Good idea, or dangerous?

[erick]

Interesting set of "stocks" for stabilising binocular viewing.

I'd add some padding on top of the shoulders.

However, I'd suggest use with caution if anyone else is around:- "Hey, look over there!" swing round and take a child's eye out!

http://skytonight.com/equipment/home/Image-Stabilize-Your-Binoculars.html

[shredder]

I'd have to vote for dangerous! Very dangerous!

You wont catch me trying this idea. A few points spring to mind.

1. As you mention, turning around will take out the person behind/next to you.
2. The Occy Strap used to hold down the bino, only needs to slip off a fraction and it would have a high chance of taking your eye out.
3. Far too tempting for someone (probably the person you just took out by turning around) to walk up behind you, give it a good yank at the back and take your head off....
4. Far too easy from someone to walk into it from behind in the dark (much like 3 but accidental) and again force the whole rig into your head, eyes, neck etc.

Not to be used within reach of Bart Simpson would be my recommendation.

[JohnH]

Err it's not the 1st of April is it??

[ving]

probably somewhere john... or maybe someones getting in early.
you know, the early bird gets thier eye taken out... or something

[shredder]

I mean just look at it. It screams out to me to give it a good pull from behind..... and I am not a nasty of vindictive person (pacifist really), but I dont know if I could help myself on seeing one of these.... all it lacks is a hand grip at the back for it....

[RB]

Way too dangerous............:eyepop: :screwy:

[ballaratdragons]

A De-capitator!!!

But it gives me ideas of how to improve it! :thumbsup:

[Calin]

Come on, you got to be kidding, a cheap camera mount is way better than this contraption, what a joke, incredibly dangerous, and very silly. A simple idea gone mad ... very embarrassing to admit to being a 'senior editor for Sky and Telescope' I'll have to remember this guy's name and no follow any advice he might have ... about anything .....

Given that it's posted on the mag's web site ... a law suit just waiting to happen .. how long before the first injuries start rolling in .... don't try this at home folks, home made and not much thought to safety, in fact none at all ....

I agree with shredder :screwy:

[erick]

Maybe something like this - replace the camera with binoculars :D

[ballaratdragons]

Whoah Eric, that's a SteadyCam! They cost about $80,000!!!!!!

But the idea I have is similar.

[erick]

Yes, Ken - in essence that was what I was saying - I think a body mounted device would be needed, given the author thinks one's arms are unsatisfactory in this regard!

I'll stick with tripods/mounts that sit on solid ground.

[norm]

Hmm, interesting contraption :screwy:

If you've gone that far, you may as well build a parallelogram mount. I understand his desire to obtain stability when viewing , but lugging this 5 foot frame seems a bit odd to me.

I could imagine someone yanking it from behind him :lol: , not to mention the sore shoulders!

[DobDobDob]

Well being a student of anatomy, I can tell you that you would not last 5 minutes holding that up in the shrug position as demonstrated, your neck would ache and you just would have to drop your shoulders for relief within minutes.

My idea of viewing through binoculars is to look for protracted periods of time, because you can see so much in the FOV, so anything that makes your neck and shoulders even more tired than they would get normally would not get my vote.

[OneOfOne]

I remember reading the original article a few months ago. Although I could see the danger, at least it shows an idea. Maybe someone can refine it to make something better.

I remember a while ago on the New Inventors a guy had invented a clip for holding boards down for decking. Rather than having to drill holes and nail them down, this clip simply pushed into the side of the board giving a much neater finish. "Brilliant" I thought until one of the panel asked "how do you remove a board?".....the guy scratched his head and said "I didn't think of that":sadeyes: I am sure someone could solve this problem with a little thought.

I guess even "bad" inventions can lead to a plethora of "good" ones.

[sheeny]

Hmmm I just had a great idea to make this safe!

Paint it black! If what you can't see can't hurt you...:rofl:

Al.

[Ambermile]

Umm - why did he not just make a 90 degree bend at the back of the shoulders and hook it to his belt?

Arthur

[middy]

... or even another occy strap attached to the front, down and under his crotch, and hooked on the back of the device to secure it to his shoulders. :scared: :rofl:

[netwolf]

There is always the "poor mans steadycam" DIY
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/

Regards

[leon]

I suppose if you only used it when you were alone it may not be so scary, other than that very dangerous.

Leon

[Omaroo]

LOL! If all else fails... draw on old an Douggie quote :)