Bobbyoutback
30-01-2022, 11:11 PM
Hi all ,
I have a love for super wide field Binoculars , these days you can only get around 9deg view !
Now to the point ' I buy vintage Japanese binoculars from 10deg & up , many arrive out of collimation , I can do some basic fixes but not enough depending each pair .
Below is a post from CN on the subject , please advise me if this is correct :question:
The term "collimation" refers to the parallelism of the optical axes of the binoculars to the axis of the central hinge of the binoculars. This is true collimation.
Merger of images is not true optical alignment. In this case, the optical axes may not be parallel and the image quality may suffer.
The alignment procedure will vary depending on binocular designs. It is best if the binoculars have the ability to offset the lens in the eccentric frames.
First, the eccentric frames must be offset so that the centers of the lenses are aligned with the centers of the outer frame of the lenses.If there is a strong ghosting of the image, you should evaluate the concentricity of the optical channels of the binoculars.For this it is better fix your head. If the displacement is quite noticeable, it is better to remove the objectives and adjust the prisms with a collimator (for example, a laser) using a mask put on the end of the lens body.Warning! In Soviet binoculars an similar, may be applied up to three spacers are allowed under the hypotenuse edges of the prisms for parallel passage of light. You cannot do without equipment if this position is violated .
The prisms should be placed on temporary springs and their most favorable position should be noted.It is imperative to control the horizontal image. The permissible deviation is 0.5 degrees, which is clearly visible visually. For this purpose, you can use a plumb line or a good horizontal level. Then the prisms are installed on permanent fixing springs.The eccentric frames must be offset so that the centers of the lenses are aligned with the centers of the outer frame of the lens housing.Little by little, you need to shift the eccentrics of both objective lenses until the images are merged.If collimation of the binoculars is provided by tilting the prisms, the optical axes of each half of the binoculars should also be pre-aligned. It is convenient to do this with a laser collimator.
Of course, before turning the screws, you need to mark them. In addition, try to determine if the image quality is the same in both halves of the binoculars. Place the binoculars with the objective to the eye in front of the light. Move the eye to the desired distance, evaluate the concentricity and roundness of the pupil. For this it is better fix your head. It is better to start aligning with the half of the binoculars where there is a displacement and / or a worse image.
Record where the image moves when you turn the screws. You need to turn the adjusting screws a little and see if the image quality suffers, see if the images are merged.If both halves of the binoculars produce poor images,the binoculars need to be adjusted evenly.
See if the ends of the binocular lenses are parallel. If not, then the axes of the binoculars are not parallel to the center hinge of the binoculars and this is a manufacturing defect. In this case, it may not be possible to perfectly align the optical axes of the binoculars because there is a taper error.It is better to return such binoculars to the seller.
For a final adjustment use a star or a distant point light source, relax your eyes and look, then defocus the customization eyepiece and then you should see at the same time a rounded spot with a dot in the center. If you do the opposite, the eyes have time to accommodate and the discrepancy will not be obvious.
Binoculars before this must be install at your interpupillary distance. Be sure to check if there is a unification of images in the entire range of interpupillary distances.
In any case, if possible, it is better to give the binoculars to a qualified optician. In addition, it is impossible to check the prism system for parallel light transmission without equipment.
In conclusion, remember about possible alignment errors.In general, there are about 10 optical offset errors, I will not list them here. If the eyepiece lenses are not centered in the barrel or the eyepiece barrel is off-center during rotation, ghosting may occur during operation. In the first case, it is necessary to center the eyepiece lenses, then fix them with a threaded eyepiece ring. In many cases, this will raise the class of binoculars to a new level.
If there is a displacement of the center of the eyepiece lens mount relative to the outer holder, try to displace the threads to another position to minimize errors. When working with a laser collimator, a situation may arise when the beam hits the center of the target, but the optical center will be tilted. In this case, if possible, a second diaphragm with a hole should be installed inside the pipe, then the adjustment accuracy will increase.
I have a love for super wide field Binoculars , these days you can only get around 9deg view !
Now to the point ' I buy vintage Japanese binoculars from 10deg & up , many arrive out of collimation , I can do some basic fixes but not enough depending each pair .
Below is a post from CN on the subject , please advise me if this is correct :question:
The term "collimation" refers to the parallelism of the optical axes of the binoculars to the axis of the central hinge of the binoculars. This is true collimation.
Merger of images is not true optical alignment. In this case, the optical axes may not be parallel and the image quality may suffer.
The alignment procedure will vary depending on binocular designs. It is best if the binoculars have the ability to offset the lens in the eccentric frames.
First, the eccentric frames must be offset so that the centers of the lenses are aligned with the centers of the outer frame of the lenses.If there is a strong ghosting of the image, you should evaluate the concentricity of the optical channels of the binoculars.For this it is better fix your head. If the displacement is quite noticeable, it is better to remove the objectives and adjust the prisms with a collimator (for example, a laser) using a mask put on the end of the lens body.Warning! In Soviet binoculars an similar, may be applied up to three spacers are allowed under the hypotenuse edges of the prisms for parallel passage of light. You cannot do without equipment if this position is violated .
The prisms should be placed on temporary springs and their most favorable position should be noted.It is imperative to control the horizontal image. The permissible deviation is 0.5 degrees, which is clearly visible visually. For this purpose, you can use a plumb line or a good horizontal level. Then the prisms are installed on permanent fixing springs.The eccentric frames must be offset so that the centers of the lenses are aligned with the centers of the outer frame of the lens housing.Little by little, you need to shift the eccentrics of both objective lenses until the images are merged.If collimation of the binoculars is provided by tilting the prisms, the optical axes of each half of the binoculars should also be pre-aligned. It is convenient to do this with a laser collimator.
Of course, before turning the screws, you need to mark them. In addition, try to determine if the image quality is the same in both halves of the binoculars. Place the binoculars with the objective to the eye in front of the light. Move the eye to the desired distance, evaluate the concentricity and roundness of the pupil. For this it is better fix your head. It is better to start aligning with the half of the binoculars where there is a displacement and / or a worse image.
Record where the image moves when you turn the screws. You need to turn the adjusting screws a little and see if the image quality suffers, see if the images are merged.If both halves of the binoculars produce poor images,the binoculars need to be adjusted evenly.
See if the ends of the binocular lenses are parallel. If not, then the axes of the binoculars are not parallel to the center hinge of the binoculars and this is a manufacturing defect. In this case, it may not be possible to perfectly align the optical axes of the binoculars because there is a taper error.It is better to return such binoculars to the seller.
For a final adjustment use a star or a distant point light source, relax your eyes and look, then defocus the customization eyepiece and then you should see at the same time a rounded spot with a dot in the center. If you do the opposite, the eyes have time to accommodate and the discrepancy will not be obvious.
Binoculars before this must be install at your interpupillary distance. Be sure to check if there is a unification of images in the entire range of interpupillary distances.
In any case, if possible, it is better to give the binoculars to a qualified optician. In addition, it is impossible to check the prism system for parallel light transmission without equipment.
In conclusion, remember about possible alignment errors.In general, there are about 10 optical offset errors, I will not list them here. If the eyepiece lenses are not centered in the barrel or the eyepiece barrel is off-center during rotation, ghosting may occur during operation. In the first case, it is necessary to center the eyepiece lenses, then fix them with a threaded eyepiece ring. In many cases, this will raise the class of binoculars to a new level.
If there is a displacement of the center of the eyepiece lens mount relative to the outer holder, try to displace the threads to another position to minimize errors. When working with a laser collimator, a situation may arise when the beam hits the center of the target, but the optical center will be tilted. In this case, if possible, a second diaphragm with a hole should be installed inside the pipe, then the adjustment accuracy will increase.