Small details (1 Viewer)

[William Lewis]

I've just been out for a walk and thought of a couple of small details with my binoculars that could make a big difference to them at little cost to their manufacturer. I thought, why not start a thread about them, feel free to air any little gripes with yours - easily fixable things not major optical train alterations, you never know they might end up fixed in a future update if anyone's listening!

Ill set off, binocular swarovski 7x42ga habicht.

1. Rain guard not large enough to cover eye pieces when ipd set at anything other than no nose mode.

2. Make focus wheel slightly larger in diameter to make focus action lighter.

Thats it.

 

[Trinovid 8x32b]

Wish the pull-out eyecups on my Ultravid 8x20 were of the screw-out variety so they'd hold their position reliably.

 

[Rg548]

Meopta objective covers that don't fall off, and look like they came out of a cracker!!
Thanks Opticron for supplying great alternatives.

 

[james holdsworth]

Locking diopter on most any bins…detents usually imprecise. Non locking twist type is infinitely variable, which is often needed.

 

[Foss]

A decent carrying case.

 

[Ted Y.]

A decent carrying case.

I know only one (semirigid) model: Zeiss Cordura Bag

 

[Ted Y.]

Tethered (and functional) lens caps.

 

[William Lewis]

Sounds like lens caps are a common bug bear! I don't use objective ones any more but used to be frustrated when they re-attached themselves without any intervention while hanging round my neck on my old trinovid hd's and i'd end up looking through a monocular!

I'll second opticrons after market range, I use their neck strap and case with the habichts.

Locking diopters should be industry standard practice.

 

[jafritten]

Wish the pull-out eyecups on my Ultravid 8x20 were of the screw-out variety so they'd hold their position reliably.

They hold their position reliably on my UV 8x20. I'd write a friendly email to the Leica service.

 

[jafritten]

IPD-scales on roofs.

 

[yarrellii]

IPD-scales on roofs.

So true, so cheap to implement.

I'll add:

- Neck straps that attach to the loop on the binoculars with a simple clip/button, like in older models (Swarovski offers of on some straps, and I love it, have bought several ones for this reason).

- Cases for compact/pocket binoculars that are compact, usable, have a loop to wear them on a belt... I've used so many small binoculars that failed this (Swarovski EL8x32, CL 8x32, Opticron Traveller 8x32, Leica UV 8x20, Zeiss Terra 8x25, Meostar 8x32...).

 

[Trinovid 8x32b]

They hold their position reliably on my UV 8x20. I'd write a friendly email to the Leica service.

They don't hold at all like the screw-out cups do, especially when these "pocket binoculars" are carried in pockets, which was the reason for putting it on this list.
The click stop works fine for light usage and carry mode though...

 

[Ted Y.]

Pre-set focus scales for binoculars with IF

 

[Ted Y.]

IPD-scales on roofs.

Only on roofs?

 

[jafritten]

Only on roofs?

Also on roofs. My porros have IPD-scales, my roofs don't.

 

[fazalmajid]

Standard 1/4"-20 screw threads on binocular hinges so they can easily be attached to a tripod, e.g. using these:

BINO Kit

Turn your Capture clip into the world''s best binocular holster. BINO Kit contains a die-cast aluminum adapter that lets you rigidly carry any pair of binoculars directly in your Capture clip. Never again worry about your binos swinging into harm''s way. Note: This item requires the Capture...

www.peakdesign.com

Oddly, low-end and midrange models often have these but alphas are lacking, so people jury-rig things like this:

Tripod stud for Swarovski NL

Does anyone know what thread size is behind the hinge cover plate on NL? Here is my dilemma. I already have the Swarovski TAs-SLC tripod adapter which I like a lot when used with SLC 15x56 HD. I have been able to use it on other binos such as Nikon MHG because they all have the standard...

www.birdforum.net

 

[William Lewis]

Standard 1/4"-20 screw threads on binocular hinges so they can easily be attached to a tripod, e.g. using these:

BINO Kit

Turn your Capture clip into the world''s best binocular holster. BINO Kit contains a die-cast aluminum adapter that lets you rigidly carry any pair of binoculars directly in your Capture clip. Never again worry about your binos swinging into harm''s way. Note: This item requires the Capture...

www.peakdesign.com

Oddly, low-end and midrange models often have these but alphas are lacking, so people jury-rig things like this:

Tripod stud for Swarovski NL

Does anyone know what thread size is behind the hinge cover plate on NL? Here is my dilemma. I already have the Swarovski TAs-SLC tripod adapter which I like a lot when used with SLC 15x56 HD. I have been able to use it on other binos such as Nikon MHG because they all have the standard...

www.birdforum.net

Yes to this, why isn't it industry standard? I've heard the SLC version is good but it's an expensive extra.

IPD-scales on roofs.

Fortunately my habichts have one - good job they do with the rain guard issue meaning regular adjustment!

 

[Hermann]

Filter threads. Very useful, for instance for using additional lenshoods in difficult weather.

A tripod bush. These ridiculous contraptions Leica, Swarovski and Zeiss are trying to sell us to put their roofs on a tripod or monopod are a bad joke. They are also ludicrously expensive for what they are.

BTW, the Canon 10x42 IS has both filter threads and a tripod bush ...

Hermann

 

[Trinovid 8x32b]

Filter threads. Very useful, for instance for using additional lenshoods in difficult weather.

I also like the idea of being able to have protective lens coverings that still allow you to use the the binoculars at the same time, much as photographers are already accustomed to.

 

[William Lewis]

Again a good simple one that manufacturers could easily do, even better that I guess the thread pitch etc it already in photo industry standards.

I know of some circumstances where a brighter (yellow) filter would greatly aid in seeing things in low light from my experience of brightening up dull days in winter with yellow safety glasses at work. You could even put polairsing filters onto cheaper bins to upgrade them at little cost.