep in mind this is set focus. It is meant to be used over/surrounding what is being magnified while on a table/counter/bench/Blueprint drawing layout top. You can use it handheld but you'd be better off purchasing a traditional handheld magnifier for that kind of use. The only thing I might add is a felt ring around the bottom. The cylindrical housing is aluminum (appears to be), and could scratch delicate surfaces. That said, the bottom is highly polished with no sharp edges, so no concerns as of yet. For example, I might be hesitant to slide it across a glass top repeatedly.

I read all the reviews on Amazon for this product. Asked a question: Is this lens glass? Got multiple answers - thank you to all who answered. Was told this was a high quality glass lens. Reviews said it was a good product. It is, very well made and works great. The optical quality of the lens is very good, I am impressed with it. Nice storage/travel case, easy to use, very good optics. It is larger than what I was looking for, but I knew that. In hand it is even a little larger than I expected, but very nice to hand hold or rest on top of what you want to magnify. Would be great for stamps, photos, small insects. You can even photograph what's under this lens with your digital camera if you know what you are doing. Glad I read the reviews and glad I got this. I recommend it for anyone who thinks they have a use for this.