Diopter adjustment

[Lewie]

Does anyone have trouble with diopter adjustments? When I make the, adjustments, it seems as though I am always changing it when I refocus at a different distance. Also, there never seems to be any difference in clearness between slightly outside the "+" to sightly outside the "-". I gave up some time ago and left the adjustment at neutral.

The above is true of all my binos, not just one pair.

Maybe it is because I wear bifocals, but I feel I have never had my bifocals "kick in" when using my binos.

[Tero]

I had the most trouble with the dimmest 10x, the brighter ones, even 10X are OK. At 8x much less trouble. I may adjust it once or twice a day.

It all depends on how different your two eyes are.

[matt green]

How do you actually adjust the diopter?

Everyone say's look through the right barrel while closing your left eye,then adjust the diopter with your left eye while closing your right eye...and hey presto,your bins ''should'' be perfectly set.

Did I get that right,it's late..

Anyway,I just look through the bins with both eyes while adjusting the diopter
takes a bit of tweeking but you get there in the end!

Have had some success focusing on stars to get an accurate diopter setting,
maybe give that a try.

Matt

[ceasar]

It depends on which side the diopter is located. All of the bins I've seen have the diopter on your right eye side. So, assuming that is the case, shut your right eye and look at something with your left eye (I like to pick a small object 50 feet or so distant) and, using the central focus knob, focus on that object until it is as sharp as you can get it. Now, take your fingers off the central focus knob, open your right eye, shut your left eye and, using your diopter, focus on the same object until it is as sharp as you can get it in your right eye. Now take your finger off the diopter knob. (Hopefully you will never touch it again if you can help it). Now open both eyes and look at the object you were focusing on. It should be perfect, or at worst need a very slight tweak of the central focus knob to give you a perfect view. If this doesn't work mutter curses and imprecations and start over, making sure the central focus knob and the diopter knob are in their central, neutral positions when you start the procedure.

Most diopter knobs, in my experience, don't lock so you will do this rather often. The only one I rarely have to adjust is on my Leica 7 x 42 Trinovids.

Bob

[Tero]

However, Lewies statement
..it seems as though I am always changing it when I refocus at a different distance.
is quite true, he was wondering that he has to do it so much. And the optics do affect that. I think 10x25 and 10x32 may be worse in that respect, but I do have 10x25 porros that are no worse than 10x36 Sporters.

[FrankD]

I am not sure if it makes much difference but it seems I always see folks recommending that you just cover the objective of one side while attempting to focus the other. I believe it has something to do with not squinting the open eye while trying to focus with it. I could be wrong though.

On the other hand, I have had much the same experience in terms of not being able to get that "sweet spot" in terms of diopter adjustment. Personally I am starting to believe that it is because the binoculars are showing me that I have some deficiency in one of my eyes. I also have somewhat of a theory that my particular issue with this is also related to edge distortion and the amount of it. More on that as I have more time to experiment. However, like Bob, I haven't had to tinker with the diopter on my 7x42 Trinovids or my 8x42 LXs if that gives you a clue with where I am going with this.

[Lewie]

I appreciate the input. I thought it was just me. I also appreciate the hints.

Thanks again.

Lew

[edge1255]

It's quite important not to close one eye when adjusting the other side of the binos. Closing one eye puts a pressure on the eyeball which takes some time to normalise. Just put a lens cap on the side that is not being adjusted and keep both eyes open. I've got an imbalance in my eyes and this is the only way I can adjust my binos with any consistency. |8.|

[Otto McDiesel]

Just put a lens cap on the side that is not being adjusted and keep both eyes open. |

I tried that, too, and then i just give up and left it at neutral.

[Tero]

If the setting varies a lot for a user, you can set it at one point for distance, make a note, then at another setting for close up. Then, put the adjustment half way between those. For most people this will work, so that you don't have to adjust it all day. especially with bright binoculars and a sunny day.

I find that on cloudy days looking at ducks I have to have it set for the longer distance.

[richard866945]

I've just read`all the replies and I'm puzzled. The dioptre adjustment should not change with the focus distance. I've repaired many binos where one side drags behind the other when focusing but this is usually on cheaper models or when an obvious "fault" is present. If you only had one bino, I would recommend it is fixed by a technician but you say it is the same with all the binos you use which suggests a bi-focal spectacle "problem". I just wished you lived near my workshop ,cos I would like to discover the answer.

[Tero]

No, I have tested it. Pretty much all binos, varies with distance. I can't explain the optics, it is just what it is. It may be to do with the eyes, they may be similar for reading and different for distance.

[matt green]

I've just read`all the replies and I'm puzzled. The dioptre adjustment should not change with the focus distance. I've repaired many binos where one side drags behind the other when focusing but this is usually on cheaper models or when an obvious "fault" is present. If you only had one bino, I would recommend it is fixed by a technician but you say it is the same with all the binos you use which suggests a bi-focal spectacle "problem". I just wished you lived near my workshop ,cos I would like to discover the answer.

A bino repair man err :t:

You can probably look forward to plenty of pm's from folk with 'poorly porros'
and 'raddled roofs' from the forum!

Matt

[richard866945]

Always happy to help but sold my big house and small boat and bought a small house and a big boat so intend to get out on the water more. My workshop is almost too busy as lots of work to do on 'new' s/h boat before the start of the season next year.