has anyone used one of these braces? (1 Viewer)

[birdrousta]

Ran into this at BH last night, and was curious about whether anyone had any experience using them - it's a shoulder/chest brace for a spotting scope, but it looks as if it might be adaptable to use with binoculars on a tripod mount as well.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554798-REG/Stedi_Stock_SSSB_SSSB_Stedi_Stock_Shoulder.html

It's clearly not going to be as robust as a tripod, but there's a substantial portability advantage. lining up and reaching binocular eyepieces usefully might be a problem

 

[Binastro]

I have seen similar things for cameras.

The Russian Zenith Photosniper is a similar idea with the 300mm lens,
But you have to be careful not to use it in public places as it looks wrong.
Also one for the German long lenses, can't remember the name.

I had one with an old Japanese zoom lens.( Sun optical company. Sun Hi-tele zoom 85-210/4.8 Minolta mount 1960s Pistol grip variation. Difficult to get at the time. They also made binoculars I think).

P.S.
The 300mm Tair lens kit is described as rare. It isn't rare at all.
Kilfitt lenses had something similar.
I think there was also the same idea for old Leica lenses or maybe Zeiss or both.
It is a very old idea.

The accessory post for small Pentax binoculars is effective.
Also Finnsticks.
A friend uses an upside down adapted broom.
There are gimbal mounts.
Several forms of mechanical or electronic stabilization.
Weight stabilizers of many forms.
And tripods or monopods.

 

[Stephen Prower]

Finnsticks

Binastro

You mention Finnsticks in your list of alternative means of bracing a pair of binoculars.

No need these days for upside down broomsticks!

Here's the Yunteng 188 selfie stick. It's widely available, extremely well made, and inexpensive. Further to meet the OP's requirement that it enable him to line up the binocular eyepieces with the eyes, it's adjustable both for height, and for the angle of the tripod screw bearing head.

To pick a vendor at random, there's one on Ebay selling the Yunteng free of postage at £6.87:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1418...rlsatarget=pla-131843274786&adtype=pla&crdt=0

I have been using the Yunteng satisfactorily for some six months to support a bridge camera or 10x42 binocular*. [Last week after I fell and badly bruised an arm, I was still able to go on a pre-planned field trip, since the Yunteng enabled me to operate the binocular with one hand.]

Cheap belt pouches are harder to find. I paid £1.50 for a gardener's pouch in last year's Asda post-season sell-off.


Stephen


* I add that for security I still wear the strap of the binocular or bridge camera round my neck, but so far the precaution has been unnecessary

 

[Stephen Prower]

Binastro

I forgot the cost of the L-bracket to attach the binocular to the head of the selfie stick. The Chinese model that I use is currently priced on Ebay at £2.35 including postage.


Stephen

 

[Binastro]

Thanks.
birdrousta's suggested brace is cheap enough to try.
I think it might be o.k. for long binoculars, but maybe not short ones.
Another problem is the quick release plate. Hopefully it has a safety lock, but even then the binocular could easily detach. At the lowish price the QR plate may not be that good. I think that having the strap around your neck is a wise precaution.
I have had telescopes almost fall off tripods with QR plates or Slik posts.

There are Russian spotting scopes with pistol grips and I have seen others.

It really is unwise nowadays to use pistol grips in public. I got into trouble in the 1970s using one with a telephoto lens..