christophe17
Member
Okay, so I just recieved the Elite Custom 7x26 for Xmas. I bought them online without trying , for these are quite uncommon here in France as retail. The first thing that struck me where how bright they are. Then I noticed some unpleasant eye-rolling effect, but I found I can deal with it. But what really disturbed me were some quick black-outs on each eyes, even with the IPD correctly set and the eyecups twisted up. I never had this problem with my old 10x42 monarch, neither with the 10x50 BOL custom I use for stargazing, and not even with my tiny Nikon Travelite 7x20. I got quite upset and was about to send them back, and add some cash to get a Monarch 7 8x30 instead.
Then I thought about how long I had been wanting these compact bins, and how good their overall quality was, and I decided to find a solution and keep them. Obviously, the distance between the top of the eyecups and the lens wasn't enough for me, even eyecups up. In other words, there's too much eye relief ! So I started customizing the Customs : I managed to add another eyecup on top of the stock ones to rise this distance a bit.
Rummaging in my drawers I found some spare eyecups for microscopes, in 33-34 mm diameter, one pair being thick and slightly winged, the other pair thinner and with larger wings. After some trials, I choose the latter, which are similar to the ones found online under the brand Baader ( see pics ).
As the outer diameter of the stock eyecups is 32 mm, there was some play when I added the winged ones around, and they added only 1 mm in height which wasn't enough. I remembered an old cyclist saying that goes " there's nothing an honest man cannot do with some old inner tube ". I cut two rings of an inner tube about 30 mm in diameter, and just a bit larger than the height of the raised eyecups. I fit them around the eyecups ( see pics ), then added the second winged eyecup around on top. It hit four birds with one stone : the bottom of the inner tube ring prevents the eyecup from twisting down, it wraps around the base and prevents the dust from getting into the eyecup mecanism, it tightens the winged cup around the stock one, and being a bit taller it gives me the extra height I need.
Result of my customizing the customs: higher eyecup so no more blackouts, and perfect sealing from side light. The only drawback is I have to fold the wings in order to put the bins back into their pouch. BTW I already had added some DIY leather wings to the eyecups of my BOL 10x50 (see pic ), with a very satisfying result : leather is softer than rubber on one's face ( although some people seem to be rubber lovers, but that's another story).
Please note another customization on the pics: I replaced the flimsy lanyard and its tiny metal rings by a good'old vintage Minolta camera laynnard with triangular clips. It feels a lot safer !
Voilà. Now I can truly enjoy these amazing bins. I just wanted to share this in case it might help somebody else. BTW, happy new year and may your days be multicoated.
Then I thought about how long I had been wanting these compact bins, and how good their overall quality was, and I decided to find a solution and keep them. Obviously, the distance between the top of the eyecups and the lens wasn't enough for me, even eyecups up. In other words, there's too much eye relief ! So I started customizing the Customs : I managed to add another eyecup on top of the stock ones to rise this distance a bit.
Rummaging in my drawers I found some spare eyecups for microscopes, in 33-34 mm diameter, one pair being thick and slightly winged, the other pair thinner and with larger wings. After some trials, I choose the latter, which are similar to the ones found online under the brand Baader ( see pics ).
As the outer diameter of the stock eyecups is 32 mm, there was some play when I added the winged ones around, and they added only 1 mm in height which wasn't enough. I remembered an old cyclist saying that goes " there's nothing an honest man cannot do with some old inner tube ". I cut two rings of an inner tube about 30 mm in diameter, and just a bit larger than the height of the raised eyecups. I fit them around the eyecups ( see pics ), then added the second winged eyecup around on top. It hit four birds with one stone : the bottom of the inner tube ring prevents the eyecup from twisting down, it wraps around the base and prevents the dust from getting into the eyecup mecanism, it tightens the winged cup around the stock one, and being a bit taller it gives me the extra height I need.
Result of my customizing the customs: higher eyecup so no more blackouts, and perfect sealing from side light. The only drawback is I have to fold the wings in order to put the bins back into their pouch. BTW I already had added some DIY leather wings to the eyecups of my BOL 10x50 (see pic ), with a very satisfying result : leather is softer than rubber on one's face ( although some people seem to be rubber lovers, but that's another story).
Please note another customization on the pics: I replaced the flimsy lanyard and its tiny metal rings by a good'old vintage Minolta camera laynnard with triangular clips. It feels a lot safer !
Voilà. Now I can truly enjoy these amazing bins. I just wanted to share this in case it might help somebody else. BTW, happy new year and may your days be multicoated.
