iGAGING Absolute Origin 0-12" Digital Caliper, IP54 Stainless Steel, SPC/USB Output Port, Inch & Metric Modes, Case, Manual, Battery

What a search it has been, phew! I finally found a DIGITAL set of calipers at a reasonable price. The number of FAKE Mitutoyo calipers flooding Amazon and Ebay and FB Marketplace is dizzying and alarming. I found genuine Mitutoyos for $107 + shipping $15 but these were much less. So, why buy M when my need to measure is not scientific? I use these for DIY, jewelry, and fixing watches, sewing machines when I have to measure replacement parts. I love that I can switch from mm to decimal inches to fraction inches easily.Zero out at origin. There is also a stand you can set this upright, to lower the depth gauge and measure below the base. Very cool feature - check the sliding rod at the back. That is for depth gauge measuring. Comes in a nice box with new battery. Very very happy with this. My Nerdy neighbor has one too, and he recommended it. Buy with confidence.

These feel almost as good as Mitutoyos! Battery life isn't an issue and they're about as precise. Really nice for the price

This caliper is incredibly precise and reliable! The ABSOLUTE ORIGIN feature ensures no zero loss, and the IP54 rating makes it durable for tough environments. The large, easy-to-read display and smooth sliding mechanism enhance usability. Extremely accurate measurements every time—highly recommend for professionals and hobbyists alike. Excellent build quality and great value!

Overall, you get what you pay for with this caliper. I regularly use 8" mitutoyo calipers, but wanted something shorter that I was OK banging around for general purpose use, and this is a lot of value for the money. I've been using it every few days for 2 months, and feel qualified to write an honest review.First the good:+It's fairly inexpensive, so you won't feel too bad if you drop it.+It is pretty accurate (more about that later). It is accurate to the .001" tolerance specification in the certificate of calibration.+Overall, it's well built.+The back of the caliper has a fraction to decimal chart.+ there is good contrast on the LCD display+I've left the caliper "on" for long periods of time and the battery does not drain fast.+The case looks different than the picture, but allows for a cutout for a base that turns this into a depth caliper as well.Now the not as good:+The locking screw on the slide is not retained, so it's just a matter of time before it disappears without a trace. Some of my other calipers have a retaining ring so this does not happen.+The feel of the sliding is a little more slip-stick than smooth, though I have cleaned it several times.+ The directions and certificate of calibration are a little laughable... they include grammatical errors, and don't inspire confidence.+I would have preferred a clear case so I could tell at a glance if the instrument was inside or not.+As one other reviewer also found, there may be burrs on the jaws that need to be removed. I went through mine very carefully to explore why all my measurements were .001-.0035" off my expectations, and found that there was a tiny burr on the jaws that prevented it from closing all the way. I needed to very carefully deburr the edges and then used a superfine Arkansas slip stone to lightly go over the corners and faces of the inside jaw. This helped: the reading no longer wandered a bit when the jaws were pushed closed to .0000. I also verified with a light behind teh jaws that it was closed and no light was seeping through anywhere. I then checked measurements at 1.0000, 2.0000, and 3.0000" with a set of calibrated Mitutoyo carbide standards. And I then checked some random lengths with a Fowler (economy) Gage Block set (all at 70 degrees F). The results usually got me to within .0005" of the expected measurement, sometimes within .0015. This is, as stated in the certification, within tolerance, though there was a little more variability than I expected.Overall, this is good for the money. I also recommend the base that screws on and makes it a quick depth micrometer/caliper.

I purchased this caliper and the compatible USB interface at the same time (see "iGaging SPC USB Cable for OriginCal 100-700 Series" for my very positive comments). The caliper itself arrives in a sturdy reusable storage device, with a battery installed & a spare battery in the case. The fit & finish of the caliper is above average, with no loose or poorly-fitted parts.Test measurements were accurate & exactly repeatable. If you've used this type of instrument before, you know that it's best when they don't do anything unique or creative. This caliper operates smoothly, the buttons all feel exactly alike, the display is clear & uniform. The model I purchased also included a base attachment that allows stable depth measurements.The instructions were easy to understand and completely explain the various features (purists may complain about the quality of the translation). A NIST-traceable calibration test certificate was also included, unusual for this price range.Besides the obvious quality, a key reason I selected this product is because all the reviews I've read state that the "average battery life" estimates are not hype. The problem with many similar products is that even when turned "off", they simply blank the display but are still consuming power, and may kill those tiny, expensive button cells in a week. The OriginCal series uses the much more common CR2032 coin cells, and other reviewers have reported shelf life of a year or more (the instructions list 2 years with typical usage). Of course actual battery life will depend most on how much you actually use the caliper.I did a ton of pre-purchase research because I was convinced I'd need to spend USD300-500 to get what I wanted. I even contacted the manufacturer by phone & they quickly transferred me to a person who could answer technical questions. So far, this product is everything I was hoping for & more.