Re: TWL: Binoculars
Hi Bill
A few months ago, I posted a note about my own binocular odyssey. After
a lot of research, particularly through bird watching sites where they
do in-the-field comparative testing, I bought the Pentax DCF 8x42 WP.
Light, compact, fit the hand beautifully and are easily adjustable, have
long eye relief for those of us who wear spectacles, etc., etc. If you
look for them, be precise and ensure all the letters are on the box and
the unit. They all stand for something. DCF means roof mounted prisms
and phase-coated optics and WP means water proof. The phase coating
makes a huge difference in brightness but adds a lot to the cost. I paid
about US$370 for mine. After 4 months of use, I'm still happy, and would
take brightness and clarity over power and vibration - however small -
any time. There's a reason that most navies around the world, including
your own, have settled on 7x50's for standard binocular optics.
I thought of stabilized units, but then decided against them because
they're bigger, bulkier, and - my understanding
from the reading I did - eat batteries, just one more thing to have to
remember to buy and keep on hand. While the stabilization compensates
somewhat for shaky hands, as noted by others, it can't do for much for a
rolling deck.
Cheers, Garrett
A few months ago, I was in an antique shop and found they had a very old
"spyglass" compete with case and all. The info on them made it quite clear
they were originally US Navy property.
I took them outside for sitting and was quite impressed. But what struck me
when I was looking at the top of a distant building was how steady they
seemed compared to my binocs.
I should have bought the darn thing but I have thought many times since that
there was a huge advantage to the length of the tube and how it is supported
when you are using it.
Any comments? Maybe I should go see if it is still available.
Shaun Sweeney
aboard Rana III
GB 46' Alaskan #27
Lying Nanaimo Harbour
BC Canada
----- Original Message -----
From: "Garrett Lambert" e16@telus.net
To: Billpatton@aol.com
Cc: "'TWL'" trawler-world-list@samurai.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 7:30 PM
Subject: Re: TWL: Binoculars
Hi Bill
A few months ago, I posted a note about my own binocular odyssey. After
a lot of research, particularly through bird watching sites where they
do in-the-field comparative testing, I bought the Pentax DCF 8x42 WP.
Light, compact, fit the hand beautifully and are easily adjustable, have
long eye relief for those of us who wear spectacles, etc., etc. If you
look for them, be precise and ensure all the letters are on the box and
the unit. They all stand for something. DCF means roof mounted prisms
and phase-coated optics and WP means water proof. The phase coating
makes a huge difference in brightness but adds a lot to the cost. I paid
about US$370 for mine. After 4 months of use, I'm still happy, and would
take brightness and clarity over power and vibration - however small -
any time. There's a reason that most navies around the world, including
your own, have settled on 7x50's for standard binocular optics.
I thought of stabilized units, but then decided against them because
they're bigger, bulkier, and - my understanding
from the reading I did - eat batteries, just one more thing to have to
remember to buy and keep on hand. While the stabilization compensates
somewhat for shaky hands, as noted by others, it can't do for much for a
rolling deck.
Cheers, Garrett
shaunsweeney@telus.net writes:
Maybe I should go see if
still available.
Shaun: Some time ago I visited a local antique fleamarket and came
across a pair of German 'Feldglser'. Looked like they had seen
service in the German Army during WWII (Rommel used a pair like
that). They had no focus adjustment, no prisms (long tubes) but gave
a perfectly clear picture at any distance with a good wide field.
Like you, I walked away to do a little thinking.... When I returned
after an hour or so, the binoculars were gone -sold at less than what
I was prepared to pay.
Ever since, I curse my indecisiveness that day and keep looking in
all fleamarkets etc for a return. Sofar no luck. Anyway lest you,
like I, want to kick yourself forever go back and buy the glasses
(if they are still there).
Good luck George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario.
P.s: During my fleamarket trips I did come across and buy a pair of
Russian Army binoculars 7 by 50 and rather excellent. However they
are not antique yet, maybe cold war issue (KGB?)....
Boy are you guys gonna be green. I HAVE those German binocs you're talking
about and I have yet to find anything better for the water. Every other
modern set I have tried falls short of mine. They have been thru the wars
(pardon the pun) because they are somewhat scuffed but they work fine.
They were given to me by my dad and even included the original case which is
screwed to the wall in the bridge.
Shaun Sweeney
dongleless aboard Rana III
GB 46' Alaskan #27
Lying Nanaimo Harbour
BC Canada
Oops! I lied, mine do have the focus wheel but do not have prisms.
Shaun Sweeney
aboard Rana III
GB 46' Alaskan #27
Lying Nanaimo Harbour
BC Canada
shaunsweeney@telus.net writes:
I HAVE those German binocs you're talking
about and I have yet to find anything better for the water. Every
other
modern set I have tried falls short of mine. They have been thru
the wars
(pardon the pun) because they are somewhat scuffed but they work
fine.
So, Shaun, did you go back and get those antique US Navy glasses? If
you did, them I'm really green.
One must wonder why someone can't/won't duplicate the process and
clone those German Feldglser?
Ciao George, wintering in Lake Ontario.
Haven't got back to the shop yet but hope to today. I'll know soon enough.
Even if I don't buy them (they were $300 plus) I will try to get the navy
info from the box.
Shaun Sweeney
aboard Rana III
GB 46' Alaskan #27
Lying Nanaimo Harbour
BC Canada
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Geist" scaramouche@tvo.org
To: shaunsweeney@telus.net
Cc: trawler-world-list@samurai.com
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2001 6:22 PM
Subject: Re(2): TWL: Binoculars
shaunsweeney@telus.net writes:
I HAVE those German binocs you're talking
about and I have yet to find anything better for the water. Every
other
modern set I have tried falls short of mine. They have been thru
the wars
(pardon the pun) because they are somewhat scuffed but they work
fine.
So, Shaun, did you go back and get those antique US Navy glasses? If
you did, them I'm really green.
One must wonder why someone can't/won't duplicate the process and
clone those German Feldglser?
Ciao - George, wintering in Lake Ontario.