Clip this little lighted scope onto your smart phone and use the phone's zoom feature to show images (and take photos) up to 30X magnification. Our Optics Guru Paul says it has no business working this well for under ten bucks. Measures 2-5/8" x 1-1/4" and comes with (3) replaceable button-cell batteries for the light. Fits most major brands, like iPhones and Androids and Windows (oh, my!), and probably most tablets, too.

Forget watchmaking, you could write the "A Tale of Two Cities" on a piece of tortellini with this triple magnifier visor. Magnifies from 1.8X to 4.8X. Has a permanent and flip-down 1.9X lenses, and a flip-down 4.5X loupe. Dual white LEDs in a pivoting mount, powered by (2) "AAA"s each which aren't included. The whole thing is in a black plastic visor, 7-3/4" wide x 5-1/4" deep with a flexible plastic strap with adjustable dial control. Opens to 9" max dia and has coated acrylic lenses. Now then: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…..

How about three extra hands? This multi-purpose workstation tool has a large 3X, 3-1/2" dia LED-lighted magnifier on a 10" gooseneck (you add 4 "AA" batteries), a soldering-iron stand, cleaning sponge plus steel wool, a canister of flux paste, a pair of  alligator clips with ball-socket mounts on the ends of a 4" rod  plus an extra hand with a third alligator clip on a 10" gooseneck. It all weighs in at a stable 3+ lbs and has a 7-1/4" x 6-3/4" base so you won't need fourth hand to hold it upright.

It’s a little jewelers loupe. The loupe is little, not the jewelers, although they could be short, but we’ve never actually seen the jewelers who use these, so…oh, never mind--it’s shiny brass and would look jewel-like hung on a chain. Measures a teardroppy 1-1/8" x 7/8" x 3/4" shape, and folds out to reveal an 18mm dia glass lens with approx 10X magnification.

Steampunk alert! Also…model and jewelry maker alert! This pair of 10X acrylic doublet loupes is mounted on black eyeglass frames and flanked by LED lights powered by (2) included CR1620 button cell batteries. These are for close work only, from 1" to 1-1/2", and can focus only one lens at a time (not both on the same object) so if you’re a steampunker looking for a new accessory, plan on perching this rig on your pate or chapeau.

And more. This accessory kit for smart phones (works with iPhone, Samsung, HTC, iPad, tablets and many others) has a 2” long clip-on bracket with screw-in macro, wide-angle and fish-eye lenses. Paul loves his kit and he’s our optics expert. Use the macro for insects, coins and diamonds. Fish-eye and wide-angle for great visual effects. Includes a little pouch to carry it all in, and tiny lens caps.

Note: Two lenses come threaded together to conserve space. 

Da Mare could use this to point out cracks in the infrastructure at Wrigley Field. You, having a forgiving nature, will resist the urge to point out cracks in da mayor's infrastructure. You will, of course, use it to point out chimney cracks to the tuck-pointer, a cracked limb to the tree-trimmer, and the crack in your profit picture during a slide presentation. You can do all that and much, much more with the bright light from this 5mW green laser pointer. It's an unbelievable tool. If you need a laser pointer that seems to go on forever and is so strong that you can actually see the beam in the dark, it will be the best low-cost investment you ever made. Or the coolest high-end toy. The 532nm Class IIIa light is 5-5/8" long x 1/2" dia, with (2) "AAA" batteries (included), a momentary-on switch, pocket clip, and case. An absolute necessity for construction, surveying, warehousing, inspection and other large sites. And for playing in the dark.

Flat plastic Fresnel lens. This flexible magnifier is 7-1/4" x 10-1/4" and only about a millimeter thick. It is great when you need to scan a list or to look for something in a directory. You can see most of the page without moving the magnifier. Only about 1.5 power, but that can make a huge visual difference. The quality is not high, but neither is the price.

A nice 3X loupe, 2-3/8" dia, that folds into its own 3-3/8" x 2-5/8" tear-drop-shaped plastic case, and it's only 5/8" thick, just right for sliding into your pocket. Pay no attention the "6X" markings on the package-if mistakes didn't happen, we wouldn't be in business.

This XL magnifier measures 3-3/8" dia with a 5" long handle, all rubber coated. Glass lens is 1.5X and surrounded by (12) bright white LEDs that run on (2) included "AA" batteries. Tap-on, tap-off switch. Good for everything from reading to looking at bugs and such.

No lights, no cases, no frills, but nice quality, nice price, just plain nice acrylic loupes. You pick the 6X, with a 23mm lens, and a height of 1-7/8”; the 10X with a 23mm lens, and a height of 1-1/2”; or the 15X with a 21mm lens, and a height of 1-3/16”. Tarklika, our Chief Thread Count Verification Officer claims that these have tripled her efficiency, just imagine what they can do for you.

Good things come in (2) different small packages. Our pocket microscopes are compact and perfect for a clear, close look at stamps, coins, flora, insects or assorted minutiae. The 30X version measures 5-3/4" x 1-5/8" x 3/4" in black plastic with a focus knob, on/off switch, small LED for illumination, and a vinyl carrying case. Requires (2) "AA"s. The 60X version is a microscopic 3-1/4" x 1-3/16" x 3/4" and has a built-in white LED illuminator powered by (3) coin-cell batteries that are included. Magnifies from 60-100X, with coarse- and fine-focus knobs, and has a vinyl carrying case.

You do close work? Slap on these eyeglass-style magnifiers and make your life a bunch easier. The plastic frames are 5-1/2” wide with adjustable interpupillary distance, 4-1/2” long temples and an adjustable 12” elastic strap. Comes with (4) sets of lenses, 10X, 15X, 20X and 25X, illuminated by LED arms at the sides of the lenses. Replaceable button-cell batteries included. These could also be the steampunkiest-looking item we’ve ever offered.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced stargazer, with or without a telescope, you'll get more out of the night sky with a Miller Planisphere. This 10" rotating double disc is a map of the planets, stars and constellations, useful across a large range of the northern latitudes, although most accurate in the range of 35° to 45° north. It can be aligned to the time and date in your location to display a detailed map, and includes tips on finding the planets, suggestions for telescope projects, and more. It's an invaluable learning tool that makes stargazing a lot more fun.

There's optical science and high school physics, and then there's making pretty colors with this little 4-1/2" x about 1" acrylic prism. It makes the same rainbows that the beveled edges on the glass in the French doors to your grandmother's living room used to make on the floor in the afternoon while she was making supper. If you had a grandmother with French doors with beveled glass, who made you supper. If not, you'd better buy this prism or you won't have anything to remember after she's gone.

Small enough to fit into the belt-mounted black canvas carrying case (4-3/8" x 3" x 1" thick), but they open up to be plenty big for most binocular needs. These 10X25 binocs have glare-reducing coated lenses, a thin neck-strap, adjustable focus, water-resistant and easy-to-hold rubber skin, rubber eyecups and fine-tuning for the right eye.

Call it pocket microscopy. Our teensiest tiniest double-lens microscope is just 1-1/2” long x 19/32” dia with a barrel that will pull out another 1/2” for coarse focus. Rated at 16X, and comes with a teensy tiny carrying pouch.

Or just read the small print? Try these double-convex glass lenses, 52mm dia with a 89mm focal length, good for magnifying or starting survival fires. Yours could very well have some genuine antique schmutz on them, but they’re glass so cleaning them is dead easy, and a few might even have a tiny chip that won’t interfere with their effectiveness. At this price, you could lose them as often as you lose your cheaters.