Most unusual use for binoculars? (1 Viewer)

[Foss]

Aside from birding, astronomy, and other typical activities.
I use binoculars mushroom hunting. Great for getting peeks at targets off the beaten path. Less traipsing through the underbrush for false sightings.
What's the most unusual way you use binoculars?

 

[thickmike]

Look through the wrong way as a magnifying glass.

To spot way markers while hiking.

 

[dries1]

Foss, what porro glass are you sporting?

 

[Maljunulo]

Architectural details, stained glass windows, live performances, really just about anything and everything not resolvable by the bare eyeball.

The better you can see, the more you notice.

 

[AlphaFan]

Finding Trout in freshwater streams.

 

[mwhogue]

Aside from birding, astronomy, and other typical activities.
I use binoculars mushroom hunting. Great for getting peeks at targets off the beaten path. Less traipsing through the underbrush for false sightings.
What's the most unusual way you use binoculars?

Great ideas here and especially on mushroom hunting. Spots target, saves time, reduces wear and tear on delicate undergrowth. I like taking bins with good close focus to museums.

Mike

 

[Foss]

dries1: Leupold Green Ring 6x30s

 

[Troubador]

In May 2003 on Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland we found 10 species of nudibranchs (sea slugs) in the tiny bay near our rental cottage. Most of these were found among and under seaweed but we saw two species that were roaming around on the surface of the muddy seabed. For the one and only time in our experience of searching for inter-tidal marine life we were able to sit in the sunshine on a bank and watch sea-slugs trekking around with our binoculars! It was a surreal experience.

Lee

 

[Rg548]

In May 2003 on Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland we found 10 species of nudibranchs (sea slugs) in the tiny bay near our rental cottage. Most of these were found among and under seaweed but we saw two species that were roaming around on the surface of the muddy seabed. For the one and only time in our experience of searching for inter-tidal marine life we were able to sit in the sunshine on a bank and watch sea-slugs trekking around with our binoculars! It was a surreal experience.

Lee

I would NEVER let a sea slug use my binoculars!!

 

[Binastro]

Using 7x binoculars in reverse for estimating the brightness or darkness of lunar eclipses.

A penumbral one tomorrow at about 6 a.m.

Using a 7x binocular behind the Japanese Celestron 20x80 to read a hotel sign 11 miles away.

10x25 in 747 cockpit mid Atlantic to see a comet.

7x23 reverse Porro to see the Green Flash at Hartland Point.

8x32 BA to watch television at 2a.m.from the reflection in a window 15 metres away.
Not good definition but interesting.
T.V. behind me.

Using a mirror mount to watch star fields. This really shows how poor binoculars are off axis.

B.

 

[gwsudiro]

Hello Foss,

I use mine for mangos picking, to spot which fruits are ripe enough to harvest with a long stick. Mango trees can get as tall as three stories building.

Actually its quite entertaining, sometimes we have to decide between green mango and “greeener” mango if that make any sense… color accuracy test.. check😂

Best regards
Galih

 

[Troubador]

I would NEVER let a sea slug use my binoculars!!

Good point, we need to be more careful .

Lee

 

[Binastro]

An alien invasion closely following a business jet on approach to the local airfield was seen in a binocular to be a horde of perhaps 30 toy balloons of different colours.
Also got good photos.
The strings dangling from them gave them away.

A bright light in the sky was a glint from the Sun from the tail of a commercial jet about 20 or 30 miles away. Heading straight towards me, so that is why the bright light was stationary.
I had to use a binocular to identify the cause.

UFO 1.
Many green lights in the night sky moving at enormous speed was gulls banking and reflecting street lights. Others in the observatory put UFOs in the log book. I stuck it out for the real cause using a binocular.

UFO 2.
Turned out to be a silent distant Goodyear type Blimp after viewing with a binocular.

UFO 3.
The most convincing yet.
A mother ship and small craft.
This turned out to be a silent small aircraft with a full wingspan moving letters advert for a newspaper.
It took about half an hour or more to finally identify, after I rang a friend a few miles away to see what he made of of.it.

I have fortunately identified every so called UFO.
None are visitors from Mars.

Regards,
B.

 

[fazalmajid]

Not binoculars, but I've used my Minox Makroscope and Leica Monovid monoculars as stand-off loupes to watch tiny fish in a small aquarium.

 

[jurek]

Checking which mountain track is easier
Reading parking noticeboards, mountain signs and price lists of on food stalls without bothering to come up to them
Photographing orchids and similar epiphytes
Watching frogs and fish in ponds

 

[mpeace]

In crowded airports to read gate and departure information when not wanting to loose my seat and too far from the board to read it without them.

 

[Dr. K]

Looking at my dogs from across the living room... it started as a way to test different binos but now I like it... weird I know, but they are some pretty dogs!

 

[Pepitogrillo]

UFO ....

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

In May 2003 on Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland we found 10 species of nudibranchs (sea slugs) in the tiny bay near our rental cottage. Most of these were found among and under seaweed but we saw two species that were roaming around on the surface of the muddy seabed. For the one and only time in our experience of searching for inter-tidal marine life we were able to sit in the sunshine on a bank and watch sea-slugs trekking around with our binoculars! It was a surreal experience.

Lee

Which nudibranch species were they?

 

[SUPPRESSOR]

I could think of so many occasions ,but, I don't want chucking of off Birdforum so I will desist
Peter.