I use this item to get close-up views of paintings from 2-3 feet away, which saves you from leaning too close to a painting and having the security guards freak out on you. Take this to the art gallery next time you visit and you'll be amazed. I've used it all over Europe and North America and the detail it gives you of a painting is astonishing. I've even loaned this to art professors who'd never heard of it and they were amazed.