Mitutoyo 500-196-30 Advanced Onsite Sensor (AOS) Absolute Scale Digital Caliper, 0 to 6/0 to 150mm Measuring Range, 0.0005/0.01mm Resolution, LCD

I researched a number of digital calipers before purchase and made the conclusion that the iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6 Digital was a pretty good unit for the price. I also saw the most of the folks felt the Mitutoyo was top of the line, but may not be worth the additional cost - $95 vs $40. I purchased the iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6 Digital calipers but I am returning them because of the display, which I have not seen discussed on this forum. I also purchased the Mitutoyo calipers. When comparing the display on the iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6 Digital vs the Mitutoyo you very quickly see the reason for the price difference. I expected to find a quality difference between the two, but was blown away by the clarity, size and quality of the display on the Mitutoyo. (500-196-30) I cannot fault the iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6 Digital as it appeared to be accurate and pretty well made, but for a tool that I plan to use for many years, I decided the price difference was worth paying. Bottom line, you wont be disappointed in the accuracy of the iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6 Digital, but if you can afford the Mitutoyo calipers, go for it. For those that are concerned about fake Mitutoyo calipers, the one I ordered came from Amazon LLC, and the calipers came in a sealed package that had to be cut open. Not the box mind you, but the actual packing that contained the calipers. All the included paperwork, box battery etc. said made in Japan. I dont think for a second that the calipers I received were not genuine.

This things amazing! Need a precision measurement tool? Want to buy something made in Japan with love by people who care about making a nice thing actually really really nice! ‽ This is the thing for you! Sure it’s a bit more expensive than the cheapy trash ones but you will definitely have this for a long time and know that you are measuring with confidence!!! 100/10 recommend.

Great craftsmanship, solid in the hands and when you need to be exact this is exactly what you need.

does what it is designed for with absolute precision...

Before my review on the operation and accuracy of the Mitutoyo caliper, I wanted to share some key things to look for to verify you have purchased an authentic Mitutoyo Caliper and not a fake one. If youve done some research on the these calipers you probably found some reviews on eBay and Amazon about fake Mitutoyo calipers from China. So first thing, if you find Mitutoyo 500-196-30 calipers listed between $30-$60 they are fake (a good price will usually be between $100-$125). Now that said the one I purchased on Amazon was listed at $95.02 (this was best price I found on the internet, and per the info on the internet and to the best of my knowledge they are legit). So here are the top things I found on the internet to help ensure authenticity: - Mitutoyo is a Japanese company so stay away from sellers from China, and the case should say made in Japan not China - The serial number on the back of the caliper should match the Certificate of Inspection - Mitutoyo calipers are shipped in a sealed plastic packet and are wrapped in an anti-corrosive paper - Mitutoyo calipers include a stainless steel battery (SR44) in a separate package, and it should not be installed - Mitutoyo calipers should include a yellow (3) step set up procedure attached to the lock screw at the top of the caliper - Mitutoyo calipers will always have the same size numerical digits and the inch symbol will be to the right of the digits Now for my review...simply awesome! I recently got into reloading match grade ammo for my precision rifle, and +/- .005 can make a huge difference on your group size and hitting a target at 1000+ yards out. When I first started reloading I was using my old $20 Harbor Freight calipers, which is ok for basic reloading. However I wasnt getting consistent measurements and the Harbor Frieght calipers would always lose the zero position, so Id need to recalibrate after every measurement. In some cases on (3) separate measurements of the same bullet it would vary .005 - .015 and thats not going to cut it for reloading precision ammo, in the pictures below I was able to consistently get the same measurement on all (5) bullets I loaded at (3) different lengths. The Absolute zero function works flawlessly and is a must for me since I use a special adapter to measure the bullet length. So end result very pleased with these calipers and highly recommend.

How to tell if your calipers are genuine / Buy from Amazon.com LLC Here is how to tell if the Mitutoyo calipers you purchase here (or anywhere else) are genuine: First, and most importantly, I purchased my calipers from Amazon.com LLC because I have come to trust them as a seller, and I knew they would take care of it if I found out the calipers were not genuine Mitutoyo. They were offering the calipers for 92.00 USD with free Prime shipping, which would be the best deal on the web for these calipers if they were in fact genuine. Secondly, once the calipers came, I took careful note of the packaging and paperwork and took good-quality pictures of it all. I checked these important details: (1) The battery should read “SR44” and “Japan” on the battery itself (not just on the packaging), and there should be no battery already installed in the calipers. (2) The calipers should come in a sealed plastic bag packed with a bit of Ferobrite anti-corrosion paper and a yellow tag on the locking knob telling how to install the battery and such. (3) The display of these calipers should read, 0.0000 when zeroed out in the inches mode - counterfeits might read, 0.000 and might have a smaller 0/5 digit on the far right. (4) The locking knob on the top should be the same shape and style as shown in my pictures. (5) The ORIGIN button should be recessed as also shown in my pictures. (6) The serial number on the caliper should match the serial number listed on the calibration certificate. (7) The calipers and packaging should not mention China - anywhere - especially not on the box/envelope in which they were shipped. (8) According to Mitutoyo, it is actually okay if the signature is printed on the calibration certificate, which is a little disappointing, as I have always wanted Mr. T. Suzukis autograph. After I checked for these dead giveaways, I emailed Mitutoyo at their tech support page telling them where I had purchased the calipers and I asked if they would please verify my calipers authenticity, and offered to send pictures. They replied quickly and asked for the pictures, so I sent them pictures of all of the components, packaging, and documentation making sure the image quality was good enough that they could make an informed decision. The next day, they got back with me saying that they had confirmed my calipers authenticity. Follow the steps I have outlined here, carefully compare the calipers you receive to the pictures I have given, and hopefully you can have a similar experience.

Ive used these for 20 years at work so Im very used to them. Now I have a set of my own! Smooth action, big readout, bigger than the older style, that resolves 0.0005 inch in five full-sized digits. Simple to flip to mm. Does not turn itself off (a good thing!). Super stable---maybe due to the submicron internal resolution? Great finish and fit. Thumbwheel feels good. Batteries, per catalog, state 3 to 5 years but I suspect longer based on past experience---and I have left them on over many a weekend! This is not not a review of a counterfeit. This purchase was fulfilled by Amazon and their inventory control is impeccable. These calipers came in a sealed bag with a piece of Ferobrite VCI paper. That was placed in the one-piece molded case. On top of that, stapled all together, was the Ferobrite warning notice, a notice of the launch of Mitutoyos Smart Factory solutions website, a fold-out manual with 11 languages, a small notice to wipe excess oil from the calipers, a China RoHS compliance certificate (helping them to Import into China), a reminder to recycle batteries for the EU (in 7 languages) ---and--- an SR44SW battery made by Saizaiken, Japan. Batteries last a very long time in a real Mitutoyo and, just to be sure this is not a counterfeit, I made some measurements: Current when on was pulsing 2 to 6 μA and when off dropped to a stable 0.5 μA: very good. When a Mitutoyo wants a fresh battery a B is seen in the upper-right corner of the display. I measured this threshold at about 1.40 Volts. If you dont heed that warning, a Mitutoyo will not give bad or unstable readings but will instead simply turn off. I measured this cutoff threshold at 1.3 Volts and the readings were dead-stable up the that point. Other things that tend to indicate this is authentic is a CE mark with compliant dimensions, surface finish marks that are parallel with the tool, ABSOLUTE molded into the battery cover and gold plated battery contacts.

I am a hobby machinist constantly overhauling flat head engines. Having a repeatable accurate vernier caliper is a must. This is a quality tool at a reasonable price.

Unsolicited feedback: With all of the fraudulent copy/knock-offs being sold online these days... I wanted to share with any potential customers that these Mitutoyo calipers are indeed genuine. These were purchased through the Amazon Mitutoyo Store and fulfilled by MSI Viking. Thank you!

The difference between Mitutoyo and the cheap knockoffs are readily apparent the 1st time you use them. These are smooth and accurate and the fit and finish are very nice. They are pricey but you are paying for precision.