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First, let’s just get one thing clear - the Handyscope is actually spelled with a lower-case “h” (as in, “handyscope”). I’m going to take the liberty, however, of spelling it here with a capital “H.”
Now that that’s out of the way, this is just a brief post about the Dermlite Handyscope, because it (as well as a few of other models within the Dermlite line) tend to receive less attention than some of the (statistically) more popular models.
The first thing that strikes most people with the Handyscope is that it's not a “traditional” dermatoscope, at least in appearance. Apart from its shape, the size is different as well. Notice how it can easily fit within the palm of the hand.
Perhaps the main reason that its size and shape is so different is because the Handyscope was never intended to be a “regular” handheld dermatoscope. Instead, it was originally made in collaboration with Fotofinder and intended to be a dermatoscope dedicated to photography and video.
Now that's not to say you can't use it as a traditional dermatoscope. If someone were to decide to use the Handyscope as their primary handheld dermatoscope, this is the view that they would have:
At least from this angle, it's not the most elegant appearing dermatoscope. But again, that’s because it's really designed to be used in conjunction with a camera, smartphone, or iPad.
Here we see the metal ring that makes it compatible with the MagnetiConnect system:
This red button is basically the selection switch which serves as both the power button as well as the switch to alternate between polarized non-polarized lighting:
Another unique feature of the Handyscope is a general exam (aka, “torch”) light which provides supplemental lighting to a given area:
Coming back around to its design, when we're talking about using a dermatoscope for taking photos or recording a video, the ergonomics are less important. Being dedicated to imaging and video allows us to use a smaller device, because we're not so dependent on actually holding it in our hands.
The Handyscope has a much smaller profile than we’d find by attaching a DL4, DL3 or DL200 to our camera, smartphone or iPad. So from that perspective, it does make it easier and arguably better suited for situations in which you simply need a dedicated “camera dermatoscope.”
But so far as my thoughts on having it as an “all-around" dermatoscope?
"Handyscope is best reserved for its original intended purpose of being a dedicated photographic imaging dermatoscope"
Don't get me wrong, we do have customers who choose to use it as their “all-around” dermatoscope. But in my opinion, I do think the Handyscope is best reserved for its original intended purpose of being a dedicated photographic imaging dermatoscope. That is, a device that you can keep in the clinic and have for the staff to use whenever dermoscopy images or video are needed; a device which can easily be carried and passed around from room to room. That's really the niche of the Handyscope.
But as always, if anyone has any questions, opinions or thoughts otherwise, please feel free to share them with us!