Old_Painless
member
Reged: 02/13/06
Posts: 12
|
|
I bought a 8x32 roof and it came with a flimsy neckstrap, I threw the strap away, it was a disgrace for the bino... now I would like to (buy) replace it with a regular neoprene neckstrap which is actually for SLR camera use. Is this a good idea? (its 40 mm wide, so its perhaps overkill) Any comments suggestions?
|
Luigi
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 1749
Loc: Massachusetts
|
|
I generally prefer to use a bino harness rather than a neck strap. It's much more comfortable and the bins don't flop around.
--------------------
17.5" f/5 Discovery Truss
IM715 7" f/15 MCT, Eon-120ED refractor
CG5A coffee grinder, Orion Skyview Alt-AZ
35,19,15 Pans.9 Nag. Meade 24.5 4kSWA, 4.7 5kUWA.
BO-TMB 7mm planetary.
Zeiss Diascope 85
Zeiss, Leica, Canon IS, Fujinon, Nikon binos
|
Paul G
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/08/03
Posts: 1721
Loc: Freedonia
|
|
OpTech makes very comfortable binocular and camera straps.
--------------------
Gus
|
Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2360
|
|
Whatever you are comfortable with is what is right for you! Fitting accessories that suit you to them is one of the ways to make a pair of binoculars more enjoyable to use. EBay is another source for items like that.
--------------------
Wes
Atlantic Beach, FL
Some bino’s from Miyauchi 5x32 Binon's up through Garrett 20x110 Signature's,
Some telescopes from a Stellarvue 80mm NHNG up through a couple of 8” reflectors…
And a wonderful 4.25" Delmarva Shiefspiegler!
Some good friends, made here on C/N.
Oh- several cats and a wonderful wife!
Anyone want a cat???? :-O
"When your work speaks for itself- Don't Interrupt" -Gamble Rogers
|
Rich V.
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 924
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada USA
|
|
I second the Op/Tech straps; I use the "Fashion Strap Bino" which is 1-1/2" wide neoprene w/o quick releases on a number of my bins.
Available at many photo shops or B&H Photo in NYC.
Rich V
--------------------
Binoculars: 33-150x100 Saturn III, 16x70FMT-SX, 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 E2, 7x35 E, 8x30 E2, 7x26 Custom, 8x23AS Diplomat, 8x23 Travelite
Scopes: C9.25, 6" f8 reflector, SV80S
|
edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4209
|
|
"perhaps overkill"
NEVER-whatever is confortable
edj
--------------------
n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
|
ronharper
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 964
|
|
Optec for me too. Not their narrowest cheapest model, which is hard-edged and not very comfortable, but one with the wider pad that has a band of fabric stitched all around the edges. I just put one on my 8x42 last night.
Ron
|
JAS
member
Reged: 02/26/08
Posts: 33
|
|
I'm in love with my Fujinon 10x50s but must admit that they are heavy. In the Optec line, would you recommend the fashion strap or the harness? ( I use them for birding as well as astronomy.)
Thanks=
jas
|
Rich V.
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 924
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada USA
|
|
The Fashion strap may be a bit narrow for heavy Fujinons. My 16x70 Fujis came with a version of the Op/Tech Pro strap w/o the quick releases; they say "Fujinon" instead of "Op/Tech". They're too heavy for ANY strap but the curved 2-1/2" wide Pro model would certainly make the 50mm Fujis more comfortable around the neck.
PRO strap
The 2" wide Classic strap may be enough:
Classic strap
Even in hot weather these straps are cool and comfortable; I wore my Nikon E2s/ Fashion strap all day in baking sun at the NASCAR road race in Sonoma on Sunday with no ill effect. 
Rich V
--------------------
Binoculars: 33-150x100 Saturn III, 16x70FMT-SX, 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 E2, 7x35 E, 8x30 E2, 7x26 Custom, 8x23AS Diplomat, 8x23 Travelite
Scopes: C9.25, 6" f8 reflector, SV80S
|
Bob A (SD)
sage
Reged: 07/16/05
Posts: 329
Loc: Black Hills of South Dakota
|
|
What about those big thick heavily padded neoprene floatation straps such as the big orange #49172 from Swarovski or the #V15051 model from Vero Vellini (aka Pioneer aka Steiner, etc.)?
There have even been a few birders who have opted for these for heavy bin carry comfort despite the day-glo orange color.
I'm currently using a Vero Vellini V35522 55mm wide air cushion comfort strap with my 34 ounce 7x42SLCs. Very comfortable! It's a tad long but then again it allows me to have the option for a cross-chest bin under arm carry. BTW a similar 55mm Vellini "bin" strap is on sale for $9.88 instead of the >$25 street price at Cabellas right now.
--------------------
Bob
N44°0'19" W-103°18'8"
-Intes-Micro MN56/Moonlite CR2/Antares 8x50RACI
-SkyWatcher EQ6 SynScan v3.21/Hanna saddle head/Casady saddle/Losmandy dovetail
-StellaCam II/10" RS monitor/Hauppauge WinTV-USB2/Mogg 0.6X
-Speers-Waler SWA 5-8/10/24.7mm; Russell SWA 13/19mm; Kunming SWA 32mm; UO Abbe 5/7/9mm; TV PowerMate 2.5x
-Criterion RV-6 Dynascope
-Bins: 7x42B SLC; 8x32DCF-WP/9x21UCF; BD6.5x32IF; 9x35IF GoldRing/8x30Yosemite; Orion 9x63;
Carson 8.5x42 11°; old 7x35s 11.5°, 11° & 10.5°
|
Old_Painless
member
Reged: 02/13/06
Posts: 12
|
|
Thanks for all your replies, its very helpful.
|
Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14375
Loc: Hurricane Alley
|
|
I use my thin plastic cheap neckstrap to cut cheese. I find it's easier and safer to use than cheese wire.
--------------------
Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & Celestial Irons
|
Littlegreenman
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/09/05
Posts: 973
Loc: Southern California
|
|
I've used the Orion Deluxe Binocular Strap
Orion Strap
Which at $8.95 is a bargain. Anything is better than the thin plastic or leather garrotes* than for some inexplicable reason are usually enclosed with binoculars.
I bought a used binocular that came with a guitar strap. That was nice.
I've never used or heard of the Op/Tech straps. They look intersting. A couple of questions:
1. How does the quick release work? Some straps for cameras and binoculars have fussy ways of attaching, with parts that do or don't get in the way. I've seen a camera strap or clip that can swivel 360 degrees, so it doesn't hang up. (Although your strap can get twisted).
2. The Op/Tech Fashion strap comes in different colors? Any recommendation for a color for the best astronomical view?*
Littlegreenman
*I'm not serious...
|
DJB
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1222
|
|
Hi all, FYI:
When I buy a new binocular, the flimsy strap is the first to go. When I buy a used binocular, after cleaning the lenses, the strap is the first to go. I hate those cheap plastic things from the 1940s and 1950s design.
I generally purchase from Binocuars.com and Eagle Optics. I may pay more, but the comfort level to me is more important, and, you can attach lens caps to them on a supporting landyard or such.
Best regards,
Dave.
|
KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10031
Loc: Lancashire UK
|
|
I'm of the opinion that more ridiculous even than the thin plastic waist length cheese slicers , are the even thinner string type offerings that allow some compact binoculars to swing and dangle dangerously around the nether regions !
These are not restricted to sub £300 models , either , but with gadgets so tiny as compact binoculars , is it not easy to substitute anything much more substantial without nullifying the only advantage of them , which is the capability of carrying them in a small pocket .
Kenny
--------------------
Two eyes and a preference to use both
Zeiss 7 x 42 BGAT
Captain's Helmsman 7 x 50
Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E
Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50
Helios 15 x 70 Observation
Strathspey 20 x 90
Televue 76 APO
Zeiss 85 Diascope
Helios 102 f5 refractor
Various eyepieces barlows tripods mounts etc.
Panasonic Lumix DMC - TZ5 digital camera
|
Paul G
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/08/03
Posts: 1721
Loc: Freedonia
|
|
Rich,
That's where I ran into OpTech. I found my Fujinon bino strap extremely comfortable and tracked down the manufacturer. I have OpTech straps on all my binos and cameras, very comfortable, even with a big camera with telephoto lens hanging around my neck all day.
--------------------
Gus
|
Rich V.
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 924
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada USA
|
|
Gus, I found Op/Tech the same way; the Pro strap that came with the Fujinons now happily suspends my heavy SLRs.
The O/T straps make great gifts for friends who enjoy bins/ cameras as well.
LGM- the different colors can be practical as well. I have clear drawers that hold my binoculars in a closet; each bin has a different color strap so I don't get confused. Gray= 8x30, green= 10x35, black= 10x43, camo= 10x50 etc. This way I'm postponing the effects of "oldtimer's" disease. 
Rich V
--------------------
Binoculars: 33-150x100 Saturn III, 16x70FMT-SX, 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 E2, 7x35 E, 8x30 E2, 7x26 Custom, 8x23AS Diplomat, 8x23 Travelite
Scopes: C9.25, 6" f8 reflector, SV80S
|
Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5280
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
|
|
The neck strap that comes on the Zeiss FLs is the most comfortable I've ever used.
They sell the Zeiss EZ-Comfort strap for a little under $20. I assume it is the same as the strap that comes on the FLs.
http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=&pid=9456&m=41
Sorry, I don't see them listed on Astronomica/Christophers.
Rich
|
DJB
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1222
|
|
Hi Kenny,
You are so correct about the waist-level cheese slicers; I had totally forgetten about these, even though I have run into them two or three times.
I either cut them down to retain my specs, or I simply tie the garbage bags up with them--and out they go.
Best regards,
Dave.
|
Old_Painless
member
Reged: 02/13/06
Posts: 12
|
|
Considering that I only use the binos occassionally for short periods of time, I didn't opt for the harnas type... but I bought the MATIN neckstrap, which is very comfortable and of good quality.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5317
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
