Compact hands-free folding desk magnifier, illuminated, 108mm lens

Summary

Nice compact model (but not small! 108mm dia. lens), stack it away when not in use, carry it with you on buying-trips.

It has a measuring scale (in mm and inches), though you can swing the lens out the way of the scale. 

When comparing these magnifiers on the internet always look at the lens size, this is often not stated, making tiny magnifiers look like serious bench magnifiers. See a large selection of small stand magnifiers. 

Also see clearance magnifiers. 

Technical

Lens diameter: 108mm

Light: rim of 18 LED lights, can be switched to white (’cold’ light) orange (‘warm light), or in between the two. 

Power: 2 AAA batteries or USB (cable supplied)

Size folded flat: 50mm (2 inches) tall X 130mm (5.5 inches) wide X 350mm (14 inches) deep. Note, when folded flat and with the lens extended, this can be used handheld (not on stand).

Approx size open: 230mm (9 inches) tall; 130mm (5.5 inches) wide; 300mm (12 inches) deep. Lens (depth) can be extended forward to 380mm/15 inches if you need a flat table underneath, without the distraction of the measuring scale.

Measuring scale 5.5cm marked in mm and 2 inches marked din 1/8^th inch.

Item weight (not posting weight): 570g

Origin: imported from China by QUICKTEST.

The Photos

The photos looking through the lens have not been enhanced, this really is the magnification.

The photos taken through the lens:

• the blank patch to the right is where the high-power inset lens is
• the background (small text) is blurred because a camera can't focus on the far-text (not magnified) and near-text (magnified) and  at the same time.  It's quite easy to Photoshop the photo to get everything in focus...but this photo has not been enhanced.
• the two photos that look similar: one is with, and one without, using the measuring scale. 

Mag, size, WD

Magnification, lens size, working distance.

Be aware that lens size, magnification and working distance are connected. This is due to the laws of physics, it is not a choice, this applies to all simple lenses (i.e. not microscopes and telescopes). 

You want the largest lens? A 150mm diameter lens will give a magnification somewhere between about 1.2X and 2X with a working distance somewhere between 250 and 350mm (10 to 14 inches). Ample room to manoeuvre a large object but not very powerful.

You want a powerful lens?  8X magnification will give you a lens of 15 to 25mm in diameter and a working distance of about 25mm (1 inch). 

You want a very large lens with a high magnification? This is not possible with a simple lens.  Consider one of the following: a surgeon’s binocular headband magnifier (it uses two small telescopes not ‘simple’ lenses); a low-power bench microscope (but select the lowest magnification) or a video microscope. 

Want to know all about magnification and find the best type of magnifier for your application?  See magnifiers and magnification.

Free gift details

If you would like one of the following free gifts with this product, select one from “Select your free gift” above.

	Bar Magnifier, large. 1.2x+6x, 210mm long [cl] (RRP £2.00 )
	Folding Magnifier - round, in hard case [cl] (RRP £3.00 )
	Stand Magnifier, 10X30 (10X mag / 30mm lens dia.) [cl] (RRP £3.50 )