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'Scope headaches? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter SimonC
- Start date
Jane Turner
Well-known member
For long seawatches I have been known tape a piece of featureless grey card inside of a cereal packet to the scope so my left eye can sort of just drift. It means you dn't have nything in the way of your eye is you suddenly need bins.
Of course thes days I just poke the scope through the curtains and look at those with my left yet!
I used to suffer burn out... loss/reduction of colour vision in my right eye after prolonged use of a bright scope!
Of course thes days I just poke the scope through the curtains and look at those with my left yet!
I used to suffer burn out... loss/reduction of colour vision in my right eye after prolonged use of a bright scope!
Bill@dwp
Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
AndyAndyC said:
I find that many of the seats are too low for use with an angled scope. I supposed they were designed that way for straight scope users or am I too small at 5/8?. I often use the hides at Martin Mere so I know where I can sit and not, but new places can be a pain particularly if busy like at weekends when I have the most time to go.
I also agree that many shelves are to narrow as well, although I try to keep everything in my bag until I need it.
My biggest bug bear though is with windows. The number of times I've set the scope up then gone to open the window and the scope is in the way! Thinking about it thats the narrow shelf thing as well.
I suppose I shouldn't moan as its often nice to be somewhere were you have a window!
Bill
scampo said:
Being on the shorter side Steve, my neck muscles tend to suffer when I have to extend the tripod for the birds perched in the top of trees. I do believe the next scope I get, it will have the angled eyepiece cause I refuse to carry a stool around with me.
scampo
Steve Campsall
It seems from what others write that straight scopes are the most popular in your country, whereas the opposite is the case here.
Yet... I was recently in Norfolk (a top Eastern birding county in the UK) and was amazed at the number of straight scopes around - although they were older scopes. I think most new scopes sold here are angled. They're certainly easier on the neck and easier for a second person to have a view through the scope.
Yet... I was recently in Norfolk (a top Eastern birding county in the UK) and was amazed at the number of straight scopes around - although they were older scopes. I think most new scopes sold here are angled. They're certainly easier on the neck and easier for a second person to have a view through the scope.
Michael Frankis
conehead
Hi Steve,
I've got a straight-through - mixed feelings about which is better though. An angled would give less neck strain, but it is also more difficult to pin on a bird, and in wet weather, the eyepiece fills up with water, which doesn't happen with a straight through
Michael
I've got a straight-through - mixed feelings about which is better though. An angled would give less neck strain, but it is also more difficult to pin on a bird, and in wet weather, the eyepiece fills up with water, which doesn't happen with a straight through
Michael
scampo said:
My main concern was being able to spot the bird with the scope quickly and I just assumed it would be easier with a straight through eyepiece. Still not always easy though when the bird is a distance away and I take my eyes off the spot for a moment.
Dave B Smith
Well-known member
I was thinking the same KC, but ordered the angled as that one was in stock and I was going on a trip.
Anyway, what a blessing in disguise! I'm always sharing it with my wife (shorter) and usually friends and the angled makes this easy.
I was also pleasantly surprised how quick I can line up the bird. The angled doesn't slow this down a bit.
And yes, my neck is also thankful for the angled.
Anyway, what a blessing in disguise! I'm always sharing it with my wife (shorter) and usually friends and the angled makes this easy.
I was also pleasantly surprised how quick I can line up the bird. The angled doesn't slow this down a bit.
And yes, my neck is also thankful for the angled.
Jane Turner
Well-known member
I prefer straight through since if I'm taking a scope out with me, I'm most likely to have it on a shoulder pod.
scampo
Steve Campsall
That's a fact. And what a wonderful walk it is up there, too. I'd never seen a sheep jump over a wall until I saw it at Bird Rock. There must be an extra something in the Welsh grass.
To see a flock of choughs there is a sight to remember but they do wander around a fair bit. Add chats, wheatear, raven and various raptors though and for a day out with grey wagtail and dipper so close by it can hardly be beaten.
To see a flock of choughs there is a sight to remember but they do wander around a fair bit. Add chats, wheatear, raven and various raptors though and for a day out with grey wagtail and dipper so close by it can hardly be beaten.
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SimonC
Still listing - I'll capsize one day
Just to get this thread back on track
Thanks to everyone who's made suggestions for alternatives to the eye-patch idea (it would look a bit silly!) & especially thanks to those few who have reassured me that I'm not the only weirdo that gets headaches from 'scoping (worried I might have a brain tumour for a while there )
Reading some of the suggestions got me thinking & last night I experimented with a few different ideas. I can't beleive I didn't think of this one sooner (o)< I have a "stay-on" case on my 'scope (Opticron HR66) and my solution is simple! Normally when the 'scope is in use, I would attach the eyepiece cover (the big sock like bit) to the popper on the side of the case, but last night I wondered whether I could attach it to the popper on the top (where it would be in the "stowed" position) and have it sticking out at 90º to the 'scope. Waddya know! it works! Cuts out just enough of the vision from my right eye to allow me to comfortably use the 'scope! (not tried it in daylight yet, but I'm sure it'll be OK! - It's a start anyway)
Cheers
Simon
Thanks to everyone who's made suggestions for alternatives to the eye-patch idea (it would look a bit silly!) & especially thanks to those few who have reassured me that I'm not the only weirdo that gets headaches from 'scoping (worried I might have a brain tumour for a while there
)Reading some of the suggestions got me thinking & last night I experimented with a few different ideas. I can't beleive I didn't think of this one sooner (o)< I have a "stay-on" case on my 'scope (Opticron HR66) and my solution is simple! Normally when the 'scope is in use, I would attach the eyepiece cover (the big sock like bit) to the popper on the side of the case, but last night I wondered whether I could attach it to the popper on the top (where it would be in the "stowed" position) and have it sticking out at 90º to the 'scope. Waddya know! it works! Cuts out just enough of the vision from my right eye to allow me to comfortably use the 'scope! (not tried it in daylight yet, but I'm sure it'll be OK! - It's a start anyway)
Cheers
Simon
scampo
Steve Campsall
I think with practice it's possible to look through a scope with both eyes open; indeed, I've seen that as the recommended way. Plenty of birders seem to do this. Myself I find it's easy with my right eye only. My youngest son, Matt, always looks through his scope this way.
Geoff Brown
Well-known member
I've had a straight and now have an angled 'scope. Being tall I find the angled is more comfortable to use as I'm slightly bending and not almost crouching as I was with the straight model. Also tripod is not as high and therefore steadier. I find that I am still able to line up the birds fairly quickly even with the angled model. :bounce:
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