A video magnification device comprising: a housing having a top edge, a bottom edge, and an interior, a recess formed within the top edge, a hinge positioned along the bottom edge, the housing having a front face and a back face, a video screen positioned within the back face, the video magnification device also comprising a base with two spaced apart feet, the base pivotally connected to the bottom edge of the housing by way of the hinge, such that the front face of housing faces the base, the device having an open position and a closed position, the housing and base being at an angle with respect to one another when the device is in the opened position and the housing and base being in contact with one another when the device is in the closed position, the video magnification device further comprising: a camera barrel with opposing and aligned axles for pivotally mounting the barrel within the recess of the housing, a video camera housed within and rotating with the barrel, the video camera being rotatable between the front face and back face of the housing, the device having a document viewing orientation, wherein the device is in the opened position and the video camera is oriented to view objects positioned toward the base, a near object viewing orientation wherein the device is in the opened position and the video camera is oriented to view objects held before the front face, and a distant object viewing orientation wherein the device is in the closed position and the video camera is oriented to view objects at a distance from the front face, and a self-view orientation wherein the device is in the opened position and the video camera is oriented to view objects in front of the back face the barrel having a different angular orientation in each of the different orientations; a torsion spring associated with one of the opposing axles of the camera barrel, the torsion spring functioning to rotate the video camera towards the front face of the housing; and a brake for counterbalancing the force of the torsion spring, the brake positioned within the interior of the housing and including a band with a first end and a second end, the first end of the band fitted about one of the opposing axles of the barrel, a coil spring connected between the interior of the housing and the second end of the band, the brake having an engaged position where the force of the coil spring is permitted to counterbalance the force of the torsion spring to thereby allow the angular orientation of the barrel to be adjusted by hand, the brake also having a disengaged position where the torsion spring is permitted to rotate the video camera towards the front face of the housing. a camera barrel with opposing and aligned axles for pivotally mounting the barrel within the recess of the housing, a video camera housed within and rotating with the barrel, the video camera being rotatable between the front face and back face of the housing, the device having a document viewing orientation, wherein the device is in the opened position and the video camera is oriented to view objects positioned toward the base, a near object viewing orientation wherein the device is in the opened position and the video camera is oriented to view objects held before the front face, and a distant object viewing orientation wherein the device is in the closed position and the video camera is oriented to view objects at a distance from the front face, and a self-view orientation wherein the device is in the opened position and the video camera is oriented to view objects in front of the back face the barrel having a different angular orientation in each of the different orientations; a torsion spring associated with one of the opposing axles of the camera barrel, the torsion spring functioning to rotate the video camera towards the front face of the housing; and a brake for counterbalancing the force of the torsion spring, the brake positioned within the interior of the housing and including a band with a first end and a second end, the first end of the band fitted about one of the opposing axles of the barrel, a coil spring connected between the interior of the housing and the second end of the band, the brake having an engaged position where the force of the coil spring is permitted to counterbalance the force of the torsion spring to thereby allow the angular orientation of the barrel to be adjusted by hand, the brake also having a disengaged position where the torsion spring is permitted to rotate the video camera towards the front face of the housing.