I was out yesterday with my new to me Zeiss 7x42 Classics and was looking at an eagle on the other side of a wide river who was rummaging about on a gravel bar. Focusing, I noted that things were rather blurry. I looked at the diopter setting and saw that they were in their usual place. Cranking on some positive turn, things sharpened up.
This is a phenomenon I have noticed before both with these bins and others. Makes me wonder if my eyes do weird things from time to time.
Anybody else experienced this? Any reason to postulate? Do I need to visit the optometrist?
Thanks.
longsighted,
Forget what the commercials say, you're not getting better, you're just getting older!
Welcome to the Focus Accommodation Retrogression Team (F.A.R.T.). I've been a member for about 5 years ever since I started needing reading glasses.
Some days, particularly after I've spent long hours at the computer, or if I'm extra tired, I find myself fiddling with the right diopter so much and focusing past the bird and then toggling back to achieve fine focus, that I just throw in the cleaning cloth. Wait for another day when my eyes are cooperating better.
I also have dry eyes and sometimes they get irritated if I forget to put some drops of artificial tears in at night especially during the winter when the air is dry from the heat. The next day, I can't focus, because my left eye is blurry.
If you've just knocked off work, and you've been working at a computer, give your eyes some time to adjust by sitting outside with your eyes defocused, that is, not focused on anything in particular, just staring out blankly like a catatonic.
Put some drops in your eyes if they are dry, and then start birding. You'll soon know if you're having a good day or a bad day.
Your "symptoms" sound typical, but it's always a good thing to see the eye doctor when you experience a change in vision just to make sure nothing more serious is going on.
If you check out okay, I will PM you a membership application for the Focus Accommodation Retrogression Team (F.A.R.T.) and information about dues and benefits (such as 10% off on reading glasses from Pearl Vision).
If you think you have F.A.R.T. troubles with a 7x42 B/GA, which are pretty easy on the eyes from all accounts, try a Nikon 8x32 LX, with its fast 1 turn from close focus to infinity focuser. It was the F.A.R.T.iest pair of binoculars I've ever used.
Fortunately, my second sample had a cherry focuser, which lessened the frustration. My first sample 8x32 LX's focuser was looser and had some play in it and drove me nuts, trying to focus. I had to set and reset the diopter when going from close to medium to distance. It was almost like having an IF EP bin.
My advice is if you have F.A.R.T. problems avoid:
1. fast focusers
2. shallow DOF
3. lots of field curvature
4. uncooked broccoli
