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To Infinity and Beyond
Summary: io1o discusses common issues with disassembling binoculars, specifically focusing on the eyepiece end for cleaning. They elaborate on the incorrect reassembly that leads to focus problems, such as focusing beyond infinity and suggest methods to avoid these errors. io1o shares insights on synchronizing the focus mechanism and warns against disassembling binoculars with zoom features, citing potential complications and a preference for non-zoom options. papso22 seemingly responds to inquire if there is a question in the detailed explanation.
In addition to problems resulting from removing the binoculars objective lenses and/or barrels and refitting them improperly, as discussed in my other article, people frequently disassemble the focusing mechanism to get at the inside of the eyepiece end, presumably to clean. I then see a common error that results from incorrect reassembly; focus beyond infinity.
There is a little retaining screw accessible through the far end of the pivot tube that when unscrewed allows the eyepiece bridge to be unscrewed right out of the pivot. So far so good, but what the inexperienced don't realize is that there are two focus adjustment screw-threads involved, and they work in synchronization. The one attached to the eyepiece bridge is obvious, but the central focus knob is also on a finer thread screwing into the pivot. If the knob is not at the right distance from the bottom of it's seat when the bridge screw is re-screwed into the knob, the focus range will be out of kilter. Usually I see the focus being at infinity at about half the available range with the close range much reduced, leaving a large part of the range uselessly focused beyond infinity.
There is nothing beyond infinity and no point in trying to focus on it.
This can easily be put right, by trial and error, but it would be better to leave the focus knob exactly as it is when the bridge screw first comes out of the knob, so that it will be in sync when it is screwed back in. Of course it may be disturbed during any cleaning manipulations as the eyepiece tubes will need to be removed to remove the prism covers to wipe the prisms. A piece of masking tape may be used to hold it in position during these operations.
If the binoculars have a zoom mechanism, disassembling the eyepiece bridge in this way is likely to lose the synchronization between the magnifications between the two sides, if you are even able to reassemble it at all. I haven't seen all the ways that zoom is implemented, but the ones I have seen require complete disassembly of the eyepieces and a lot of puzzling out how things work to get it all back together properly.
I am not a fan of zoom for binoculars anyway, only interested in the mechanism. Zoom is less useful than people imagine, and implementing it compromises optical quality.
tressygirl
Mentor3 weeks agoPost this on the Discussion Board @io1o there you may find others with the same interest as you, and then perhaps be able to start up a 'conversation. '
This member to member forum is for asking questions regarding eBay accounts / purchases / selling etc.
papso22
Mentor3 weeks agoDo you have a question?