A machine-readable symbol reader (300; 700; 800; 900; 1000; 1100; 1200; 1300; 1400; 1500; 1700), comprising: a body (302; 702; 802; 902; 1002; 1102; 1202; 1302; 1402; 1502; 1702), the body comprising a handle (304; 704; 804; 904; 1004; 1104; 1204; 1304; 1404; 1504; 1604; 1704) and a head (306; 706; 806; 906; 1006; 1106; 1206; 1306; 1406; 1506; 1606; 1706), the handle having a base (313; 713; 813; 913; 1013; 1113; 1213; 1313: 1413; 1513; 1713), a major axis (309; 709; 809; 1009; 1109; 1209; 1309; 1409; 1509; 1709) and including a portion that extends along the major axis of the handle and that is sized and dimensioned to be gripped by a human hand during use of the machine-readable symbol reader, and the head having a major axis (311; 711; 811; 1011; 1111; 1211; 1311; 1411; 1511; 1711), the head which extends laterally at least in a forward direction from the handle at a junction (310; 710; 810; 1010; 1110; 1210; 1310; 1410; 1510; 1710) of the handle and the head, the head including a first window (314; 1714) that faces in the forward direction and that provides a first return path for light returned from an exterior (322; 1722) of the body of the machine-readable symbol reader; at least a first light sensor (318; 1718a, 1718b) housed in the body and positioned in the first return path; and at least a first light source (324c-324n; 724a, 724b; 824b; 924a; 1024a, 1024b; 1124b; 1224a; 1324a-1324c; 1424a; 1524a; 1724c-1724n) physically coupled to the body (302; 702; 802; 902; 1002; 1102; 1202; 1302; 1402; 1502; 1702), wherein light produced by at least the first light source emits from at least a light emission portion of the body outwardly from the body of the machine-readable symbol reader into the exterior, the light emission portion of the body positioned relatively below the junction (310; 710; 810; 1010; 1110; 1210; 1310; 1410; 1510; 1710) where the head extends from the handle, characterized in that the light emission portion comprises an extension (308; 708; 808; 908; 1008; 1108; 1208; 1308; 1408; 1508; 1708) of the body that extends from at least one of the handle or the head, wherein the extension (308; 708; 808; 908; 1008; 1108; 1208; 1708) is an L-shaped extension including a first extension portion (308a; 708a; 808a; 1008a; 1108a; 1208a) that extends laterally from the handle, parallel with the head, and a second extension portion (308b; 708b; 808b; 1008b; 1108b; 1208b) that extends from the head, parallel with the handle, or the extension (1308; 1408; 1508) extends laterally from the base (1313; 1413; 1513) of the handle (1304; 1404; 1504) in the forward direction, parallel with the head (1306; 1406; 1506). a body (302; 702; 802; 902; 1002; 1102; 1202; 1302; 1402; 1502; 1702), the body comprising a handle (304; 704; 804; 904; 1004; 1104; 1204; 1304; 1404; 1504; 1604; 1704) and a head (306; 706; 806; 906; 1006; 1106; 1206; 1306; 1406; 1506; 1606; 1706), the handle having a base (313; 713; 813; 913; 1013; 1113; 1213; 1313: 1413; 1513; 1713), a major axis (309; 709; 809; 1009; 1109; 1209; 1309; 1409; 1509; 1709) and including a portion that extends along the major axis of the handle and that is sized and dimensioned to be gripped by a human hand during use of the machine-readable symbol reader, and the head having a major axis (311; 711; 811; 1011; 1111; 1211; 1311; 1411; 1511; 1711), the head which extends laterally at least in a forward direction from the handle at a junction (310; 710; 810; 1010; 1110; 1210; 1310; 1410; 1510; 1710) of the handle and the head, the head including a first window (314; 1714) that faces in the forward direction and that provides a first return path for light returned from an exterior (322; 1722) of the body of the machine-readable symbol reader; at least a first light sensor (318; 1718a, 1718b) housed in the body and positioned in the first return path; and at least a first light source (324c-324n; 724a, 724b; 824b; 924a; 1024a, 1024b; 1124b; 1224a; 1324a-1324c; 1424a; 1524a; 1724c-1724n) physically coupled to the body (302; 702; 802; 902; 1002; 1102; 1202; 1302; 1402; 1502; 1702), wherein light produced by at least the first light source emits from at least a light emission portion of the body outwardly from the body of the machine-readable symbol reader into the exterior, the light emission portion of the body positioned relatively below the junction (310; 710; 810; 1010; 1110; 1210; 1310; 1410; 1510; 1710) where the head extends from the handle, characterized in that the light emission portion comprises an extension (308; 708; 808; 908; 1008; 1108; 1208; 1308; 1408; 1508; 1708) of the body that extends from at least one of the handle or the head, wherein the extension (308; 708; 808; 908; 1008; 1108; 1208; 1708) is an L-shaped extension including a first extension portion (308a; 708a; 808a; 1008a; 1108a; 1208a) that extends laterally from the handle, parallel with the head, and a second extension portion (308b; 708b; 808b; 1008b; 1108b; 1208b) that extends from the head, parallel with the handle, or the extension (1308; 1408; 1508) extends laterally from the base (1313; 1413; 1513) of the handle (1304; 1404; 1504) in the forward direction, parallel with the head (1306; 1406; 1506).