Accessory I haven't seen before (1 Viewer)

[Mono]

Was out at a reserve today and someone had a doodah attached to their binoculars I don't think I have seen before.

It was a panel of black fabric with some form of stiffening, about the size and shape of a shoe soul. It had two holes that fitted over the eyecups of the binoculars. It looked shop brought not homemade.

In use when they brought their binoculars up to their eyes it acted as a shield shadowing the face around the eyes.

Not sure the possible utility outweighs the encumbrance of having such a thing attached to one's bins.

 

[Harry Stottle]

Was it this:

Alpine Bino Bandit The Birders Store

The Alpine Bino Bandit has been designed to improve visual accuracy while using your binoculars and reduce eye strain by blocking glare and ambient light which gives better clarity while using your binoculars.

www.birders-store.co.uk

 

[Hermann]

Was out at a reserve today and someone had a doodah attached to their binoculars I don't think I have seen before.

It was a panel of black fabric with some form of stiffening, about the size and shape of a shoe soul. It had two holes that fitted over the eyecups of the binoculars. It looked shop brought not homemade.

In use when they brought their binoculars up to their eyes it acted as a shield shadowing the face around the eyes.

Not sure the possible utility outweighs the encumbrance of having such a thing attached to one's bins.

These thingies are sold under the name "Bino Bandit". Work well to keep out light, especially from the side. Easy and quick to attach and detach. Next to no weight.

I just got two after some wait, there's no distributor over here. I still have to make up my mind about them, however, so far I quite like them.

Hermann

 

[Harry Stottle]

There is also this for scopes:

Alpine Spot Bandit The Birders Store

The Alpine Spot Bandit is designed to fit all sizes and styles of spotting scope. It has been designed to improve visual accuracy while using your spotting scope and reduce eye strain by blocking glare and ambient light which gives better clarity while using your spotting scope.

www.birders-store.co.uk

 

[dantheman]

A loofah would be worse.

 

[Lerxst]

This is a great idea for those of us with visual disabilities. I'll have to get one. I have always had to use flared eyecups in order to reduce glare from the side; otherwise I'll see almost nothing if there is a lot of ambient light.

A similar solution for the camera would be even more welcome. I often have to use a piece of dark, opaque cloth draped over the back of my camera and my head, so that I look like an old-fashioned photographer. Otherwise I might as well simply guess where to point it.

 

[John A Roberts]

Two images by Steve Moore on an SLC 8x30:


With some cropping and adjustment, from: Alpine Bino Slicker Bandit Glare Blocker

The Bino Bandit is discussed with some regularity on Cloudy Nights, though less so here on BF.
And it seems to be one of those things that some love, but most can get by without.
Besides the added bulk, under some conditions it can result in fogging of the eyepiece lenses.


John

 

[has530]

I use them for binoculars with eyecups that I can't use when up like the Canon 15x50 so I can block stray light without the eyecups.

 

[Ignatius]

Another happy Bino Bandit user here. I usually have them on my Conquest HD 10x56 to keep stray light out when I am not in a dark place.

 

[Boogieshrew]

Could it be rigged somehow to be used on a scope eyepiece to provide darkness for the eye that's not in use so it can remain open?

 

[Hermann]

Could it be rigged somehow to be used on a scope eyepiece to provide darkness for the eye that's not in use so it can remain open?

Use an eyepatch. Simplest solution.

Hermann

 

[Mono]

Thanks for the responses. That is the thing, not seen one before.

 

[4 The Birds1]

Could it be rigged somehow to be used on a scope eyepiece to provide darkness for the eye that's not in use so it can remain open?

I have been wondering about that too. I don't find an eye patch convenient with glasses and would much prefer something that's attached to the scope.
I had 3 areas of concern which stopped me from ordering one to date:
Is the bino bandit stiff enough not to collapse or flap in the wind when attached only on one side /to one ocular.
The other question is the range of ocular size it can accommodate?
And third: is it useable with glasses?
Maybe one of the the existing users could comment?
Thanks in anticipation! Achim

 

[Hermann]

I have been wondering about that too. I don't find an eye patch convenient with glasses and would much prefer something that's attached to the scope.

You're right. With glasses an eye patch isn't ideal. I seem to remember Kimmo (Kabsetz) posted something about a sort of shield that can be attached to the scope or eyepiece. I'll try to find that post later tonight.

I had 3 areas of concern which stopped me from ordering one to date:
Is the bino bandit stiff enough not to collapse or flap in the wind when attached only on one side /to one ocular.

Probably not. I'll give it a try later though.

The other question is the range of ocular size it can accommodate?

~45-46 mm should work no problem. I can get it over the huge eyepieces of the APM 6.5x32 (~50mm), but that's stretching things a bit. [pun intended]

And third: is it useable with glasses?

Yes, definitely. In fact, I think it's especially eyeglass wearers that will profit from the Bino Bandit because they tend to get a lot more reflexes, especially from the side.

Hermann

 

[albie...]

Yes, definitely. In fact, I think it's especially eyeglass wearers that will profit from the Bino Bandit because they tend to get a lot more reflexes, especially from the side.

Hermann

I've been wondering if a bino bandit works okay with eyeglasses . You say that you think eyeglass wearers will profit from Bino Bandit , have you tried one with glasses ? What do you mean they tend to get more reflexes ?

 

[Hermann]

I've been wondering if a bino bandit works okay with eyeglasses . You say that you think eyeglass wearers will profit from Bino Bandit , have you tried one with glasses ? What do you mean they tend to get more reflexes ?

Sorry, what I meant is that eyeglass wearers tend to get more reflexes because the eyecups are down. With the Bino Bandit these reflexes (e.g. sidelight hitting the glasses) are cut out. I wear glasses myself, and with some binoculars (e.g. the Canon 8x20 IS or the Swaroski 10x30 CL) this makes quite a difference. In fact, I could kick myself that I didn't look at the Bino Bandit earlier.

Hermann

 

[Andrew Rowlands]

For the purposes of this discussion, 'reflexes' = 'reflections'.

 

[Hermann]

For the purposes of this discussion, 'reflexes' = 'reflections'.

Thanks. Just proves I shouldn't post when I've got a migraine ...

Hermann

 

[mwhogue]

Sorry, what I meant is that eyeglass wearers tend to get more reflexes because the eyecups are down. With the Bino Bandit these reflexes (e.g. sidelight hitting the glasses) are cut out. I wear glasses myself, and with some binoculars (e.g. the Canon 8x20 IS or the Swaroski 10x30 CL) this makes quite a difference. In fact, I could kick myself that I didn't look at the Bino Bandit earlier.

Hermann

No problem for me either using the BINO Bandit with glasses. Designed to be able to fold it down out of the way without removing it when you don't need to use. Can also be folded up into position on one side only when the light or wind is coming mostly from one direction which helps avoid fogging.

It may seem strange but I have even experimented using them on the Zeiss VP 8x25 and it occurred to me doing so might help people who have problems with having to "float" certain bins.

No affiliation, just a satisfied customer. YMMV.

Mike

 

[Boogieshrew]

Alpine Bino Bandit XL The Birders Store

There's an XL version for glasses wearers