The use of today's highly sophisticated dental materials has required a corresponding increase in the technical skills of the operator. Surgical telescopes with high resolution and contrast are replacing plastic lenses of somewhat lesser quality. Moreover, depending on their frame mounting, these ground glass magnifiers are also offering the operator additional comfort and safety. The problem for the dentist, however, is to assess properly the products currently being presented by manufacturers. A detailed description of each device offered by four major suppliers is given relative to true field width and depth, working distance or range, "down time" during prescription changes, usefulness with correction, operator positioning, light admittance, degrees of magnification available, and expense. Photographs of the operator practicing without magnification and then using each of three devices is shown and analyzed. With some exceptions, those instruments providing the most flexibility as regards the above factors are most worthy of the dentist's consideration.