Carson LED Lighted RimFree 2x Power Rectangular or Round Magnifiers with Soft Pouch (RM-95, RM-77)

I have a book with exceptionally small print (The Rough Guide to Rock and Roll), and some other books not so very fine print, however my eyes become strained after reading them for a while and I started looking for sometime to help. I had a couple of large magnifying glasses (2.5" and 3"), but not large enough to encompass a whole column for both eyes at the same time. I came to Amazon and did some searching and read a whole lot of reviews.I ordered the top rated items and this is my favorite. The rimfree feature is the one that makes Carson® Rectangular LED Lighted RimFree 2x Magnifier with Soft Pouch (RM-77) the winner. I also received the Carson Optical Lighted Magnifold Magnifier. The rim is quite considerable and casts shadows on the printed page, which the rimfree Carson does not. This one does not fold, but that's a secondary concern. I've only had them a day or so, but my impression is that the lights of this rimfree model are too bright, somewhat brighter than the magnifold model. Holding the magnifier farther from the page does reduce the brightness but then the clarity of the type is diminished. My solution so far has been to turn off the light and read by ambient light. It would have been nice to have more than one brightness level available. For lack of that I'm docking a star. My 2.5" LED lighted magnifier I got cheap off ebay has two brightness settings, however it is too small for reading books.Edit: I have found that I only use the light occasionally, so I'm changing my rating to a 5, this based on the fact that there's no surround on the lens. It's the one of my quite-a-few magnifiers that I always keep beside me where I do most of my reading.

I was looking for a good quality home magnifier to read small print on items such as product labels. I was not looking for a magnifier to read papers, books etc. After researching several on Amazon I purchased this one. Although I have had it only a week I am very pleased with it. I am left handed so I needed one that was not designed for right handers and this one fits the bill. It's well made, feels substantial and quality. The grip is comfortable for average sized hands. The lighting is very helpful and with an on and off switch you can control when to use it. The rimless feature is a great idea and enhances use of the product. The magnification is 2X so not for someone looking for or needing higher magnification. The magnification quality is very good for the price. Like all magnifiers it varies based on how far you hold it from the text and the center is the best view. A folding handle would be a plus for portability however I bought it for home use. The lenses is rather large to take to a restaurant etc. There are other magnifiers intended for that purpose. The soft bag that comes with it works well for when it's not in use. The manufacturer does include a card asking for a positive review in return for a free lenses cleaner. I am not doing this review due to that request nor did I ask for the free gift. I believe buyers sharing their product experience is an important aspect of Amazon. I always read the Amazon reviews before buying products from any vendor. I recommend this product.

The part of getting older (70+) that I hate most is the dimming of my vision -- gradually, but now enough that it's hard to read books and newsprint in an ordinarily-lit room. Even sitting under a lamp is only helpful up to a point. This Carson magnifier is the best I've found for making reading sooooo much easier. When I realized that a magnifying glass would be helpful, I experimented by ordering three different brands of lighted hand-held magnifiers, and I tried them all. This one is far superior to the others in that it magnifies a larger area and lights it well. The fact that it has no rim around it really increases the viewing area. And the angled handle is icing on the cake. The only negative thing I'd say about it is that when held higher than about six inches above the print, the light is ineffective -- but the magnification at that distance is still great. (Perhaps I just need some new batteries.) The round ones I bought have only a very small viewing area at six inches, but their lights are better at that distance (one of them has six lights around it). All in all, I'd buy more of this particular one.

Love this product for use while diamond painting. Also purchased one for my Mom-in-law to use with her diamond painting and she asked for another one to keep in bedroom for night reading.

Carson Optical Lighted Rimfree 2X Magnifier I am getting along in years and find that I need a little help beyond my normal glasses to read the ever decreasing in size print in the phone book, serial numbers and so on. I have tried a number of magnifiers. As you know, they come in a variety of sizes, strengths and shapes. With rims and without rims. This is the first rimless one I have tried, and I find I like that aspect, as I don't get a hard line at the edge of the magnifier when I am reading. Hard to explain but nicer to use. Also of extra interest on this model is that it has built in lighting. It is not real strong but it is very helpful not have to use a magnifier and a flashlight in dim light, which is usually the case, it seems, with serial numbers. Really just a nice option to have, overall. The optics are fine. Though an analysis by the tests they use on camera optics might show some, I have not noticed any distortion or other problems at all. It is also available without the built-in lighting but I recommend you get that option. I bought a couple for gifts and did not notice they did not have the lighting. Really missed it when I tested them. I give this product a definite A+ rating for price, quality and features.

Bought this for my elderly mum who has cataracts and was temporarily staying in a nursing home with poor lighting. She liked the shape for reading magazines and found the lights useful in the poor lighting conditions. It loses a star because she finds it a little heavy and a bit fiddly to turn the light on and off but overall she was impressed.

I bought this so I can read maps better (I'm a tour guide). I have to say I'm very impressed with the total feel & quality of this product. I ordered two more with this one (one "regular" round one), to compare which is better, from different companies and this is my favorite one.*There's is no distortion*It feels solid*The LED lights are much more useful than I expected (useful not only in dark places).*The best thing - not having a frame, looks cool and very comfortable to work this way.Overall - highly recommended

I have cataract and I use this lens to read. The shape ideal for reading compared to the round shape

a lovely item that was a much appreciated gift

Great piece of equipment, thanks