Why variable power scopes but not binoculars?
Tim Douglass
pair of binoculars that I used for many years before an abrupt stop on
a concrete sidewalk rendered them less than useful. They were a not
terribly expensive pair of 7-21 power zoom binocs that worked great
for hunting since I could scan at 7x and then zoom up if anything
looked interesting. I tried to find another pair of zoom binoculars
but found them either hopelessly cheap or horribly expensive (and very
few in either class).
So I'm wondering why I have variable scopes on all of my hunting
rifles (which normally all sit all the time on their lowest setting
except when I'm at the bench sighting in) but can't get a reasonably
priced pair of zoom binoculars.
Just one of those things that puzzles me....
Tim Douglass
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Louis Boyd
# So I'm wondering why I have variable scopes on all of my hunting
# rifles (which normally all sit all the time on their lowest setting
# except when I'm at the bench sighting in) but can't get a reasonably
# priced pair of zoom binoculars.
Because it's very difficult (read expensive or impossible) to design a
variable power eyepiece with a wide apparent field of view. (How
variable and how wide matters) People expect binoculars to give
"picture window" views. It's accepted that riflescopes have a
relatively narrow field of view since they also have long eye relief.
A large apparent field AND long eye relief obviously requires a huge
eyepiece.
Variable power binoculars exist but they just don't have as good of
overall optical quality as fixed power units and generally a narrower
field. You'll probably not like variable power binoculars if you get a set.
The fact that it's a binocular has little to do with it other than
expectations. Variable power spotting scopes are never as good either
but for examining a small area (like a target) the variable power units
are accepted better by customers. Most high end spotting scopes have
interchangeable eyepieces in fixed and variable magnification. Most
people choose to use a fixed power after using both.
Rubaiyat of Omar Bradley
# So I'm wondering why I have variable scopes on all of my hunting
# rifles (which normally all sit all the time on their lowest setting
# except when I'm at the bench sighting in) but can't get a reasonably
# priced pair of zoom binoculars.
Zoom binoculars, while in principle a good idea, are generally
considered not to perform very well. The problem is that it is very
difficult to coordinate the magnification for both eyes precisely.
When the magnification is not perfectly matched, the user's eyes and
brain will try to compensate. After sustained viewing, this can cause
eye strain and fatigue. The sharper the optics are, the more precise
matching is needed, so successful zoom binoculars tend to be of lower
optical quality.
Assuming approximately equal optical and mechanical quality and
features, I would expect zoom binoculars to cost more than twice as
much as a pair of variable rifle scopes.
IGot2P
> ...
For everyday use take a look at the Nikon Action 7-15 x 35 binoculars. I
have a pair that I think I paid somewhere around $115 for and find them
to work great. They have good optics that allow sharp, crisp focusing in
the entire range of magnification from 7 to 15 power.
Don
pyotr filipivich
<cowar...@yahoo.com> on or about Wed, 2 Dec 2009 01:31:13 +0000
(UTC) did write/type or cause to appear in rec.guns the following:
#
#Zoom binoculars, while in principle a good idea, are generally
#considered not to perform very well. The problem is that it is very
#difficult to coordinate the magnification for both eyes precisely.
#When the magnification is not perfectly matched, the user's eyes and
#brain will try to compensate.
On the other hand, my brain has been compensating for differences
in my seeing ability for most of my life. Depth perception is
something I learned in my teens. So with Binoculars, I tend to pick
the "eye with the view" and ignore the other one.
Easy if you started to do it before kindergarten and glasses.
#After sustained viewing, this can cause
#eye strain and fatigue. The sharper the optics are, the more precise
#matching is needed, so successful zoom binoculars tend to be of lower
#optical quality.
yep
pyotr
-
pyotr filipivich.
Just about the time you finally see light at the end of the tunnel,
you find out it's a Government Project to build more tunnel.
Rubaiyat of Omar Bradley
wrote:
# I would expect zoom binoculars to cost more than twice as
# much as a pair of variable rifle scopes.
I meant to say "I would expect zoom binoculars to cost more than twice
as much as a variable rifle scope".
sta...@prolynx.com
# pair of binoculars that I used for many years before an abrupt stop on
# a concrete sidewalk rendered them less than useful. They were a not
# terribly expensive pair of 7-21 power zoom binocs that worked great
# for hunting since I could scan at 7x and then zoom up if anything
# looked interesting. I tried to find another pair of zoom binoculars
# but found them either hopelessly cheap or horribly expensive (and very
# few in either class).
#
# So I'm wondering why I have variable scopes on all of my hunting
# rifles (which normally all sit all the time on their lowest setting
# except when I'm at the bench sighting in) but can't get a reasonably
# priced pair of zoom binoculars.
#
# Just one of those things that puzzles me....
# Tim Douglass
#
Did you try www.binoculars.com? I remember those power zoom jobbies,
you must have had a pretty good example, the b-in-l had one set where
the zoom motor jammed up and burned out and it was an instant fixed
power binoc. Probably had too many returns from that so they stopped
making them.
I have a set of big 80mm high-power ones that I use off a tripod for
spotting, the optical quality isn't that good but still sufficient to
spot small bullet holes in target faces. The price wasn't that high.
Generally you get what you pay for. They have some fairly portable
ones that range from 10x-25x or so. Don't expect Leica optical
quality.
Stan
Tim Douglass
<cowar...@yahoo.com> wrote:
#On Dec 1, 5:50�am, Tim Douglass <tdougl...@bendcable.com> wrote:
## So I'm wondering why I have variable scopes on all of my hunting
## rifles (which normally all sit all the time on their lowest setting
## except when I'm at the bench sighting in) but can't get a reasonably
## priced pair of zoom binoculars.
#
#Zoom binoculars, while in principle a good idea, are generally
#considered not to perform very well. The problem is that it is very
#difficult to coordinate the magnification for both eyes precisely.
#When the magnification is not perfectly matched, the user's eyes and
#brain will try to compensate. After sustained viewing, this can cause
#eye strain and fatigue. The sharper the optics are, the more precise
#matching is needed, so successful zoom binoculars tend to be of lower
#optical quality.
Hmmm.... Good point. You can pretty easily find a really cheap pair
from China, and there are some very expensive models available, but
nothing in the middle, so your explanation makes sense. IIRC I paid
about $150 for mine back in the late 70s, which probably translates to
about $500 today!
#Assuming approximately equal optical and mechanical quality and
#features, I would expect zoom binoculars to cost more than twice as
#much as a pair of variable rifle scopes.
Yeah, that's about where the good ones fall. Unfortunately that's a
bit out of my pocket at the moment.
Tim Douglass
Tim Douglass
wrote:
#Tim Douglass wrote:
# > ...
#
#For everyday use take a look at the Nikon Action 7-15 x 35 binoculars. I
#have a pair that I think I paid somewhere around $115 for and find them
#to work great. They have good optics that allow sharp, crisp focusing in
#the entire range of magnification from 7 to 15 power.
I'll check those out. I don't recall seeing any Nikon binocs in the
store last time I was browsing, so may have to cast my net wider.
Tim Douglass
IGot2P
Tim Douglass
wrote:
#Tim Douglass wrote:
# > ...
#
#Juts take your pick at http://tinyurl.com/y9utu2t
I'm really reluctant to buy optics without actually handling them
first. I have a collection of riflescopes that I've bought that way
and probably only one in 6 was a keeper. And binoculars are even
harder to evaluate based on someone else's opinion.
Not to worry, though. There's a new sporting goods store in town that
I haven't been to yet. I'll go see what they have and if they don't
carry Nikon I'll talk to my buddy who runs the gun dept. at the other
S.G. store and see if they'll order them in without me having to
commit until I see them.
Tim Douglass