Fast focus?

[MacGee]

I see binoculars on eBay advertised as having 'fast' or 'rapid' or 'Insta' focus. What is this? Is it a reason not to buy, or does it not make any difference?

Michael.

[dipped]

I see binoculars on eBay advertised as having 'fast' or 'rapid' or 'Insta' focus. What is this? Is it a reason not to buy, or does it not make any difference?

Michael.

Hi

Avoid Instafocus as you need both hands to focus the bins. Instead of a wheel you have butterfly wings and need to push either left or right to focus. It's too fast and too fiddly. As long as there is a focussing wheel/knob which you can see in the picture you should be okay as long as there is a returns policy on the ebay seller. Ideally try before you buy.

[ensis]

The Insta-focus feature was one of the things I liked most of my 7x35 Bushnell Porro binoculars, precisely because it was super fast.

[MacGee]

One for, one against. My own prejudice is against, partly because some of the ones I've seen look ugly and partly because they represent an unnecessary complication. But, never having tried them, it is just a prejudice.

Michael.

[nctexasbirder]

ok my first birding binocs i bought were Bushnell 10x50 Powerviews with InstaFocus(VERY BAD MISTAKE I PAID FOR) and i can say the instafocus is pompous as you cannot focus it very precisely AT ALL only coarsly...dont buy them! only buy a binoc that has a central focusing wheel, nothing else.
the Nikon Monarchs have a focus wheel that is good and fast....i tried it at the store..you might want to try those.

[Essex Tern]

I had 7x50 powerviews - they had the focus rocker and seemed to work very well - I thought it was a brilliant idea. Only reason I stopped using them was that I spent a bit more money and purchased some Conquest 8x30's as a replacement.

Prior to getting a scope, I also got some 20x50's (they were cheap), and although not as pleasing to use, the focusing was usable.

I reckon at lower mags it is easier to use.

[NWBirder]

If the insta focus refers their 7x50 Perma-focus line, I would suggest to avoid them for birding purpose. Perma focus is great for sports (like watching basket ball game) since no focus is required. But they design the optics so there is a deep depth of focus from 30 feet to infinite. A consequence of deep DOF is the lack of contrast and sharpness. It is almost useless for birders who want to see some minute features of birds at distance..

[KorHaan]

My wife has Splend 7x35 Quick Focus porro ( butterfly wings instead of wheel ) and at a time I thought these worked quite well. It's still a nice pair of bins, but when I'm using them today I find it hard to find the right sharpness, I just notice I over-focus every time I try to follow a flying bird; focus back on the bird and it's already further away and you need to refocus, etcetera, so in the end quick focus means no focus at all.
Try to find a pair of bins with a nice and smoooth focus WHEEL, is my advice.

Greetings, Ronald

Zeiss FL 7x42

Last Lifer: Red-Flanked Bluetail