· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Binoculars Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: << 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | >> (show all) Bensi professor emeritus Reged: 02/22/09 Loc: Italy, Near Rome Re: Goerz Binoculars Helinox of Captain Horsley [Re: Simon S]       #4294387 - 01/05/11 05:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Simon ... you're the one who took the Delactis, only 10 seconds before me ...? Edited by Bensi (01/05/11 05:57 PM) Post Extras:       Simon S Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/07/07 Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK Re: Goerz Binoculars Helinox of Captain Horsley [Re: Bensi]       #4294401 - 01/05/11 05:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Whoops! Sorry Post Extras:       Bensi professor emeritus Reged: 02/22/09 Loc: Italy, Near Rome Re: Goerz Binoculars Helinox of Captain Horsley [Re: Simon S]       #4294423 - 01/05/11 06:00 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   No problems!! My son was talking and I've lost 2-3 minutes, when I did try to take it ... ooops! A friend had beat me ..! Post Extras:       hallelujah Post Laureate Reged: 07/14/06 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains TASCO IMPERIAL 7x50 IF [Re: Simon S]       #4298389 - 01/07/11 01:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Simon, (My latest Treasure Chest Find) I found, and purchased, this new, Tasco Imperial, Individual Focus, 7x50 for only $15USD. They originally wanted $25USD. http://www.rubylane.com/ni/iteml/639046-RL-115?popup=1#pic1 Hallelujah Post Extras:       hallelujah Post Laureate Reged: 07/14/06 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: hallelujah]       #4298401 - 01/07/11 01:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Simon, (Here's the other one) I purchased it for $45USD. http://www.rubylane.com/ni/iteml/360506-Swiftx20Skipperx207X50x20Binoculars?popup=1#pic1 Stan Edited by hallelujah (01/07/11 01:20 PM) Post Extras:       Simon S Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/07/07 Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: hallelujah]       #4298543 - 01/07/11 02:31 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Stan nice find, and without a doubt clean inside. Are the Swifts internally clean, if they have no haze they will be very good. Post Extras:       hallelujah Post Laureate Reged: 07/14/06 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: Simon S]       #4298699 - 01/07/11 04:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Simon, The Swift Skipper 7x50 showed up this morning, via USPS. I spent some time cleaning it up externally, the body and the lenses, then went outside in my backyard: it seems bright and clear & this low magnification 7x works much better with my eyeglasses on, especially on very distant aircraft. (my left eye is the worst one for focus) Top and bottom, it does exhibit some pinchusion distortion on straight, fence-line, metal pipe, as well as telephone cables. Not really a big deal for me, as I rarely view straight lines. I did not see any CA while looking at cables against a blue sky. There is very little dust/debris internally. Looks like, for its age (1970's), it was well cared for. I borrowed some extra rubber eyecups, that I had for one of my Celestron eyepieces, and put them over the metal eyecups to keep my eyeglasses from getting scratched. This particular Swift Skipper 7x50mm has BK7 prisms. The focuser is stiff, with a little play (backlash?). Might need some new grease one of these days. Hinges are stiff, but not a problem. The right diopter is the smoothest of the three. The binocular & the case both have a definite scent of age, kinda like going to your grandparents house, where they have lived there all their lives. Once I get back to my seasonal job, this year (March), I may send it in to Cory Suddarth and have him give it a good internal cleaning, prisms etc. That's it for now, my wife & I are going out for a late lunch. Stan Edited by hallelujah (01/07/11 07:52 PM) Post Extras:       KennyJ The British Flash Reged: 04/27/03 Loc: Lancashire UK Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: hallelujah]       #4298936 - 01/07/11 05:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   < I rarely view straight lines > If you ever change your viewing habits , Stan , I can recommend the Russian ZomZ 12 x 40 . That model should have been renamed " Fencemaster " ! Kenny Post Extras:       hallelujah Post Laureate Reged: 07/14/06 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: KennyJ]       #4299004 - 01/07/11 06:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Kenny, I wiil keep my "eye out" for one. http://cgi.ebay.com/Russian-Baigish-Binoculars-12x45-NEW-and-Great-/150543251352?pt=Binocular&hash=item230d13b798 This one was also manufactured at the Kazan Optical Mechanical Plant. Stan Edited by hallelujah (01/07/11 06:34 PM) Post Extras:       hallelujah Post Laureate Reged: 07/14/06 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: Simon S]       #4299436 - 01/07/11 10:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Simon, I tripod mounted the Swift Skipper this evening and went outside for a test run under the stars. (temperature, just above freezing) 1. The 7mm exit pupil is NOT as 'forgiving' for my eyes (astigmatism & beginning stage of cataracts) as higher magnification binoculars with smaller exit pupils. Focusing, even with eyeglasses, was a struggle. 2. The stiff focus wheel will DEFINITELY have to get a change of grease, something lighter? in viscosity. (A job for Cory) Focusing was extremely tedious and tiresome. (I also read where BK-7 prisms do not produce images as sharp as BAK-4) 3. Not sure why, but, the central sweet spot (on axis) appeared smaller/crowded, when stargazing. Because I am so accustomed to higher magnification binoculars, generally gravitating towards 20x, I felt like my eyes were really straining to see the things that I normally view. Don't get me wrong, I like the Swift Skipper, but, I think that I will get the MAXIMUM use from it during the daytime. During bright daylight my eye pupils are in the neighborhood of 2mm vs. 6+mm when dark adapted. I think that, once the stiff focus wheel is corrected, I will enjoy using it much more. I'm glad that I was able to add the Skipper to my collection. Each binocular seems to have a personality of its own. Stan Post Extras:       pcad Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/17/05 Loc: Connecticut Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: hallelujah]       #4299494 - 01/07/11 10:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   As long as the binocular was designed to use BK-7 the prism material doesn't decrease sharpness. Unless used in a longish focal ratio design BK-7 does reduce the amount of light getting through the binocular. It's all the other little things like having flat surfaces on the prism faces and the quality of the figure of the objective and eyepiece elements and the quality of the polishing of all the optical surfaces that makes an instrument sharp. Post Extras:       Simon S Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/07/07 Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: pcad]       #4300501 - 01/08/11 01:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Stan, I am surprised you notice distortion in the image, I have never noticed it myself. The eye cups wind up and down so you can set eye relief. Post Extras:       hallelujah Post Laureate Reged: 07/14/06 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: Simon S]       #4300711 - 01/08/11 03:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Simon, How old is the one that you own? Mine was originally purchased back in the 70's. The pinchusion distortion, on straight lines (left/right & top/bottom), is minor and not something that I would loose any sleep over. Thanks for the reminder, the metal eyecups are set all-the-way out, that more than likely affected my viewing, with eyeglasses on, last night. What is the best cleaning agent, or solution, to use on the removable, adjustable, metal eyecups. The left one sticks and needs to be cleaned, seems rather greasy. Stan Edited by hallelujah (01/08/11 03:20 PM) Post Extras:       Simon S Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/07/07 Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: hallelujah]       #4300717 - 01/08/11 03:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I would use WD40 to soften the high viscosity grease. Should work on the still focus wheel but only do a small amount at a time. Here are mine. http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/3107877498/ Post Extras:       hallelujah Post Laureate Reged: 07/14/06 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: Simon S]       #4300735 - 01/08/11 03:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Simon, Thanks, I'll give the WD 40 a try. The serial number on mine is 6-662858...I guess that mine is a little newer than the one you have. Do you have any idea when the Skipper was discontinued? Post Extras:       Simon S Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/07/07 Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: hallelujah]       #4300743 - 01/08/11 03:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes yours is early made in 1966. Are you sure there is no haze on the prisms, most who look through this binocular are impressed. Post Extras:       hallelujah Post Laureate Reged: 07/14/06 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains Re: SWIFT SKIPPER 7x50 [Re: Simon S]       #4300769 - 01/08/11 03:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Based upon the age of this binocular, I am planning on sending it in to Cory S., sometime this year, to have the prisms cleaned, as well as as anything else (objective/eyepiece lenses) that may require internal cleaning. It's just a matter of time. Edited by hallelujah (01/09/11 01:11 AM) Post Extras:       rydberg scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 02/25/04 Loc: Richmond, KY, USA New acquisitions [Re: hallelujah]       #4304104 - 01/10/11 07:31 AM Attachment (37 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello everyone: I have been lurking here for a while, feeding my addiction Since I have to keep binoculars coming, why not start with seventies vintage Japanese ones? I have "won" two sears yesterday: a 7x35 with 11 deg FOV (Sears Discoverer Mod 6266) and a 10x50 (Sears Mod 6213 with a 8 degree fov). The first one looks very clean, the second... We'll see when they get here. I think I'll need to keep Cory Suddarth address handy. First the Discoverer Marco Post Extras:       rydberg scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 02/25/04 Loc: Richmond, KY, USA Re: New acquisitions [Re: rydberg]       #4304106 - 01/10/11 07:32 AM Attachment (39 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Second, the 10x50 Mod 6213 Marco Post Extras:       Simon S Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/07/07 Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK Re: New acquisitions [Re: rydberg]       #4304451 - 01/10/11 11:14 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Marco, I have a pair of the 7x35 Sears under the name "Chinon" a respectable binocular but there are better 7x35's of this era. The 10x50 Sears looks very similar to my Hilkinson model, I quite like these wide 10x50's although not a great astronomy binocular due to limitation of the optics. 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