Mitutoyo MIT500-196-30 Absolute AOS Digimatic Caliper, 0mm-150mm/0"-6" Range

I decided to buy a Mitutoyo after watching a Youtube video. AvE (I think he's a Canadian engineer) does a tear-downs of cheap digital calipers and a fake Mitutoyo. Very interesting and well-worth watching.I'm sure that the thing that arrived today is the genuine article. It feels right in the hand, it's clearly well-made and the readings are endlessly reproducible. Further, the documents that came with it are, I'm sure, the real thing.I've had a couple of cheap digital calipers in the past. Frankly, they were not too bad and for most hobbyists (like me) they might be all that's needed. The problem is, they can be so rough inside that you might have a dud or you might have bought a real bargain. Without testing the cheapo model against something like this, you cannot be sure.I'm about to embark on a project which calls for exacting measurement (even though it involves a Land Rover) and that's why I bought these. I am really glad that I did, and if I take care of them properly, I expect that they will be the last digital calipers that I ever have to buy.As for the whole "purchasing experience" it was amazing: I placed the order on a Saturday afternoon and they were here 24 hours later.Thanks indeed to the delivery people who work for Amazon.

It is difficult to appreciate why these calipers are so good, until one tries to use a few of the cheaper alternatives...Jaws that don't close because they are not square, depth gauges and edges that aren't in line, displays that go mad when they smell suds and beams that bend, are all too common.This is my fourth set of Mitutoyo calipers in forty years of daily machining work. I can report all have died honorable deaths in the line of duty, as opposed to being hurled violently across the workshop because they are (choice of expletive) useless.

Having retired, my work these days as a model engineer/fixer/fiddler is carried out in poor surroundings (the back of a dusty, cobweb ridden, not too clean garage). For this reason I had never considered spending almost £90 on a calliper. This has mostly been driven by the circumstances I outline. I almost felt guilty at the thought of using a quality, precision instrument in my poor conditions. I have therefore, always bought cheap calipers, convincing myself that in doing so I'm not risking anything expensive.After my latest calipers went wrong, I had a search through my cupboards and drawers and was shocked to find SIX broken calipers which I'd bought over the years, none (as I remember) lasting very long even though I try not to place them down during use into a pile of swarf, or whatever.At this point I underwent a damalcean conversion moment. It occurred to me that if I'd paid, say, an average of £20 each for these cheap calipers, I'd already spent £120!!!! At this same moment, I realised it might have been cheaper to buy a quality tool in the first place. Had it lasted for as long as these cheap six I have, it would actually have been cheaper! Thus I decided to bite the bullet and try a quality tool instead.So, to the caliper. What can one say about a Mitutoyo? Beautifully made, accurate, repeatable every time with a superb 'feel' in use which only comes from a quality instrument. I'm aware of reports of counterfeit items being around, so I bought mine from a reputable supplier (Allendale group who deal in all the top quality measuring instruments, D.R.O. systems etc. - usual disclaimer, no personal connection to this company other than as a satisfied customer.) and I haven't been disappointed in any way. Fast dispatch, good price, and so on.My challenge now is to try to look after my new acquisition and try to keep it clean in my poor environment. It will be interesting to see how it performs and outlasts the cheaper ones (which I'm assuming it will!. Perhaps I'll update this review in 10 years, or so, to report how it's going!So far I'm delighted with this super tool.

Mitutoyo callipers are first class quality and, unless abused, will last for decades.Beware of fake/counterfeit product which resembles the Mitutoyo calliper but is in reality a cheap knock-off. If you stick to the genuine article, you can’t go wrong.Genuine Mitutoyo callipers have the parts finely machined with very smooth edges.

Brillant piece of kit, quality and repeatable accuracy as you'd expect from Mitutoyo. One slight oddity- the thumb wheel has some play, not a problem but would have expected it to be better built for the price. UPDATE: I had a comment saying this could be a fake product, but I've called Mitutoyo UK and its real. The play in the thumbwheel is normal and the way to confirm its genuine is to push the in/mm button and you should see 4 digits after the decimal point- 3 and its a fake.

This was the least expensive top of the line micrometer that I could kind. Quality and accuracy are pretty much second to none. Mitutoyo has been making great gear for as long as I can remember. Probably overkill for my purpose but I would rather have a tool that I can rely on. This is the “basic” electronic/digital Mitutoyo model you can buy much more expensive ones with extra features - but the quality is the same. Other brands of similar quality like Starret, Fowler, Brown & Sharp (thanks google) all seem to be more expensive for similar models. As always when buying high quality (expensive) tools you should check the specifications to ensure they will do what you need (for example more expensive calipers might guarantee higher accuracy).

Surprising how much better a nicely made tool works. Smooth, repeatable readings, easy to apply consistent pressure for each reading with confidence, jaws look well ground and parallel, display is large.I hate changing the batteies in these, so often it takes a dozen attempts before the tiny circuit will work, in this case they provide a little instruction card showing how to install and then buttons to press to force a reset - FAB. I don't particualrly like the box, bigger than needed and plasticky - for the price something a bit more classy would be nice.