Abstract: A hand held microfilm reader wherein the film is maintained within the reader housing and the controls for positioning the film are easily manipulated by one hand. An optical system provides an intense automatically focused image projected onto a screen for viewing by the user. The light source is a conventional lens end bulb that has been rendered uniformly directional by its having been mounted in pre-aligned relationship with respect to a clip which is configured to be precisely registered with remaining portions of the optical system.