Magnifying glass
The magnifying glass was a glass that produced a magnified image of an object. Sun rays sent through a magnifying glass could be used to burn things. It was known to humans, Time Lords and Apalapucians. It was usually carried in a handheld tool.
The Doctor
It was carried by the Doctor in several incarnations: second (TV: The Highlanders et. al.), third (TV: The Sea Devils et. al.), fourth (TV: Genesis of the Daleks et. al.), fifth (Four to Doomsday), tenth (TV: Partners in Crime et. al.) and eleventh (TV: The Crimson Horror).
An oversized magnifying glass was found by the Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond and Rory Williams in the Two Streams Facility on Apalapucia. Actually it was a time glass. (TV: The Girl Who Waited)
Weapon
Magnifying glass could amplify the heat from sun rays.
In one occasion, Donna Noble used the Doctor's glass this way against a giant wasp which went out the window. (TV: The Unicorn and the Wasp )
As a boy, Archibald Flint would sometimes amuse himself by burning ants with a magnifying glass. (AUDIO: The Spectre of Lanyon Moor)
Behind the scenes
Graeme Harper used magnifying glasses to achieve the effect of a distorted image of a main character, as a directorial "signature", p.e. in Army of Ghosts, The Unicorn and the Wasp, and Utopia.
