Just broke my binoculars

[rigpigpaul]

Hi All,
I broke my binoculars last week. I know 7 x 50 are the standard. I do not need top dollar binos. Preferably a compact type. Recommendations greatly appreciated.

RPP

 

[sarabande]

I m a great fan of monoculars, especially as they can be held in one hand for a quick check on an object.

Would it be worth you converting one of them to a monocular. if they are halfway decent and the prisms aren't wobbly, and you want to sell the bits.....

 

[Sailingsaves]

There is a chap on here that sells and repairs binoculars. Sells second hand ones (that he has worked upon). I will try to find his username.

 

[Sailingsaves]

"actionoptics" seen in this thread.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...take-my-binoculars-apart&highlight=binoculars

(I've always loved his avatar)

His website: http://www.actionoptics.co.uk/

I can't access his scroll bar on his website on the left hand side (without making my display screen very small).

I thought he sold monoculars too (he may), but I could only get down to here:

http://www.actionoptics.co.uk/waterproofcompass

 

[Praxinoscope]

Gael Force do a really fantastic pair of 7 x 50 binoculars, they float, have a compass builit in, are what they call ‘auto focus’ are compact and give a fantastically bright image. £98. I have yet to find better at double the price.

 

[dunedin]

Gael Force do a really fantastic pair of 7 x 50 binoculars, they float, have a compass builit in, are what they call ‘auto focus’ are compact and give a fantastically bright image. £98. I have yet to find better at double the price.

Ditto https://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/e...ing-Waterproof-Binoculars-wCompass/m-511.aspx

If look at them carefully these are the same product as lots of other companies sell under different brand names, but for slightly more money.

 

[NPMR]

How 'broken' are they?

If it's just double vision, strip off the cover and fond the adjustment screws - and adjust them back to correct the image. You can look at youtube to see a video on how to do it.

 

[rigpigpaul]

NPMR,
they are an old Plastimo type with long lenses. One of the lenses have snapped at the body. I will go for the Gael Force models. Thanks for all your advice.

 

[thinwater]

NPMR,
they are an old Plastimo type with long lenses. One of the lenses have snapped at the body. I will go for the Gael Force models. Thanks for all your advice.

The Nikon Aculon line has some great values. You can find a lot of good reviews. Cheap on Amazon.

 

[AndrewL]

Here's another vote for the Gael force pair. I've had mine about 4 years, they are very good. I don't think I'd want a more expensive set on a yacht

 

[jwilson]

Some people find "fixed focus" sometimes called "auto focus" binoculars OK. I and quite a few others can't use them. Depends on your eyes. Don't buy a pair withot trying them.

 

[reeac]

Glad that someone has picked out the so-called "autofocus" phrase. Cameras maybe but cheap binoculars are fixed focus which may or may not suit you and others who use them.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Some people find "fixed focus" sometimes called "auto focus" binoculars OK. I and quite a few others can't use them. Depends on your eyes. Don't buy a pair withot trying them.

Glad that someone has picked out the so-called "autofocus" phrase. Cameras maybe but cheap binoculars are fixed focus which may or may not suit you and others who use them.

+1. I have a significant difference in the vision between my two eyes, and because I used contact lenses for most of my life, I find using binoculars with glasses very difficult. I need to be able to a) adjust the focus on one lens slightly different from the other (they're around a dioptre different) and b) be able to adjust the overall focus to provide the residual correction needed. I also have no focussing ability as I have had cataract surgey in both eyes. A fixed focus binocular would be as useful as a chocolate teapot for me.

 

[Praxinoscope]

There is in fact no such thing as ‘auto-focus’ binoculars, they are in fact ‘fixed focus’ relying upon the factory set on the optics hyperfocal distance setting which provides an extensive depth of field. To provide for adjustment to individuals etesight both left and right occulars have individual ‘focus’ adjustment. I wear ‘varifocal’ glasses and can still use ‘auto. focus’ binoculars with glasses, or by adjusting the ‘focus’ I can correct for the -3.5 dioptre my eyes require. I don’t know if there is sufficient correction for those requiring more than -4 dioptre.
I was dubious about this type of binocular until I tried a pair and have been completely converted. their only minor disadvantage is that they don’t allow you to focus on objects closer than about 30’ or so but I would start to worry if I needed ‘bins’ to see something that close.