Bfull binoculars - wet behind the ears! (1 Viewer)

Hello everyone!

I wonder if anyone can help me to solve an irritating little problem I have.
I have just received a pair of Bfull binoculars 12 x 50.

The eye caps do not fold back, (for glasses wearers) even though instructions state they do. They're stiff and they won't fold, so that's the first issue. It's no big deal; even though I wear varifocals, I am able to adjust the focus perfectly well for my eyesight...

However, The second issue is that when I use them, there seems to be a crescent shadow that appears, at random, in both eye pieces, which obscures the image. it shifts and sometimes becomes completely circular, as if I'm looking down a tunnel...

I'm not describing it very well, but I am hoping someone recognises the problem, and can help me remedy it?
It seems to disappear if I hold the binoculars away from me a millimetre or so, and don't touch the eye pieces to my face, but that's hardly ideal...
Can anyone add something?

ETA: I noticed just now that if I try to focus on and look at the fogged zone, it disappears... so is it my eyes, or is it a refractional problem with the lens...?Am I talking nonsense?
Very probably!!

Firstly, what are Bfull binoculars? Your 'shadow' problem sounds like 'kidney-beaning' caused by eye relief issues, unless I'm much mistaken, which I could be. There are plenty of optics experts here to help if so.

RB

Rotherbirder said:

Firstly, what are Bfull binoculars? Your 'shadow' problem sounds like 'kidney-beaning' caused by eye relief issues, unless I'm much mistaken, which I could be. There are plenty of optics experts here to help if so.

RB

Click to expand...

They are a budget standard porro prism. Agree that it is most probably eye relief, positioning and placement blackouts.

Hi,

first of all, welcome to BF!

Regarding the bins - agreed, this sounds like kidney beaning caused by not long enough eyecups... Too bad they don't fold for proper use with glasses and are too short w/o...
Either use some piece of tube of the correct diameter as extensions or some bicycle inner tube.

That is, if they don't have other problems which would warrant a return - how is the view?

Joachim

It is an annoyance but have you tried using them without wearing your spectacles to see if the blackouts reduce or go away? Rest assured this is a fairly common problem, moreso when the binoculars are a gift rather than chosen by use for suitability. Persevere and you could find a happy compromise.

"Kidney Beaning" was a problem I experienced when I used my Nikon 8x32 SE Porro Prism binocular. I overcame it by tilting the eye cups of the binocular slightly up against and just under my eye brows when I used it.

It was named the MOLCET technique by Brock; which was an abbreviation of "MooreorlessCeasarseyebrowtechnique" named by Brock after Steve Moore and yours truly who held our binoculars in the above described manner.

I have used this same "tilt" technique while wearing my glasses and it worked but I made sure the glasses fit my nose and face firmly.

Bob

PS: I had my Nikon 8x32 SE out for an hour or so this morning after ignoring it for a couple of years. I had forgotten how really good it is! I used it for 15 minutes watching a Red-tailed Hawk circle overhead!o

Hi Bob, Ha!Ha! I a have not seen that MOLCET technique posted on here for quite some time. Bob I had my 8x32 SE out the other day and I agree with you about how really good these are!! I have Brock's email address and did contact him quite some time ago.

Steve and Bob, you are both famous all over the world.

Pat yourselves on the back, and take a bow when nobody is watching.

The technique does work.

Jerry

Jerry thanks for the laugh! We really can not take everything serious for sure. I agree the simple technique does work. Thanks for your help in the past and of course anyone else on this great site that has helped me and others!!

NDhunter said:

Steve and Bob, you are both famous all over the world.

Pat yourselves on the back, and take a bow when nobody is watching.

The technique does work.

Jerry

Click to expand...

Much obliged, Jerry!:t: Much obliged!

Bob

Prolonged absence

Hello everyone,
I am so sorry to be so late in replying; I have suffered some health issues, which fortunately were (a) nothing to do with the current Coronavirus crisis and (b) remediable, but here I am again.

Thank you all so much for your responses.
Indeed, @Rotherbirder, Bfull is a brand name of a fairly standard pair of binoculars, which I believe originate from China, as far as I can tell... Put it this way, the English instructions are quite charming and slightly 'awkward' to read...!

I am very grateful to you all for succeeding in diagnosing the issue form my rather fumbling description, but am comforted by the fact that it does seem to be fairly common and understood;
Therefore, thank you so much to 'Steve & Bob' for not only a diagnosis but also the remedy!
I have tried as you suggested, in using the Binoculars without my glasses (focal adjustment is fine, no problem there) and angling the bins as suggested, using the MOLCET system, which I am delighted to report, works like a charm!

I have used the binoculars both during the day, to bird-gaze (I wouldn't call myself a watcher, or twitcher, just yet!) and at night, to gaze at the planets, stars and the moon... The magnification suits me fine, again, I'm an enthusiastic hobbyist, not a wannabe specialist!

You have all been wonderful charming and informative and I am very grateful to you all for your invaluable help and contributions.
I shall keep my eye on the forum and learn, avidly from you all.
FYI, I am 63 going on 10... and disabled, so walking for long distances is a challenge for me, although wearing my caliper makes things mildly easier... so I don't venture far from home, but very much enjoy the outdoor life.
I shall see a great deal more through your eyes, with much pleasure.

Thank you all again for your help. :t:

(PS: Not sure how to nominate people to highlight their names and bring attention to the fact I have responded to their comment, but maybe someone can enlighten me on that process....

TaraMaiden, I think you will find that people on this site are very happy to help in any way possible, and a simple thank you is good enough. I am very sorry that you are disabled! I am 68 and get around ok, just can not hear very well and do not remember stuff like I used to.The hearing problem is related to M109 Howitzer 155mm training and 8" big booms etc. Hearing aids help, but not the ringing in the ears. So I do not hear birds much at all.

mooreorless said:

TaraMaiden, I think you will find that people on this site are very happy to help in any way possible, and a simple thank you is good enough.

Click to expand...

A 'Bread and Butter' letter was never a bad thing!

I am very sorry that you are disabled! I am 68 and get around ok, just can not hear very well and do not remember stuff like I used to.

Click to expand...

My disability is nothing when compared to some very real and debilitating challenges faced by others, so although I do occasionally resent my lack of movement ability, I know that at least I'm upright, breathing and above ground, and I count my blessings...

The hearing problem is related to M109 Howitzer 155mm training and 8" big booms etc. Hearing aids help, but not the ringing in the ears. So I do not hear birds much at all.

Click to expand...

How strange... I also have a progressive hearing problem, and although my hearing isn't too bad, I too have an associated tinnitus problem, the characteristic of which, is that it sounds exactly like birdsong! In fact my hearing specialist once asked me if I could describe it, I replied that it was like the Regent's Park Zoo aviary, at dawn, one Spring morning! It can be barely intrusive one day, and a veritable cacophony the next...! If I am lucky enough to hear real birdsong, I have to block my ears to double-check whether it's external, or internal!

Ah, the human body is a fascinating mechanism!