Hello,
My wife’s Leica binocular does not have a ¼ inch threaded socket for the typical binocular mounting post, for mounting the binocular on a photographer’s tripod. I had a look around the web for alternative mounting devices and all I came up with was a Leica model that looked quite bulky and cost a lot too!
So, using a few bits and pieces, I made my own:
- 1 ¾ inch length of 70mm diameter PVC plumbing pipe.
- Aluminium bar 4mm (T) x 25mm (W) x 85mm Long.
- A strip of 1.5mm closed cell foam.
- Blind rivets – 4 off.
- A dab of contact adhesive.
As a picture is worth 1000 words, I’ll let the attached photos do the talking.
Some key points are:
- Angle the binocular support cups, if the bino optical tubes are tapered.
- Make the mounting plate 4mm thick to recess the tails of the blind rivets.
- Fit the domed, shallow rivet head on the inside of the binocular support cups.
- Glue a strip of 1.5mm closed cell foam strip inside the binocular support cups to cover the rivet head and provide a cushioned surface for the binocular optical tubes.
- Trim the two binocular support cups from semi-circles to crescents as per the profile of your binocular optical tubes.
- Use a continuous length of Velcro strip sandwiched between the binocular support cups and the mounting plate, held in place by the x4 rivets.
- Place the soft, furry side of the Velcro on the inside where it contacts the binocular body.
The support is mainly for bird watching, although I suspect that it could be used for astronomical observations up to around 60 degrees altitude.
Cheers
Dennis
PS – the unassembled version in the series of photos is the prototype that I built before completing the final model with a 4mm thick mounting plate.