More and more, binoculars are coming on the market with eyecups that twist-up with detents. Some have 4 settings - from all the way in to all the way out, plus two in between. Eyeglass users, should, of course, use the fully in position.
I am curious how many non-eyeglass wearers use an intermediate setting? My old Leicas 10x42s have a pull-out 2 setting positions and I see perfectly in either position. The Swarovski ELs have 2 setting twist-up eyecups. Others brands have twist ups with multiple detents. I have seen some binoculars where one eyecup collapses too easily in and things seem amiss until discovered.
So here are my questions (and maybe it should be done as a poll):
1. Do you think more than 2 eyecup positions really add true function?
2. What eyecup position do you use on your binoculars and why?
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Bruce
Hi Bruce, as it's your first post here, a belated welcome to birdfroum from all the staff here.
Personally, I think binoculars offering multiple eye-cup positions can only be beneficial for the birders. We all have different facial build, our eyes are not all positioned the same... some have deep-set eyes. A binocular that fits the individual is paramount imho, especially when the differences in optical quality of the top binos is so marginal these days. Comfort and 'feel right' is very very important.
As for myself, I use the Zeiss 10x42 FL (with multi position eye-cups) and have the eye-cup one step in from the maximum.
regards,
Andy
Bruce,
An interesting question. When I initially evaluated the new HGL binoculars from Nikon, one of the first things I noticed that was different from the HG version was the multiple stop eyecups. I immediately questioned the utility of having more than 2 positions - it just didn't seem to make much sense to me. I later brought my 8x32 HG binoculars to the dealer selling the new 8x32 HGL model, and compared the 2 side by side just to make certain that my first impression of the optics being identical was correct.
My conclusion was that there was no difference at all between the HG and HGL optically, but I did find (interestingly enough) that I preferred the HGL eyecups because it just felt more comfortable and less "strainfull" with the eyecup set one click in from the fully extended position. This is probably an artifact of my own facial structure, and will probably not be shared by everyone who tries those binoculars. However, it dispelled once and for all my previous opinion that there was no need for multiple-stop eyepieces... at this point I think it is a great idea and that more future binocular models should incorporate that feature.
Best wishes,
Bawko