  We present a simple and effective instrument for simultaneous real-time
imaging and hysteresis of the anisotropic magnetic domain dynamics in thin
films using the Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE). We furthermore illustrate
that magnetic imaging allows a more accurate interpretation of the
magnetization reversal processes than the conventional hysteresis
characterization. In particular, we present a case where the onset of a
double-step reversal observed in imaging remains invisible in the spatially
integrated hysteresis loops. When complemented by precise tuning of the
external magnetic field orientation, our system reveals the singular
anisotropic variations of the domain dynamics near the hard-axis in epitaxial
thin films, thus shedding light on the reported, but as yet unexplained, hard
axis coercivity behavior.
