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Binocular Lessons (1 Viewer)

A

ailevin

Well-known member
United States
My friends who had been on Safari in Africa returned and we recently had dinner. They thanked me for the loan of a Celestron Nature DX 8x32 and a Canon 10x30 IS, and they both commented on how much more they enjoyed using the binoculars because of the "tips" I had given them. The RYO harness for the Canon 10x30 was also very popular.

Anyway, I asked them what they meant about tips. They mentioned how the eye cups were to be raised or lowered according to whether you were wearing glasses, getting the correct IPD, how to set diopter, and especially, focusing the binocular with a very relaxed gaze.

Then a few days later I gave the 8x32 Celestron to my brother for a trip to Bozeman, MT. As I went through these same steps, I was surprised that it was such a revelation to him as well. All three of these folks owned and/or had used binoculars before, but not one of them had ever been given even the simplest instruction on how to use a binocular effectively.

Alan
 
Alan

This is probably quite common with internet-buying so popular. If you take a look at the interviews with retailers you will see that a significant part of their service and job satisfaction is in coaching customers about topics such as you mention.

I too have met folks who had no idea eyecups should be adjusted to suit spectacles or no spectacles and have an uncle who had never noticed the dioptre adjustment on this binos.........

Lee
 
Hello Lee and Alan,

I think Bill Cook has pointed out the same essentials, as he has met folks who were not aware of the proper way to use binoculars. I had a coworker, a bird watcher, who took a look through my binocular and complained of the view. I was surprised but I noticed she did not wear specs, as I do. I pulled up the cups and she wanted to borrow the binocular. Unlike Alan, I do not lend binoculars to anyone, unless I am accompanying him on a bird walk.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur
 
Pinewood said:
Hello Lee and Alan,

I think Bill Cook has pointed out the same essentials, as he has met folks who were not aware of the proper way to use binoculars. I had a coworker, a bird watcher, who took a look through my binocular and complained of the view. I was surprised but I noticed she did not wear specs, as I do. I pulled up the cups and she wanted to borrow the binocular. Unlike Alan, I do not lend binoculars to anyone, unless I am accompanying him on a bird walk.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur
Click to expand...

I had the same experience on the bird watching platform at Cape May a few years ago. A gentleman next to me was using a Canon 10x42 IS and he loved it! (I later got to compare it with my 10x32 EDG.) His wife did not like it. I noticed that she was wearing glasses and he wasn't. After I showed both of them the reason why the eye cups screwed in and out she became a happy camper!

As for me, with my elbows braced on the railing and the IS off, I came to the conclusion that their respective sharpness was equal but when I put the IS on and used them free hand it was no contest! The Canon won hands down!

Bob
 
Pinewood said:
Unlike Alan, I do not lend binoculars to anyone, unless I am accompanying him on a bird walk.
Click to expand...

That reminds me of a photograph of (I think) Edward Weston's study. On the bookcase was a note, "I do not lend books to friends. I don't want to lose my books or my friends".

John
 
Troubador said:
Alan

This is probably quite common with internet-buying so popular. If you take a look at the interviews with retailers you will see that a significant part of their service and job satisfaction is in coaching customers about topics such as you mention.

I too have met folks who had no idea eyecups should be adjusted to suit spectacles or no spectacles and have an uncle who had never noticed the dioptre adjustment on this binos.........

Lee
Click to expand...

A lot of U.S. big box sporting goods sales experience for binoculars is: "you go to the display wall and select which binocular looks best in its blister pack - then take it to the front register for checkout (which is usually the only place staff can be found and they usually know little beyond how to operate the register)."

I know... sad but true!!!

CG
 
Last edited:
cycleguy said:
A lot of U.S. big box sporting goods sales experience for binoculars is: "you go to the display wall and select which binocular looks best in its blister pack - then take it to the front register (which is usually the only place staff can be found) for checkout."

I know... sad but true!!!

CG
Click to expand...

Indeed this is why former Zeiss Sports Optics USA boss Mike Jensen opted for transparent plastic boxes for Terra ED models rather than the usual card cartons. Appearance is all, demonstrations unheard of.

Lee
 
Lee,
No, actual experience.

Because they are used to getting the best out of their often not great telescopes, astronomers seem to understand optics and their eyes.

But others when being handed binoculars just look through them, using the centre focus.
They don't touch the eyecups, or try to alter IPD or anything.
They don't even say anything.
So I invariably talk them through the adjustments.

I am not sure most people query their spectacles so long as the view is reasonable.

As to drivers round here.
A lady of about 90 drove round the corner here a full yard onto the pavement. She was looking below the rim of the steering wheel. Luckily I managed to get out of the way in time.
Similar to the old lady driver in 'Ferris Bueller's day off'.
Until recently, even the police could not do eye tests on people who clearly could not see.

I suppose if people read the instructions included with binoculars they would know.
But who reads instructions?

Perhaps school children should be taught how to use binoculars.
They certainly can use digital devices when they are four years old, which I can't.
 
Tringa45 said:
That reminds me of a photograph of (I think) Edward Weston's study. On the bookcase was a note, "I do not lend books to friends. I don't want to lose my books or my friends".

John
Click to expand...

Hello John,

I lend neither my binocular, nor my toothbrush nor my wife.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur
 
Tringa45 said:
Hello Arthur,

As a New Yorker you may be unaware of the Cockney slang for the last of those - "trouble and strife"...........;)

John
Click to expand...

Hello John,

That much rhyming slang is known on this side of the pond.

Hello Fazalmajid,

When my fountain pen is as valuable as my binocular, I won't lend that either.
I have far more fountain pens than binoculars but hardly anyone wants to write with one now.

I have been informed that in writing a good one-liner, the rule of three is preferred.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :hi:
 
Instructing others on how to use binoculars, how to adjust eyecups, not lending fountain pens, toothbrushes, or wives... I'm having a ball with this thread... why do I get the feeling we all remember the same songs?
 
For the record:
  • I do not gift, lend, or borrow wives; former wives is a more complex topic
  • I do gift, lend, and borrow books
  • I do gift and lend binoculars, eyepieces, and telescopes
  • I gift but do not lend fountain pens
In general, I do not lend anything that I wouldn't be willing to gift. My willingness to gift/loan depends on the recipient as well as my need for, or attachment to what I am giving/loaning.

Alan
 
Binastro said:
Lee,
No, actual experience.

Because they are used to getting the best out of their often not great telescopes, astronomers seem to understand optics and their eyes.

But others when being handed binoculars just look through them, using the centre focus.
They don't touch the eyecups, or try to alter IPD or anything.
They don't even say anything.
So I invariably talk them through the adjustments.
Click to expand...

OK. I thought you were poking fun at astronomers when you said they understand IPD adjustments because the complexities of a bino hinge don't seem very challenging.

Lee
 
Lee,
To clarify.
When handed a Canon 18x50 IS binocular in the dark, it is very difficult, even for a very experienced observer, to adjust the IPD if one doesn't know how it works.
The rear end is pulled or pushed and it is stiff to operate.

Even in daylight, those who don't know may find it a real puzzle.
 
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