----- Original Message ----- From: Bjoern Gimle <bjorn.gimle@tietotech.se> To: Seesat-L <SeeSat-L@blackadder.lmsal.com> Sent: Friday, April 13, 2001 8:33 AM Subject: Re: Binocular Question > > > You don't need your glasses with binoculars or a telescope unless you > > > have an astigmatism. If you are sharing views with someone else... > > > > I'm very near-sighted and find that most binoculars won't come to focus > > without my glasses. > > > So am I (also astigmatic). I have considered trying disposable lenses > (24h), but I don't know if they are available with astigmatism yet. Hi Bjoern, and everyone on this binocular topic. I am new to the list, however, I have been following along now for a couple of years and have corresponded to individuals on the list off and on for sometime now. I am Retired Air Force, occupation (Flight Engineer) for the C-20 (Gulfstream III) and various other airframes. I now live in Zweibruecken Germany, where my hobbies include astronomy and observing Satellites (specifically military sats i.e.. White Cloud, Milstar, Lacrosse and the like. I observe with Binoculars, Miyauchi being my favorite, using "The Sky" Software and a laptop. So, on with the message... I have an idea that you all might be interested in. I also wear glasses (used to wear I should say). I have taken an old pair of glasses (Plastic lenses) and cut out the center of each lens (left and right) in the shape of a circle with a dremel tool, Of course, I have measured carefully before cutting so the finished lens will be a snug fit in the particular size ocular I have chosen. I then take the circle of prescription plastic and put it in the ocular right on top of the ocular lens. The rubber eye cup holds the circles perfectly in place. Presto! Prescription Binoculars. They also keep the oculars clean too. A few thoughts...First, center focus binos are the easiest to convert, for the oculars do not rotate. Well the left one at least. The right ocular, I have set for my eyes and adjust the right lens to be vertically orientated. (VERY IMPORTANT STEP). What I mean here is that BEFORE you cut the circles out of your glasses, be sure to mark the top and bottom as well as the left from the right. I did this first with a magic marker, then after I cut the circles out I marked on the edge of each one a dot showing top and an L and an R also on the edge for left and right. After doing this it's a quick matter of putting them in the oculars orientated and your done! My favorite binos are the 100mm Apochromatic Miyauchi's with interchangeable 20 and 37 power oculars. Of course these are mounted, Simply Awesome! However, the oculars focus independently of each other and to make my prescription circles fit these, I must rotate the circles to orientate the top to the top, inside the oculars after focusing on infinity, and then there ok for the night. My thoughts on hand held binos...The only way I'd hold binos is if they were image stabilized. If they are not, I use a tripod with a home made parallelogram arm with my binos attached to it. Total freedom of movement. I can observe for hours! Also I have made a custom tripod to allow me to sit while I work...Ok, so I should get a life, anyway These systems I use are very very comfortable for long hours at the oculars... Russ Bessom 7 19 0 E, 49 14 0 N. 250M UTC+1.00 (Zweibruecken Germany) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Apr 16 2001 - 07:37:02 PDT