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Let's see your monoculars

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wales Offline magentus

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Let's see your monoculars
on: April 15, 2015, 11:59:11 AM
I love my little Russian monocular. It's so portable it comes out with me everywhere in my rucksack.

The name rubbed off years ago so I can't remember the maker so if anyone has any info on it I'll be grateful.



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gb Offline Dr Gonzo

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #1 on: April 16, 2015, 12:55:46 AM
I love my little Russian made mini monocular...I must have gifted at least half a dozen :tu:
it even came with the instruction sheet which is in the background here...

There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.


wales Offline magentus

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #2 on: April 16, 2015, 09:40:04 AM
Nice one Dr!

That is tiny. I remeber seeing it in a previous post but I can't recall whether the attached ring is a mod or stock.

Great size though.  :salute:
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us Offline cbl51

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #3 on: April 17, 2015, 05:38:00 PM
I love monoculars. I've been using this Simmons for 15 years now, and it fits in a pocket so nice. It goes along even when compact binoculars get left behind. But that's why I love small gear, it goes when other stuff gets left home. The smaller the better as far as I', concerned as long as the item still functions at it's intended task.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2015, 05:39:23 PM by cbl51 »
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wales Offline magentus

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #4 on: April 18, 2015, 12:00:05 AM
Nice kit cbl. Is that a derringer too?
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us Offline captain spaulding

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #5 on: April 18, 2015, 12:52:02 AM
Nice kit cbl. Is that a derringer too?

Its a NAA (North American Arms). 5 shots of .22. They come in .22 short, long, and magnum.

They make all sorts of little guns.

http://northamericanarms.com/firearms.html
« Last Edit: April 18, 2015, 12:53:39 AM by captain spaulding »
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us Offline cbl51

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #6 on: April 18, 2015, 05:36:45 AM
Nice kit cbl. Is that a derringer too?

Its a NAA (North American Arms). 5 shots of .22. They come in .22 short, long, and magnum.

They make all sorts of little guns.

http://northamericanarms.com/firearms.html

Correct!

As I said, I like small. I wish I had a nicle for every time I needed something when I was younger, but it was at home because I didn't want to lug it around. As I got older, I got a little smarter, and started to get small pieces of gear that had no real reason to be left behind. Now my criteria for things are, it has to fit comfortable in a pocket. If I need a belt holster or sheath, or it has to go in a pack, forget it. Maybe a hold over from my ultra light backpacking days.
Don't get too serious, just enough will do.


scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #7 on: April 18, 2015, 01:43:05 PM
I've got a Brunton 7x18 that is my go-to monocular. http://www.brunton.com/products/echo-pocket-scope-green
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gb Offline tosh

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #8 on: April 19, 2015, 03:10:32 AM
Oh yes!!  :ahhh

I love monoculars, got a box full of 'em in the loft. I'll get them down in the morning and post a few pictures.  :cheers:

In fact can I add other optics too?
I got a great selection of binoculars, and the odd spotting scope or two
 ;)
I don't claim to know it all, but what I do know is right.


us Offline SAK Guy

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #9 on: April 22, 2015, 04:28:36 PM
After the fire, a buddy gave me this Winchester 8X21...pretty handy.

Mono snife.JPG
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gr Offline kkokkolis

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #10 on: April 24, 2015, 07:53:55 PM
Oh yes!!  :ahhh

I love monoculars, got a box full of 'em in the loft. I'll get them down in the morning and post a few pictures.  :cheers:

In fact can I add other optics too?
I got a great selection of binoculars, and the odd spotting scope or two
 ;)
I was wondering when you would do it. Go on!

Here are mine. A Soviet 8x30 I used a lot during travels (now I always take the Pentax Papilio 6,5x21 with me) on the right. On the left the little dynamite, Stellarvue F50W Right Angle Correct Image Finder/Mini Spotting scope. It works at f/4 with most eyepieces, here with a Televue Ethos 13mm, but I usually load on it the Explore Scientific 68 24mm (shown), Televue Nagler T4 12mm, Televue Delos 10 and 6mm, Televue Radian 8 and 5mm or the Baader Hyperion Zoom 24-8mm (also with Orion Shorty Plus Barlow). Thus I get 8.5x to 50x, 6mm to 1mm exit pupil and up to 100 degrees of field of view. On the telescope I use the included 23mm Crosshair Reticle eyepiece it came with. I keep it on a Celestron Quick Release mount because I avoid the procedure of rough aligning it everytime I unmount it and mount it.


Sooner or later I'm going to buy a Minox Macroscope 8x25.



gb Offline tosh

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #11 on: May 02, 2015, 03:06:26 PM
Sorry for the long delay in posting pics - it has to be done stealthily  >:D
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gb Offline tosh

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #12 on: May 02, 2015, 03:08:19 PM
The 3 leica's I have

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gb Offline tosh

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #13 on: May 02, 2015, 03:12:41 PM
Astro Bin's

Plus a couple of super sharp vintage bins

Don't be fooled by their appearance, every time I look through these it takes my breath away - fabulous glass  :drool: those Prinz Micro 12x50's are so bright!!  8), the smaller ones (GreenKat) are astoundingly crisp ....stunning!!
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« Last Edit: May 02, 2015, 03:32:26 PM by tosh »
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gb Offline tosh

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #14 on: May 02, 2015, 03:18:45 PM
There are a couple others that I can't seem to find, I've deliberately left out my 2 refractors due to the setting up time, I've got a Swift 77mm 831 reportedly fitted with Takahashi optics plus a 1200mm Towa. Both with original stands. Problem is my local council has recently changed all our street lights - my home is now heavily light polluted, so I don't see when my scopes will ever come out again - still....another heirloom for my son  :facepalm:
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scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #15 on: May 02, 2015, 06:25:52 PM
So just a couple then, eh?


:o
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wales Offline Smashie

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #16 on: May 02, 2015, 07:50:09 PM
Holy smurf  :ahhh
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us Offline SAK Guy

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #17 on: May 02, 2015, 09:08:22 PM
Nice tosh!!! :2tu:

You should post your astro bins and scopes over in the Astronomy thread!

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,58378.0.html

and look here...

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,59123.0.html

« Last Edit: May 02, 2015, 10:29:47 PM by SAK Guy »
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us Offline MadPlumbarian

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #18 on: May 02, 2015, 09:19:12 PM
Oh how about binoculars? I have my simple, cheap, monoculture, but today we were out garage sale hopping, and I saw a little case for $3, it said bushnell on it so fig it was just the case, so I was going to talk it down but then I picked it up and it was heavy, hmm can't be.. Sure enough they were in there, and like new. I couldn't pass them up, they work it brings everything closer and clear, so for $3 I had to grab them, only thing is I have no clue about them besides use them if I want to see far stuff closer.. The only thing on them was bushnell 10x25.

The only thing I could find close to them was, Bushnell PermaFocus 8x25 Focus Free Compact Binoculars, and for $45, anyone know anything on them? Sure I got a good deal only paying $3 for something $45, but are they good? Of course there bushnell, but?
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gb Offline tosh

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #19 on: May 02, 2015, 10:02:31 PM
I actually sold off about a dozen or more optics around a year ago.
Still hanker after a few I don't have, namely Leica Trinovid 12x50's. Nikon 8x32SE and Canon IS "L" series Binoculars. Also fancied trying the Fuji's

I did try out the new ultravids from Leica a few years back but found they hurt my eyes, the contrast was way too high. The Leica 7x42's Marine pictured above are so easy on the eyes. The resolving power at dusk is sensational.......but the 12x50 Trinovids (that I don't yet have)  supposedly have the highest twilight factor of all the Leica binoculars. The occulars were supposedly completely redesigned and required the use of some very exotic ( :ahhh read expensive) glass to be specifically developed. I once tried a pair in the shop....... :drool: I had to catch my breath, the clarity had to be seen to be believed.
I had a quick peep through some Zeiss too ! Although they were not comfortable (for me) the glass in them is just staggeringly good. I can vividly remember focusing on a nearby telegraph pole and the resolving power of the optics was so high I could actually see all the detail on the ants climbing the pole. Once you've peered through good glass nothing else can compare.

But as we all know, there's never any spare cash once this place takes hold  :facepalm:
« Last Edit: May 02, 2015, 10:13:54 PM by tosh »
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us Offline SAK Guy

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #20 on: May 02, 2015, 10:23:37 PM
My modest collection in a bad picture.....

Nikon 10X70 HP IF
Nikon 7X50 Tropical
Canadian Military Issue 7X50  (Pentax Marine)
Steiner Military 7x50 M22 US Army Issue
Basuch & Lomb 7x26 Custom
my binos.jpg
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gb Offline tosh

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #21 on: May 02, 2015, 10:33:03 PM
My modest collection in a bad picture.....

Nikon 10X70 HP IF
Nikon 7X50 Tropical
Canadian Military Issue 7X50  (Pentax Marine)
Steiner Military 7x50 M22 US Army Issue
Basuch & Lomb 7x26 Custom

Very nice :tu:
I really like the sound of those 10x70's - didn't know nikon did that one.
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gr Offline kkokkolis

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #22 on: May 02, 2015, 11:30:12 PM
Very eye catching both collections. I prefer a 5-3mm exit pupil myself. 7mm won't do much after the 40s.
The red dot and yellow square are very catchy, aren't they?


us Offline SAK Guy

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #23 on: May 03, 2015, 03:43:08 PM
One thing that surprised me about those 10X70's is the amount of light they gather from a dark sky....after looking through them a little while, lower them and you can still see the two bright field circles against the dark sky. Probably a common occurrence with big binos but the Nikons were my first experience with this.
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gb Offline tosh

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #24 on: May 03, 2015, 04:42:59 PM
One thing that surprised me about those 10X70's is the amount of light they gather from a dark sky....after looking through them a little while, lower them and you can still see the two bright field circles against the dark sky. Probably a common occurrence with big binos but the Nikons were my first experience with this.

How are you holding those 10x70's?

I know last year I was hand holding my 11x80's using my elbows on anything remotely stationary  :facepalm:

Twice I've began building a counter weighted parallelogram mount. First out of hardwood when I was working in the joinery shop but it's still not finished and then began getting all the materials together again where I work now (engineering firm) using 2x1 aluminium box section. I ordered both 9&10mm brass tubing for the M8 bolts to run inside as a makeshift bearing. Also got a sheet of 3mm PTFE Teflon again to ensure minimal friction on all moving parts, sourced the steel bars and plates for the counterweights. All that remains is to actually build them, just never seem to find the time.
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gr Offline kkokkolis

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #25 on: May 03, 2015, 05:06:22 PM
Parallelograms are a hassle. I had one made from wood and I donated it (it was donated to me also). For sticking in certain areas of the sky's zenith (like Lyra and Cygnus during summer) I tried this.

But binoculars with diagonals are the answer really. Thankfully the best comes lower on the south, the Sagittarius and the milky way around it. The IS is sufficient for that.
When I had my 15x70,I used the diagonal technique described by G.  Seronik. With right hand catch left tube which rests on hand's back. Left hand drives and focuses.
« Last Edit: May 03, 2015, 05:08:50 PM by kkokkolis »


us Offline SAK Guy

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #26 on: May 03, 2015, 05:18:03 PM
One thing that surprised me about those 10X70's is the amount of light they gather from a dark sky....after looking through them a little while, lower them and you can still see the two bright field circles against the dark sky. Probably a common occurrence with big binos but the Nikons were my first experience with this.

How are you holding those 10x70's?

I know last year I was hand holding my 11x80's using my elbows on anything remotely stationary  :facepalm:

Twice I've began building a counter weighted parallelogram mount. First out of hardwood when I was working in the joinery shop but it's still not finished and then began getting all the materials together again where I work now (engineering firm) using 2x1 aluminium box section. I ordered both 9&10mm brass tubing for the M8 bolts to run inside as a makeshift bearing. Also got a sheet of 3mm PTFE Teflon again to ensure minimal friction on all moving parts, sourced the steel bars and plates for the counterweights. All that remains is to actually build them, just never seem to find the time.

Back when I was younger (and healthier), I could decently handhold them with my elbows braced on my chest but not now. I had bought the dedicated Nikon binocular mount with these and now I face the area of the sky to observe, attach the binos to my tripod (extended at its tallest), sit in a chair and lean the tripod over toward me.  The front (single) leg of the tripod folds back and the other two, along with me holding the binos to my face, make three points of stability. I keep the center post adjustment slightly loose and I can scan a good area of the sky in front of me by leaning (right/left) and leveling via the center post.

Sounds complicated the way I explained but just put it on the tripod and lean it over against you....pretty stable for what it is and it didn't cost anything as I already had the tripods for my cameras.

Added:  I forgot that I would also mount a Leica Heavy Duty Ball Head to the tripod, giving even more flexibility of adjustment.
« Last Edit: May 03, 2015, 05:26:00 PM by SAK Guy »
- Robert




Quo Fata Ferunt
"It's sad that governments are chiefed by the double tongues." - Ten Bears


us Offline SAK Guy

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #27 on: May 03, 2015, 05:20:10 PM
Parallelograms are a hassle. I had one made from wood and I donated it (it was donated to me also). For sticking in certain areas of the sky's zenith (like Lyra and Cygnus during summer) I tried this.
(Image removed from quote.)
But binoculars with diagonals are the answer really. Thankfully the best comes lower on the south, the Sagittarius and the milky way around it. The IS is sufficient for that.
When I had my 15x70,I used the diagonal technique described by G.  Seronik. With right hand catch left tube which rests on hand's back. Left hand drives and focuses.

That is a good setup!!!   :cheers: :cheers:
- Robert




Quo Fata Ferunt
"It's sad that governments are chiefed by the double tongues." - Ten Bears


gb Offline tosh

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #28 on: May 03, 2015, 05:50:07 PM
I need to explain that my reason for wanting the parallelogram was so that my young son (7yr) can also use any of my optics (Not the Leica's  :ahhh)
The main appeal of the parallelogram is that it can be set up with counterweights to move effortlessly in almost any direction whilst still delivering rock solid stabilty when locked off.

The idea of a boom on the tripod was my original intention until I discovered the parallelograms. For my own use with differing heights it seems to be my best option.  I did intend to complete both.......and I will just as soon as I find the time.
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gb Offline tosh

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Re: Let's see your monoculars
Reply #29 on: May 03, 2015, 05:58:30 PM
@kkokkolis

I always assumed that canon strongly advised against using their IS system on tripods?
Do you have to have yours turned off?, why the need for a tripod when IS is available?

Doesn't it take a while for the boom to settle when making  adjustments?

Nice tripod by the way, I'm guessing that's the manfrotto with built in optional horizontal capabilities.

Also, when you say diagonal are you referring to the 45degree angled bins? I bought a pair of those 3yrs ago, couldn't get on with them at all and the individual ocular focusing sent me crazy, I always felt the need to tweak, thus setting the wobbles off yet again. Needless to say I quickly sold them on.
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« Last Edit: May 03, 2015, 06:07:20 PM by tosh »
I don't claim to know it all, but what I do know is right.


 

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