Carson MagniLamp LED Lighted 2x Hand Held or Hands Free Hobby Magnifier with Flexible Gooseneck for Reading, Crafts, Soldering, Jewelry and other Tasks and Hobbies For a Work Bench or Desk Top (GN-55)

I bought this for doing a daily crossword calendar which is in tiny print on small paper and the MagniLamp is working out just fine. I was worried that the legs of the stand might be in the way of the paper and that the glass would be too low for me to write under it, but neither is a problem. The diameter of the lens is a tad larger than 4" and the 4X insert is 1". I chose this over other freestanding magnifiers because it had the 4X insert which I need for removing finger splinters, etc. The quality of both lenses is good and the whole unit is lightweight but sturdy. My only complaint would be, as another reviewer noted, the short section of bendable stem doesn't curve a full 90 degrees, and that's the angle I need, so I do have to prop up the base by about half an inch. All in all, though, especially for the price, this is a great item.

This is a nice, inexpensive magnifying unit. It can be used as a magnifying glass or as a hands-free magnifying glass when both hands are needed to remove a sliver, etc.

Perfect size for table top use, adequate amount of magnification, crisp and clear image (squinting and head-bobbing not required), adjustable angle design, great for hobby use. I reload pistol ammunition and every case must be carefully inspected for cracks and stress. The MagniLamp is a great product with definite bang for the buck (get the pun?). The complaints about the included LED light are, from my perspective, unfounded. You would never depend only the built-in light. I use the MagniLamp in a well lit area with a table lamp close by. The built-in light adds to the illumination nicely. You can't you beat the product and the price!

Serves its purpose. Sturdy and easy to use

This little jewel is a fine tool to have around. Used it today to replace a lost screw in my glasses. As anyone who has done this can tell you, repairing your glasses is a conundrum. Can't see very well without 'em, yet you have to remove them to fix them. I was able to accomplish the fix thanks to this magnifier.4 stars because the LED work light should be brighter than it is. It works well, just isn't as intense as LEDs powered by two AA cells could be.

I purchased this item to help me see soldering connections I was making on a printed circuit board for an electronics project. It helped me just fine. Like others, I found the built in light to be almost useless, but that part of this product was not the determining factor in my purchase. I just needed a good magnifying glass that had a stand. I like that it can easily be removed from the stand for hand held use, plus the secondary magnification element proved to be more useful than I expected. Overall this was just what the doctor ordered and for what I paid (less than $14.00 delivered) I really can't say anything bad about it. No regrets here.

I got this for my mother (85) to aid her in making jewelry (stringing beads). The LED light is a little underpowered. Using an additional overhead light introduces glare that impedes vision. The magnification is good. It worked well enough that I bought one for myself.

I must say when I opened the box, I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the unit. Oh, I know, the measurements are included in the description, but seeing the actual item does make a difference to me.The base is sturdy and the weight of the magnifier doesn't compromise the stability. Although I'll alway use the stand with the magnifier, the fact that the it detaches from the base is a plus for me since I'll be using it when I teach how to weave chain maille and it'll be easier to pack. Yes, the entire unit is plastic but I'm not going to be using it in any type of "hostile" environment, so I'm ok with that.The light is not fantastic, but adds enough to help see details clearly. All in all, for the price, if you do any type of close-up work this can't be beat.