WR 2014 ISSUE 6140 WR 2014 ISSUE 6 141

RESEARCH & TRAINING

Image-stabIlIsed bInoculars are

bInoculars that have a mechanIsm

for decreasIng the apparent motIon

of the vIew due to bInocular

movement.

Image-stabIlIsed bInoculars are

desIgned to mInImIze Image shakIng

In hand-held bInoculars. hIgher

power bInoculars brIng the Image

closer, but the Image shIft Is also

greater wIth even smaller movement

of your hands. Image-stabIlIsatIon

technology In bInoculars ensures

Instant adjustment of the Image to

compensate for the motIon. major

brands makIng Image-stabIlIsed

bInoculars Include fujInon, carl

zeIss, nIkon, canon, and fraser

optIcs.

A WORLD m u c h c l o s e r by Meldt van der Spuy

Once you’ve used a good pair of image-stabilised or IS binoculars (bino’s)

it’s really hard to appreciate using “normal” binoculars again. IS bino’s eliminate hand tremor, jitter, vehicle vibration, movement and eye strain and instead of seeing things shaking about you can actually enjoy what you are looking at for a change.

IS binoculars make such a difference that

one actually looks forward to using them.

Who cares if you have the best optics in the world if everything you see is jumping around in a mad, nerve-wracking jumble, especially when other people are moving about reaching for the biltong.

IS binoculars are a little heavier than normal bino’s as most require a couple of batteries. They

are well thought out with good “eye relief” so you can use them with glasses or sunglasses. Many are nitrogen filled and fog proof, and if not waterproof then mostly weatherproof to some degree.

Before going any further here is a very basic Binoculars 101 user guide in case you can’t remember what all the numbers mean:

RESEARCH & TRAINING

A wider FOV will be more useful than a

smaller one whilst bird watching, for example – so you can follow a

bird flitting from tree to tree or branch to branch without losing sight of it. The FOV will be stated in the specifications of

your binoculars.

1. A 10 x 36 binocular means that the magnification of the object is 10 x what the eye can see. In other words whatever you are looking at will be 10 x closer than the naked eye.

2. The second number, in this case 36, is the diameter of the front lens in millimetres. Generally speaking, the larger the diameter of the front lens the more light it can gather, which is good in low light conditions. It will also be heavier, simply because it is larger.

3. Something else to consider is the “field of view”, or FOV.

wIth just a press of a button you wIll

notIce a small shudder of the Image as

It kIcks In and then everythIng Is calm.

the Image Is serenely stIll, and the

addItIonal comfort In vIewIng Images

lIke thIs really can’t be overstated.

WR 2014 ISSUE 6142 WR 2014 ISSUE 6 143

Jan • 082 574 4859 • info@opticsinternational.co.za • www.opticsinternational.co.za

Premium Binoculars, Range Finders, Rifle Scopes, Spotting Scopes and Thermal Imaging

Kahles8x42, 10x42

Leica Geovid10x42 HD-B

Swarovski ATXModularSpotting ScopeATX 65, 85, 95

L-3 Thermal-Eye 30 Hz Thermal

Imaging Camera

Leupold VX-61-6x24, 2-12x42,

3-18x44/50, 4-24x52

RESEARCH & TRAINING

FUJINON developed the first internal image-stabilising system in 1980. The Stabiscope. These military specked bino’s are still available but newer models called “Techno-Stabi” are the ones to go for, being a lot cheaper and lighter. They are also waterproof. An internal high-speed gyro motor stabilises a dual-gimballed optical assembly, and by all accounts they are superb.

• The 14 x 40 takes 4 AA batteries, weighs 1,300 g and costs around R12,000

• The 12 x 32 takes 2 AA batteries, weighs 1,070 g and costs about R4,000

ZEISS make a mechanical gimbal mounted pair of bino’s which use a magnetic damping action. No batteries are required.

Their 20 x 60 extreme magnification is good for astronomy and very long-distance game viewing, but they are too powerful for most purposes, unless you want to seriously guestimate a particular springbok’s horn length in the middle of the Karoo when it’s almost out of sight. They weigh 1660 g and cost around R70,000.

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RESEARCH & TRAININGRESEARCH & TRAINING

NIKON have a series called StabilEyes which use optical compensation for movement by using prisms with gimballed frames to give you rock-steady images.

They are waterproof. The 14 x 40 weighs 1340 g, and takes 4 AA batteries for around 6 hours of continuous use, and has 2 modes:

• A ‘Land mode’ for when footing is secure to compensate for vibration from hand shake and for when you want to follow a moving subject.

• The stronger ‘On Board’ mode which is useful in a high wind, for example.

It costs around R17,500.

The 12 x 32 also has 2 modes of stabilisation, weighs 1130 g, and takes 2AA batteries which last for about 6 hours of continuous operation, and costs about R12,000.

The 16 x 32 has a VR pause button for a more comfortable view when following fast-moving objects, takes 2 AA batteries, weighs 1120 g, and costs around R13,000.

CANON has an IS system originally developed for their camcorders and adapted to binoculars. Refer to three popular models on page 145.

scan the Qr code to watch a vIdeo from warehouse express

and canon showIng off the features and benefIts of theIr

Image stabIlIzer bInoculars. It demonstrates how the

technology works.

Their popular range includes one waterproof 10 x 42 model which lasts for 4 hours of continuous use and costs about R22,000.

Others include 2 “all weather” models: An 18 x 50 at 1180 g for R17,000 and a 15 x 50 for R14,000; both 2.5 hours continuous use.

Then there are 12 x 36, 4 hours of continuous use for R9,500; 10 x 30, 4 hours of continuous use for R6,000; and 8 x 25, 6 hours of continuous use for R4,500.

FRASER OPTICS make the extremely rugged ”Stedi-Eye” range of gyro-stabilised binoculars used by military and naval forces.

Their 14 x 40 costs about R62,000. There is also a slightly cheaper 12 x 40 and a 10 x 40 model for around R44,000.

Some models allow quick-change eyepieces for varying magnifications and snap-on night vision options. They are very rugged and tough and will withstand all kinds of abuse. If you want not to worry about caring for your bino’s, and would prefer to simply leave them in the back of your ‘preferred’ double-cab, then these are the ones to go for.