The old thread isn't bumping anymore. Time for a new Stupid Questions That Don't Deserve Their Own Thread. I'll start:

What kind of optical tool do you use to read things that are at a medium distance? I constantly have to dig around inside equipment trying to get part numbers, serial numbers, etc. off of things as part of my job. The text is small and often dirty. My cell phone helps a lot but if its a bit further than what the camera can pick up and I end up having to take shit apart to get closer. Binoculars are too powerful. I can't get then to focus near enough to read things like data plates. Any suggestions?