Binoculars

Binoculars

  
      
A great optical instrument used to view distant objects with both eyes is a quality pair of binoculars. They can bring wildlife,  sporting events, or vessels at sea up close.  They can also be utilized in basic astronomy instead of a telescope.  Twin barrels containing a system of lenses,  one for each eye  is how binoculars are structured.  The distance between the eyes varies from person to person,  so there must be way for adjusting the distance between the binocular eyepieces. Therefore, the barrels are hinged together making adjustment for your comfort very easy. 

Binoculars usually have three settings. One setting is used to change the focus on objects of different distances. The others are personal settings which vary from person to person.

 If used just by one,  you can set once and do not need to change. These are the following settings:
 
A focusing knob is usually provided in the center which focuses both sides at the same time, allowing to focus the binoculars on objects at various distances.

They are hinged together at the center. Often there is a graduated scale at the hinge from which the distance, usually in millimeters can be read. If a user remembers the distance, they can quickly bring any pair of binoculars back to setting that is proper for them.

On the right eyepiece, a second focusing adjustment is provided, usually with a scale and markings in diopters. When the left binocular is perfectly focused, the right binocular will be slightly out of focus. It can be brought into focus by adjusting the right eyepiece focus. Once the right eyepiece focus is set correctly, it will be correct at all distances and does not need to be adjusted again.
For many people, this adjustment should be set to the zero mark.

Most modern binoculars are prismatic binoculars. The lens systems used in them are similar to the design of an “astronomical” refracting telescope, but a system of erecting prisms is added to turn the image right side up.

Warning!
Never point binoculars at the sun. If you look at the sun directly without any eye protection through binoculars you will possibly be blinded.  On a sunny day take care that the binoculars point well away from the sun.

Family Fun at the Zoo

Family Fun at the Zoo 

A Zoo is a sanctuary which never fails to provide a sense of peace and harmony. Seeing animals in their natural state helps us to revert back to our purest form and offers the opportunity to catch a glimpse of subtle expressions and behaviors of the animals in their natural environment. This experience marks the beginning of a wonderful encounter that one day will surely help to form a connection between us and the animals with which we share our existence.

No one would ever think of going off on a wildlife viewing trip in some distant exotic place without taking along binoculars to get a better look at the animals. Yet strangely, almost no one seems to think about taking them along on a trip to the zoo. While modern zoos have done much to improve the living conditions of the animals under their care, these improvements, due to their greatly increasing the complexity of the areas in which the animals are housed through the addition of terrain and foliage cover, have often made the animals more difficult for the visitors to see. For this reason, just as would be the case when viewing the animals in the wild, some sort of magnification is helpful in getting the best look at them.

Because trips to the zoo are usually a family affair, any binoculars brought along need to be suitable not only for the adults but the children as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags; binoculars, magnification,viewing 

Monoculars as stocking stuffers

Monoculars as Stocking Stuffers

Unless you use jumbo size Christmas stockings, it’s hard to fit full size binoculars or even compact binoculars in your gift stockings.

So, why not give a monocular instead?  Monoculars are great stocking stuffers. A monocular is always small,  even smaller than a compact binocular;  some, like the close focus monocular are thumb sized,  and nearly any monocular will fit in a shirt pocket or into a purse. Many are small in price as well.

No,  a monocular won’t do the job of binoculars for serious work.  Monoculars are at their best when you just need a quick peek or look,  but the fact that they are always with you means you may use a monocular much more than you might expect.  Kids, especially, love them.

Monoculars are perfect for applications where weight and size is an issue.  A Monocular is typically small enough where it can be put into a pocket or a purse.  Golfers use Monoculars that have built-in reticals to judge the distance from a pin. Monoculars with very close-focus viewing capabilities are favored by those with vision impairments or butterfly watchers.

Family Fun and Safety on the Chesapeake.

Family Fun and Safety on the Chesapeake.

  Binoculars are a necessity for boaters safety and waterproof  binoculars would be a plus.

 First, they are effective safety devices that enable boaters to check far ahead for obstacles, such as items floating in the water, and important while keeping a lookout for other boats or swimmers.

 They can also be used to check the horizon for any signs of changes in the weather or choppy water to escape a storm.

 These are just a few examples of how binoculars can be useful,  and even vital, to have aboard a boat.  Being out on the water is extremely enjoyable, but safety must come first.

 Waterproof binoculars need not be used solely for safety, however.

 Depending on the area, birds, fish, and even whales and dolphins can be seen in great detail through binoculars, because they allow users to watch wildlife without scaring it off by approaching too closely.

 Best of all are the Dolphins! The Chesapeake Bay is often referred as “Dolphin Disneyland”. Dolphins and Dolphin families congregate and play in these waters. Bring your binoculars and your camera, and take your family on a spectacular cruise on the Chesapeake Bay.
 
 The Chesapeake Bay is also a bird watchers paradise. According to the Virginia Department of Tourism, the Chesapeake Bay “is one of the best birding spots in the state”.  Bird watchers from around the country plan yearly pilgrimages to tour these waters to see the many different species.

Camping With Your Kids

Camping With Your Kids

Respect of Mother Nature may help save kids’ lives. Outdoor survival skills will last a lifetime. These skills include what to do when you get lost, how to start a fire, catching and cleaning fish, and identifying wildlife.
In addition, respect for the outdoors will help preserve the beauty that you enjoy for other generations to follow. When teaching youth about the outdoors, we also learn more about ourselves. Outdoor ethics are easy to teach when they are young, when they look to role models, like yourself.  

Kids love camping, even if they’ve never gone.  Just the thought of sleeping in a tent, going on hikes, catching fish, swimming in a lake or riding in a canoe, and gazing at the starry sky while toasting marshmallows around the campfire … well, it all sounds like fun to them.  Lots and lots of fun.  And there’s so much to learn about, they can hardly wait to get started!

Leave the gameboys, the TV’s, and the cell phones at home – you won’t need them.
The object is to do something different; something that you can’t or don’t do at home.
Take the kids on a hike, perhaps with some binoculars. Look for animal tracks. Collect pine cones or tree leaves for pressing. Carry a bird watching guide with the binoculars; older children may be interested in the avian wildlife. Look for funny twisted trees. Watch the fish swim in the creek. There is much to do when on a hike for all ages.

Double your exitement !

Double your Excitement!

Can you see what I see?
The excitement of watching athletic sports can be doubled through the use of binoculars, because most of the time you have to watch them from a stand in the distance.
You cannot go without binoculars when you watch tennis and volleyball even though you can sit nearby, if you want to watch the expression of each player.
Of course in horse racing, the binoculars are a must to see the bounding muscle of a thoroughbred at the last straight-a-way and the desperate determination of a star jockey.
You can enjoy the drama of a championship fight with tears and laughter, and on the victory stand of a great motor sports race as if you were on the track. Binoculars, which can pull in the far away scene to a close-up view, present you with an exclusive and original drama.
Be sure to fully enjoy your next special day watching your favorite sport, and having a close up view of the action, with a pair of good binoculars.