eitanaltman
Well-known member
My wife has an extremely narrow IPD (~54mm I would estimate) and most binoculars are unusable for her. In my experience it can be variable depending on the model and the minimum IPD spec is not always 100% reliable.
Leica Ultravids seem to be one of the best model lines overall for narrow faces. My wife now has an 8x32 UVHD and it accommodates her IPD with room to spare, which is a first! The 32mm UV has a minimum IPD spec of 52mm, Allbinos measured it at 52.8mm. I just crudely measured with a ruler and the distance between the middle of the eye lenses does appear to be between 52-53mm.
Even the Ultravid 42mm models seem to be nearly as narrow -- they are spec'd at 55mm, and Allbinos measured the HD and HD+ models to be slightly narrower (54.4 and 54.2 mm).
As others have noted Zeiss FL seem to be on the narrow side as well. So if shopping in alpha price territory, those seem to be the two lines to target.
Interestingly, my wife also was able to use my Meopta Meostar 8x32 without issue. Even though it has a much wider minimum IPD spec (58mm, Allbinos measured at 57.1mm). However I just measured mine and it does appear closer to 55mm. Who knows.
However the Nikon Monarch 7 8x30, which I tried for her because of the 55mm min spec, was always problematic. But it could work if you have a few mm extra vs her very small IPD. I would assume the same for the similar clones like Maven 8x30. That would be a good target at a more moderate budget, the 42mm Monarch 7 models also appear to have a 55mm minimum.
A dark horse on a more limited budget is the Sightron 8x32 SII "Blue Sky" (as well as the Pentax 9x32 clone). It has slender barrels and an open bridge, and the min IPD is around 54mm. My wife is able to use them, and they are a great value in the ~$200 range.
Leica Ultravids seem to be one of the best model lines overall for narrow faces. My wife now has an 8x32 UVHD and it accommodates her IPD with room to spare, which is a first! The 32mm UV has a minimum IPD spec of 52mm, Allbinos measured it at 52.8mm. I just crudely measured with a ruler and the distance between the middle of the eye lenses does appear to be between 52-53mm.
Even the Ultravid 42mm models seem to be nearly as narrow -- they are spec'd at 55mm, and Allbinos measured the HD and HD+ models to be slightly narrower (54.4 and 54.2 mm).
As others have noted Zeiss FL seem to be on the narrow side as well. So if shopping in alpha price territory, those seem to be the two lines to target.
Interestingly, my wife also was able to use my Meopta Meostar 8x32 without issue. Even though it has a much wider minimum IPD spec (58mm, Allbinos measured at 57.1mm). However I just measured mine and it does appear closer to 55mm. Who knows.
However the Nikon Monarch 7 8x30, which I tried for her because of the 55mm min spec, was always problematic. But it could work if you have a few mm extra vs her very small IPD. I would assume the same for the similar clones like Maven 8x30. That would be a good target at a more moderate budget, the 42mm Monarch 7 models also appear to have a 55mm minimum.
A dark horse on a more limited budget is the Sightron 8x32 SII "Blue Sky" (as well as the Pentax 9x32 clone). It has slender barrels and an open bridge, and the min IPD is around 54mm. My wife is able to use them, and they are a great value in the ~$200 range.
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