Koolertron 5" Digital Video Magnifier, Portable Reading Aid

This item really helps my wife read things that hard to do with macular degeneration.

CAUTION Before you read my very positive review of this wonderful product, you should be aware that for Canadian customers the cost information shown is in error. NO 'import fee' is charged by the Canadian Government on products specifically designed for people who are disabled. All the shipper need do is specify on the customs form that the item enclosed is designed for use by people who are vision impaired; Canada Customs and Border Services may open the parcel to verify that the product being shipped is specifically intended for use by disabled people, but they will N O T charge any import fee. 2nd Update - after charging many times the battery stops working. It is a remvable generic battery but I have not been able to find a source and the supplier doesn't offer replacement batteries on Amazon. So I have now bought a third reading machine only to find that the charging cords on the newest and older machines are not comatible. The manufacturer have changed the size of the plug. Therefore, if you are charged an import fee as a part of the cost of this item by the shipper, contact Amazon Customer Service and demand your money back. Update - I have just bought a second unit, so that now I will always have one available that is charged. I still absolutely love this digital magnifier! Since I bought the first unit, several improvements have been made, including a slightly thinner structure and two extra levels of magnification. ________________________________________________________________________________ Having used this unit daily for several months, I can't say enough about how truly wonderful it is. Were it possible to give a higher rating than 5 Stars, I would happily do so. The image projected is clear and the background colour can be changed to enhance readability for different low vision conditions. The charge lasts longer than I would have expected - and the materials from which it is constructed are very sturdy and do not feel cheap. I also like the storage pouch, as it protects the screen when the magnifier is carried in a shoulder bag. This digital magnifier is every bit as good as models costing many hundreds of dollars more. In fact, I have one that I paid more than $1,000 for which doesn't stay charged as long. This one even has a stand to enable one to sign one's name while looking through the screen, which my more expensive unit does not have. I hope that a lot of people who have low vision but who do not have loads of money will find out about this magnifier. It will really change their lives!

I bought this for my mother who has glaucoma and is partially blind in one eye. She loves it! PROS: For reading food labels, account numbers, prescription labels, phone numbers, serial numbers, or reading the tiniest print on ANYTHING it is GREAT! The light is very bright, and adjustable. She especially likes that she can freeze the text on the screen when needed and then reference the frozen text while she makes a phone call, etc. The battery seems to last a long time (at least for her use), and because the device turns off after a short time with no use, even if she forgets to turn it off, the battery is not drained. She really likes the fold-able handle on it too. CONS: The buttons on the bottom of the unit (to take or view pictures) are quite sensitive. If you happen to touch them at all while you are moving the magnifier (and you have no memory card installed) you will get multiple beeps and a message that no memory card is installed. The beep can be turned off (it's in the instructions), and I told her I would get a memory card to put in it, but she said no, she will just be careful not to touch the little buttons. It's a very small thing, but can be annoying over time. The text even at the smallest 4x magnification is probably too large to read a book, because only a few words fit on the screen, and you would need to move the device constantly over the page. If you don't have a tendency to get motion sickness, or are very steady with your hands reading a book might work. A wider viewing screen might be more appropriate if you want to read books. I did not hook the device up to the TV because the cord was too short to use. (Her TV is at least 6 feet from her chair). But I think it's a great feature, and can think of many uses for the TV/Monitor hook up, especially for science teachers, coin collectors, jewelers, crafters, etc. Overall my mother is very pleased with the device and thanks me often for the gift. She told me that she is going to take it with her to her next appointment with her opthalmologist, so he can see how great it is, and perhaps let others with her condition know about it.

Works great for my 94 year old Mother in law !

My great aunt LOVES to read. She hasn't been able to read a book, magazine or anything for almost 4 years. She needed an 8x magnifying ($75) glass to read one word at a time. She also had to hold the thing she was reading up to her face. This device has brought her to tears on how well it works. She can also use it to read a Kindle again. She said it was like getting a new lease on life. She can sit and be about a foot or two away from whatever she is reading and sit comfortably.

Don't recommend this product. I bought it for my sister and just a few weeks later it would not hold a charge. By the time that she told me about it, I could not return it

Corrected vision of subject is 60/20. Built-in stand and handle make it possible to read the newspaper despite shaky hands as the reader sits directly on top of the paper on the table. It would be ideal if there was also an 8"-10" version that could be used at home to display a larger area. The only drawback is the auto shutoff, which sometimes causes the unit to freeze, requiring a hard reboot (hold the power button in for 5-10 seconds). Minor issue overall.

Purchased for my mom who has eye site issues and was recommended by our local blind institute. She uses it to read her quilting magazines etc. Highly recommend.