NL 8x42 eye relief for those with glasses (1 Viewer)

[Ouroboros]

I've been looking to upgrade to my first set of Swarovski bins and I've been focused on the ELs because they have a 20mm eye relief and I've been hit and miss on bins with 18mm ER (Zeiss Terra ED yes, Vortex Viper no). I need about 14.5-15mm of usable eye relief with my glasses so if the distance between the ocular lens and the top of the eye cup when fully retracted is no more than 3.5mm I can make it work, 3mm or less gives room to spare. It's all about the depth of the eye cup when retracted for me and my glasses.

Can any NL 8x42 owners who wear glasses chime in on their experiences? And if anyone can measure the depth of the eye cup when retracted that would be awesome (I use a couple of popsicle sticks in a cross to get the depth then calipers to measure the depth of the stick).

An NL would be a significant purchase for me so I'm really trying to tick all the boxes so any help is appreciated. And no, I'm not able to try them before buying. Thanks in advance.

 

[Conndomat]

Hello,

an important point is whether you are far-sighted or near-sighted!

For far-sighted people who wear glasses (convex), the lenses can come on the eyepiece metal. IMO Swarovski doesn't have any good eyecups for far-sighted people here in the NL, short-sighted people (concave) are usually not affected.

Andreas

 

[Ouroboros]

Hello,

an important point is whether you are far-sighted or near-sighted!

For far-sighted people who wear glasses (convex), the lenses can come on the eyepiece metal. IMO Swarovski doesn't have any good eyecups for far-sighted people here in the NL, short-sighted people (concave) are usually not affected.

Andreas

Primarily short sighted with multi focals, so a bit of everything I'm afraid.

 

[Conndomat]

Primarily short sighted with multi focals, so a bit of everything I'm afraid.

Then the only thing that really helps is to try it out yourself.Simply order an NL and if it doesn't fit, send it back if there is no other option.

Andreas

 

[Jeffbennett12]

I have owned the 8X and 10X NLs in both 32mm and 42mm forms, and I still own the 8X32s. I also wear progressive eyeglasses with nearsightedness being my primary issue. All of those gave excellent eye box comfort for me, as I could easily see all the way to the edge of the FOV.

 

[Ouroboros]

I have owned the 8X and 10X NLs in both 32mm and 42mm forms, and I still own the 8X32s. I also wear progressive eyeglasses with nearsightedness being my primary issue. All of those gave excellent eye box comfort for me, as I could easily see all the way to the edge of the FOV.

That's good to know. Obviously trying them is the only way to be sure, but I'm hoping to get as much user feedback as I can to help.

 

[laurencejackson]

I have the 8x42 NLs and 10x32 NLs and have had the 10x and 12x. I am short-sighted and have an astigmatism, but I have had no problems with any of them, as far as working with my glasses goes. If anything I find the newer Swaros have too much eye relief for me, unlike the older models where they were bang on and I didnt have to do much fiddling to get the right setup. Good luck!

 

[Patudo]

Nothing beats trying them, but Canip's website (Binoculars Today) can help. If it has ER figures for say a Zeiss Terra ED of the format you know works for you, you can check it against another binocular you're interested in, knowing the eye relief measurements are all taken the same way. This, of course, requires Canip to have both binoculars in his collection, but IIRC he has a fair number of NLs...

 

[Ouroboros]

Nothing beats trying them, but Canip's website (Binoculars Today) can help. If it has ER figures for say a Zeiss Terra ED of the format you know works for you, you can check it against another binocular you're interested in, knowing the eye relief measurements are all taken the same way. This, of course, requires Canip to have both binoculars in his collection, but IIRC he has a fair number of NLs...

According to his page the NL 8x42 has 16.5 mm of usable eye relief so that should work for me. Thanks!

 

[SanderBird82]

Then the only thing that really helps is to try it out yourself.Simply order an NL and if it doesn't fit, send it back if there is no other option.

Andreas

I would never buy and send such high cost product by post order. I ll go to a shop.

 

[Ouroboros]

I would never buy and send such high cost product by post order. I ll go to a shop.

Simply not an option for me. There is no one in my province that carries these binoculars. It's literally impossible for me to try without getting on a plane.

 

[pm42]

Can any NL 8x42 owners who wear glasses chime in on their experiences? And if anyone can measure the depth of the eye cup when retracted that would be awesome (I use a couple of popsicle sticks in a cross to get the depth then calipers to measure the depth of the stick).

I wear glasses and need at least 15mm of ER. For instance, I do not see the whole field with my old Leica 8x32 Trinovid nor with the Ultravid.

I have no problem at all with the NL Pure 8x42. I see the whole field and the view is very comfortable.

I would never buy and send such high cost product by post order. I ll go to a shop.

Why? I bought my NL Pure online. Because of the return policy, I took no risk doing so. It is also easier to really test them than in a shop.
In fact, I was not expecting to keep them but it was love at first sight.

 

[Swedpat]

I have had NL Pure 8x42 and it worked great with eyeglasses. Taking in consider the wide AFOV NL Pure has excellent eye relief. The eyecup design makes it possible to come as close as possible to the eye lens so the usable ER is almost the same as the total ER.
But you need to try to really know. Different face shape and eyeglasses design have an impact with this.

 

[Ouroboros]

I have had NL Pure 8x42 and it worked great with eyeglasses. Taking in consider the wide AFOV NL Pure has excellent eye relief. The eyecup design makes it possible to come as close as possible to the eye lens so the usable ER is almost the same as the total ER.
But you need to try to really know. Different face shape and eyeglasses design have an impact with this.

Thank you, this is very helpful.

 

[SanderBird82]

I wear glasses and need at least 15mm of ER. For instance, I do not see the whole field with my old Leica 8x32 Trinovid nor with the Ultravid.

I have no problem at all with the NL Pure 8x42. I see the whole field and the view is very comfortable.


Why? I bought my NL Pure online. Because of the return policy, I took no risk doing so. It is also easier to really test them than in a shop.
In fact, I was not expecting to keep them but it was love at first sight.

I understand

But i would be scared that it would get lost or broken or something

 

[Maljunulo]

Some vey wise person once observed that most of the things we worry about never happen.

 

[Crex67]

NL Pure 10x42. Although I prefer wearing contactlenses when birding, the bino's give me no problem when I wear my glasses.

 

[Conndomat]

But i would be scared that it would get lost or broken or something

You can take out insurance for this!

The advantage of ordering is that you can test the binoculars at your leisure and under different viewing conditions and objects. With many binoculars you first need time to find out all the advantages and disadvantages, this is not possible in a shop.

I almost exclusively order binoculars, if I don't like them I send them back after 5-10 days.

Andreas

 

[SanderBird82]

I understand

But i would be scared that it would get lost or broken or somethi

You can take out insurance for this!

The advantage of ordering is that you can test the binoculars at your leisure and under different viewing conditions and objects. With many binoculars you first need time to find out all the advantages and disadvantages, this is not possible in a shop.

I almost exclusively order binoculars, if I don't like them I send them back after 5-10 days.

Andreas

That is true. At home you can test them better.

And if you send it back, they can sell it again to other people?

 

[Conndomat]

And if you send it back, they can sell it again to other people?

The dealer must at least point out that it is a return and, if in doubt, must offer it at a slightly lower price.

But I don't order binoculars just to test them, I always have a firm intention to buy them, but if I don't like them I send them back, most of the binoculars I ordered are still with me...

Andreas