Go Back   IceInSpace > Beginners Start Here > Beginners Equipment Discussions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 24-10-2020, 06:44 PM
Terranova (Adrian)
Registered User

Terranova is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Perth
Posts: 10
using binos - pain in the neck - literally

Hi all,
got my new pair of Orion 7x50 the other day. I have a hand tremor so I've mounted it on my camera tripod that has a central column but no pan function. Anyway no matter how I set up the tripod, move it up or down, angle it whichever way, I cannot get a good view of the moon/Jupiter etc without cranking my neck into strained positions.
are there any practical solutions/ DYI options for making a suitable mount system that will help?

thanks
Adrian
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 24-10-2020, 07:32 PM
wayne anderson (Wayne)
Registered User

wayne anderson is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 338
Hi Adrian, I have 8x56 binoculars and find laying down on a bean bag or banana lounge with cushions for extra support is a simple way to enjoy using binoculars and reduces strain on the neck but this idea on the link below seems very interesting, photo from link attached.

https://www.mpas.asn.au/tip-binochair.html
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (BinoChair1.jpg)
169.9 KB78 views
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 25-10-2020, 07:31 PM
Terranova (Adrian)
Registered User

Terranova is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Perth
Posts: 10
Thanks mate. I'll try that.
I'm really interested in looking at the four moons of Jupiter but can't hold binos steady enough.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 25-10-2020, 07:32 PM
Terranova (Adrian)
Registered User

Terranova is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Perth
Posts: 10
BUMP
anyone else out there? Help very much appreciated.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 25-10-2020, 07:45 PM
gaseous's Avatar
gaseous (Patrick)
Registered User

gaseous is offline
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 782
I concur with Wayne. Lying flat on your back with a pillow under your head, and a few other cushions/pillows to support your arms / binos is one way to go. Have the support pillows under your arms/elbows so there is no arm work other than basically resting the binos on your face.The other is to shell out a large handful of cash for a pair of Image Stabilized binos, which are the bees knees if you can afford them.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 25-10-2020, 08:25 PM
astro744
Registered User

astro744 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,244
You need a parallelogram mount. Plenty of DIY plans online as well as commercial versions.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 26-10-2020, 08:51 PM
AG Hybrid's Avatar
AG Hybrid (Adrian)
A Friendly Nyctophiliac

AG Hybrid is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toongabbie, NSW
Posts: 1,581
When I seek to enjoy some bino time I just use my reclining camping chair. Its cheap, its comfortable, transportable and has a couple pockets to reach for my favorite beverage while cruising the skies.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 27-10-2020, 02:55 AM
Renato1 (Renato)
Registered User

Renato1 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Frankston South
Posts: 1,262
I just lift the whole tripod up and look at the sky.

But as your hand tremor may affect that, ideally one would have a tripod where one can easily raise and lower the central column with a rotating lever.

Then, while sitting on a stool, pull the tripod back to be on two legs and raise or lower the binoculars on the central column to match your eyes with wherever you are aiming. This means that you won't be straining your neck much. I do this all the time with my 25x100 binoculars and can aim pretty high in the sky (though not to overhead).

I also mount the binoculars backwards - that is - with pan handle aimed away from me, rather than digging into my chest.
Regards,
Renato

Last edited by Renato1; 27-10-2020 at 01:55 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-11-2020, 12:29 PM
Hoges (John)
Registered User

Hoges is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Burrumbeet
Posts: 244
Perhaps try a first surface mirror - bino mount:https://firstsurfacemirror.com/binocular-mirror-mount/
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-11-2020, 02:00 PM
dannat's Avatar
dannat (Daniel)
daniel

dannat is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Macedon shire, Australia
Posts: 3,426
u need a tall tripod, hvt11 or the bigger one, go to 2m, then you can get underneath easily
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-11-2020, 12:47 PM
madbadgalaxyman's Avatar
madbadgalaxyman (Robert)
Registered User

madbadgalaxyman is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 936
Here's an elegant but expensive ( if bought commercially) solution to the problem of using the bigger binoculars .

You might successfully hand-hold a pair of 14x70s, but I have my doubts that anyone could view through 25x100s in a comfortable way.

This is a very xxxy commercial product, a parallelogram binocular mount, that left little or no change from 2K Ozzie dollars.

But it enables me to Move and to Point and to Support my 25x100s, and to view through them comfortably, with almost the same ease as if I was hand-holding a pair of 7x50s.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20200713_173320.jpg
Views:	34
Size:	182.9 KB
ID:	267756


The 100mm Binos weigh 4 kilos, and at 25 power, you are essentially faced with the task of having to mount a telescope tube that gives a telescopic view; they function more like a telescope than anything else. So the main problem the user faces is " how on Earth can I actually use these things???"
Cheers,
madbadgalaxyman

Last edited by madbadgalaxyman; 04-11-2020 at 12:57 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-11-2020, 07:24 PM
FI93 (Norm)
Registered User

FI93 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Moss Vale NSW Australia
Posts: 35
Another bino's no neck pain solution

Another method where you can be seated at a table with your tea/coffee at hand and no neck pain is to make a Mirror mount.
Plenty of mounts if you google and can be made in your garage in half a afternoon.
The big thing is the mirror MUST be a FIRST SURFACE mirror, you can go very expensive OPTICAL QUALITY or visit the Morebank supplier (whose daughter is a amatuer) who will get you a very decent mirror cut to size.
These mounts can be used for children up to 90 year olds, I mounted mine on a lazy suzan after putting a 150mm bearing underneath (cheap online).
my big bino's 20x100 where used by every child at a school astro night and they had it worked out inside 30 seconds.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 06:08 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement