Optisan -> Binocular Mount!

[Soldant]

Those who have been following my story know that I decided that the Optisan must die a terrible, painful death. That part is still coming (which I'll be glad to share with you all) but meanwhile here's what I ended up doing with the mount.

I did indeed decide to turn it into a binocular mount for my 10x50 binoculars. Although they're not that bad holding in your hand, after a while they do get heavy and they still make picking out any detail hard to do. Lacking any form of skill in manual arts myself (blame it on computers) I got my dad to work on it. The results aren't bad:

(This image has a Dialup Warning).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/Soldant/PDR_0875.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/Soldant/PDR_0874.jpg

The mount is a bit wobbly (due to the fact that it's a thin piece of metal holding the binoculars in place) and adjusting them for different eye spacings screws it up, but apart from that they work really well. Once I've found an object I just leave it and it's fine, doesn't shake that much unless a nasty wind picks up.

In all, the Optisan's tripod has been saved. A camera tripod was totally wrecked in the making, but part of it has found new life. As for the optical tube... that's coming soon.

[Starkler]

Good stuff :)

Im looking for a lightweight tripod myself for mounting this on

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6656

[Soldant]

I saw that actually when I was browsing through for ideas. It looked complex :P

[Starkler]

I want to reduce the weight and complexity by removing the eq and wooden tripod, and substituting a lightweight aluminium tripod. The idea being to have a lightweight setup to take away on my work trips.

[Soldant]

Well I managed to cut myself on it. My finger hurts. Seems like I'll need to spend a bit of time filing away the sharp edges.

[RAJAH235]

Soldant, This is what I made for my 7 x 50's. Holds 'em really firmly. Bit of 1/8th thick foam packing around the centre shaft to protect the paint etc. & 1/8th screw to adjust tension.
The base is tapped 1/4 " aycs, & contrary to what it looks like, there's no rust on it. T'is 16 g gal. iron strap.
:D L.
ps. Sorry you cut your pinky.

[Soldant]

Interesting idea. Wish I could do that but there's no bar to attach it to :(, hence I have a little screw which holds it in position. I'm going to try to find some stonger metal or something I could use to brace it, the current piece is flimsy.

[RAJAH235]

You could always buy a 'Tasco' 'L' bracket from Bintel. $24?
Or make one out of 4mm aluminium. :D L.

[Soldant]

Nah, homemade works :) We've got some stuff somewhere around here that'll do a better job.