More on binoculars

Fascadale

Fascadale

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After the interesting thread on Stieners I thought I would re-examine my late fathers glasses before encouraging Mme F to go on a spending spree

Either new or recently serviced about 50 years ago these were (I thought as a child) an excellent pair of fixed focus 7x50s. The object lenses are "blued", well more a light indigo, said to improve low light vision.

Unfortunately one of the object lenses now has small scratches on it and they are altogether looking a bit worse for wear. I have not used them on my boat as I don't want them to further deteriorate.

Is it worth getting old binoculars repaired and serviced, and if so by whom?

And can anyone identify these. There is no obvious makers name on them

IMG_1512_zps5e2adac2.jpg


IMG_1520_zpsb185ccaf.jpg


IMG_1517_zps7d4d8e99.jpg
 
Russian export binos were a bit hit and miss apparently. A good pair were very good for little money, but there were also plenty that were poor. It depended on luck or testing when buying.

I would be surprised if they have any commercial value to warrant repair.
 
I thought I was being clever by noticing the БПВ mark in cyrillic - BPV in roman - indicating a Russian origin or at least somewhere nearby. Then the next picture said "Made in USSR" :)

There are various BPV binoculars for sale on eBay for about thirty quid.

Pete
 
Fascadale said:
After the interesting thread on Stieners I thought I would re-examine my late fathers glasses before encouraging Mme F to go on a spending spree

Either new or recently serviced about 50 years ago these were (I thought as a child) an excellent pair of fixed focus 7x50s. The object lenses are "blued", well more a light indigo, said to improve low light vision.

Unfortunately one of the object lenses now has small scratches on it and they are altogether looking a bit worse for wear. I have not used them on my boat as I don't want them to further deteriorate.

Is it worth getting old binoculars repaired and serviced, and if so by whom?

And can anyone identify these. There is no obvious makers name on them

IMG_1512_zps5e2adac2.jpg


IMG_1520_zpsb185ccaf.jpg


IMG_1517_zps7d4d8e99.jpg
Click to expand...

I inherited a pair of prewar Zeiss 7 x 25 binoculars from my Grandfather & got them overhauled via our local Chemist (pharmacy). Thought they were the bees knees, until I tried a pair of 'modern' bins. Even Lidl bins are far superior.
How the hell they fought a war using them still mystifies me.
 
I have a similar ish pair.

Action Optics will give them a once over for about £30, or more if damaged. I fully intend to get mine done in the near future:

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

'Actionoptics' posts on here so do mention the forum.

He generally rates the Russian optics as being worth the effort, the link with your father may be an added incentive to get them done.
 
Last edited:
Fascadale said:
After the interesting thread on Stieners I thought I would re-examine my late fathers glasses before encouraging Mme F to go on a spending spree

Either new or recently serviced about 50 years ago these were (I thought as a child) an excellent pair of fixed focus 7x50s. The object lenses are "blued", well more a light indigo, said to improve low light vision.

Unfortunately one of the object lenses now has small scratches on it and they are altogether looking a bit worse for wear. I have not used them on my boat as I don't want them to further deteriorate.

Is it worth getting old binoculars repaired and serviced, and if so by whom?

And can anyone identify these. There is no obvious makers name on them

IMG_1512_zps5e2adac2.jpg


IMG_1520_zpsb185ccaf.jpg


IMG_1517_zps7d4d8e99.jpg
Click to expand...

Lidl, currently have them for £16.99!
 
I have a pair of East German Zeiss binoculars which I bought sometime in the 1970s. They are marked "Carl Zeiss Jena" on one side and "multicoated Jenoptem 8x30w" on the other. The optical quality is very good indeed. A pair of 1990s Japanese made Nikon 8 x 40 Egret binoculars that I also have at home cost quite a lot more but are no sharper, and no brighter in poor light, they only beat the old Zeiss pair by having a slightly wider field of view.
 
savageseadog said:
You must sail in your own good weather micro-climate then.
Click to expand...

I think there is a good case for having basic binoculars for general use. My Yashica 7x50s were bought in 1971 and are still in good condition in spite of being treated with less than good care. They look somewhat like the Russian ones pictured but are probably a bit lighter and smoother mechanically. One way of preserving binoculars is to create your own microclimate. I call it a spRayhood (that's not what I typed but I find it rather charming) and on my HR I can use binos through the glass with ease.
 
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