For those of you that are learning how to hone your own razors it is ultra important to be able to see your work. The only way to truly see what your bevel looks like is to use an aid, a loupe of 10x or higher is a good tool. A pocket microscope shows much more detail, especially for the money. I have been using this model for years for a couple of reasons, the LED is much better than a standard light and the battery is still the same when I bought my first unit 2 years ago. The fact that it fits in your hand is the best part, and since your other hand is free to move the blade around you can’t loose.
20x to 40x magnification