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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Monoculars - anyone use these things ? (1 Viewer)

Restarting this thread because of life changes. A couple of years ago, hip and back issues dictated a move from Swaro 30x,80 on an aluminum tripod to a Zeiss 15-45x,65 on carbon fibre. Even after a hip replacement, the latter is too heavy. I recently picked up a vintage Zeiss 15x,50 monocular that I could at least have in a daypack for walk-ins. At one pound it solves the weight issue, but even with a rest it is (of course) still shakier than a tripod-mounted optic. I find it useful as a "study" glass but not as a "scanning" glass. I'll be thinking about a way to use a hiking staff as a monopod (advice welcome).

So far, my binoculars have never been an issue. Not interested in exploring IS solutions.

My non-birding sister uses a vintage Japanese 7x,50 mono for world traveling as she is extremely right-eye dominant anyway and doesn't feel the extra barrel is worth the space in he luggage.
One of the biggest factors for me with a spotting scope is the focuser. The need to or need not to fidget with the device makes a huge difference in one's ability to scan and watch. In that regard, a small kowa tsn straight-through is really nice to use. Turning the focuser with a finger is an elegant solution.
 
I've been using the early 8x30 Zeiss (West) - late 50s I think and really enjoying it. Bright enough even with early coatings and plenty sharp enough. Only about 3mm eye relief unlike the later B versions... Can easily use and focus one handed.
 

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I recently picked up a vintage Zeiss 15x,50 monocular that I could at least have in a daypack for walk-ins. At one pound it solves the weight issue, but even with a rest it is (of course) still shakier than a tripod-mounted optic. I find it useful as a "study" glass but not as a "scanning" glass. I'll be thinking about a way to use a hiking staff as a monopod (advice welcome).
Kowa TSN-501/502. Very light, 400 gr, under a pound. Cheap but still pretty good optically. There's an excellent review on the Spotting Scopes forum. Zoom eyepiece, fairly narrow and probably not ideal for glasses wearers.

A hiking staff as a monopod ... There used to be trekking poles that could be used as monopods, for instance by Leki. What I'd do is check out the trekking pole market and possibly have one modified with a tripod adaptor.

So far, my binoculars have never been an issue. Not interested in exploring IS solutions.
There actually was a good IS solution: Zeiss 20x60S Mono. A bit heavy for your purposes (1200 gr.) and long out of production.

Hermann
 
New to this site, which I’ve been enjoying very much - thanks, all. Weighing in here because I’ve become a bit of a monocular nerd in the last couple of years. I agree with pretty much everything in this thread; I’ve used the two little Nikons, the 8x and 10x Zeisses, and the 8x Leica. They’re all really good, but to my mind the class of the field is the Leica, which is about the same size as the Zeisses but has much superior optics. I’ve come to exactly the same solution as Crinklystarfish: a neck lanyard and a Zeiss case (the case the Leica come with is beautifully made but relatively large, and the macro lens it houses works beautifully but I almost never actually use it). It goes in whatever briefcase or shoulder bag I’m carrying, it’s always there when I want it and I’d never know it’s there when I don’t want it. Birdwatching, park- and city-scapes, architectural details, museum art from the back of the crowd: I use it all the time.

Regardless of which instrument, the real trick to these things is how one holds them. People grip them in two hands, front and rear like a stumpy telescope, or with one hand, like half a binocular. It’s pretty much impossible to be steady that way. Instead, make a loose thumb-and-forefinger ring with your strong hand (or the hand you use with your preferred eye), line your other fingers up with the forefinger, and hold that up to your eye like a kid pretending to look through a pirate spyglass (or think holding the neck of a beer bottle, but horizontal). Thumb makes a loose brace along your nose, forefinger about along your eyebrow. The monocular goes in the tube you’ve just made and is now being steadied by your head, with the hand just along for the ride. Focus with whichever finger falls naturally. You can hold with everything from a gentle pinch (you have to do that with the Leica while using the forward focus with your off hand) to something so loose the instrument is just resting there. It makes for a super-steady platform, even with the 10x Zeiss, and makes the monocular form greatly more functional.

Long first post but hope this is useful.
 
I wanted a monocular for some mundane uses like spotting people and off-leash dogs on trails. I tried a few nice ones, but ended up with a cheap Opticron T4 8x25. It's slim and cylindrical, and easily slips into a pocket. The view is nowhere near as good as my binoculars, but it gets the job done. I've found it useful for checking trail and road signs, and even unexpected stuff like getting a better view of a price tag in a closed store window, since the close focus is pretty decent. It works as well as can be expected for birding, but it's certainly better than nothing when I'm not carrying binoculars. I printed a TPU cap for the eyecup so I don't have to worry about scratches.

 

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