12 replies to this topic

[balcon3]

I have a fairly standard IPD of around 63mm. However I have a rather broad nose (otherwise known as a big schnoz), particularly at the bridge. My Vortex Viper 10x50 roofs are very comfortable to use. Last week I received delivery of a pair of Oberwerk 15x70 Deluxe. The eyepieces are wider. I can make them work, but I have to rest the eyecups on my orbit. I can't get them down into my eye sockets while maintaining a useable IPD. One detriment of resting them on my orbits is that a lot of stray light comes in from the side. So I did some measurements. The Viper 10x50 eyepieces are 42mm wide, while the Oberwerk 15x70 are 47.5mm. So the Vipers have 21mm for nose clearance while the Oberwerks have only 15.5mm. That appears to make the difference for me. I think I will probably keep my Oberwerk 15x70 because they seem to be excellent optically (haven't been able to use them much yet) and get a Bino Bandit-like device to help with the stray light issue.  But for future binocular purchases, I will be looking for binoculars with eyepiece widths of 42 or 43mm maximum. Eyepiece width does not see to be a parameter that is published, at least not on the Oberwerk or APM sites. Does anyone have a resource which lists eyepiece width or know how to find this information? Does anybody else have this problem, and how do you solve it? Are there brands of binoculars that are known for having narrower eyepiece widths? Is this a Porro vs roof issue? I will be happy to hear from people who have dealt with this issue.

Edited by balcon3, 23 April 2025 - 04:46 AM.

[TOMDEY]

I have a somewhat similar experience with my wonderful Nikon WX 10x50 --- the eyepieces are (necessarliy) huge to accommodate the gargantual 9^o field. Thankfully, my IPD is an unusually generous 71⁺mm, which mitigates the issue. Doctors have isolated the problem to my gargantuan frontal lobes... so, in that sense... It's a ~Catch-22".    Tom

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[harbinjer]

I recall Tony having the same issue with the Fuji  Polaris 16x70, he liked the optics but couldn't fit his nose.   I do recall there being talk about this for BTs and eyepieces.  I don't think this is a porro vs roof issue, as both have to fit your eyes. I don't really think anyone has tried to make inward tilting eyepieces, and that doesn't seem like a great avenue of design research.  You may just have to ask here when you're interested and hopefully someone who has them will measure. Or you could look at a picture and try to measure based on length published. Usually they publish a picture orthogonal to the hinge axis which should work for that. 

[Jon Isaacs]

I've had issues with the twist up style eyecups on some Porro prism binoculars, the Orion 10x50 Ultra views and Atlas (Eagle Optics) 10x42s are two that come to mind. The mechanism is larger in diameter than it needs to be.

 

What I have done is remove the twist up mechanisms and replace them with rubber eye cups...

 

Jon

[JoeFaz]

I would imagine that MFRs/rebranders would respond to an email requesting eyepiece diameter with that info. There's no benefit to them withholding that info from a potential customer that obviously has some requirement. Not every "stat" will be provided on the website, but that doesn't mean it isn't available if you ask for it.

[pat in los angeles basin]

When that question came up with me, I measured the objective diameter in the pics, factoring the external diameter of the tube in relation to the objective size stated, then use that ratio to generate a crude diameter of eyepiece just to get a handle on the true diameter if no users of the bino in question pipes in.. 

 I feel a bit sorry for the users that have close set eyes and (or) a large schnozz.    Pat

[glittledale]

i have exactly the same issue and actually returned the oberwerk 15x 70 deluxe for the same reason. 

 

i do not wear glasses and typically roll eyecups up fully to observe, but i have found with some eyepiece designs that i am quite comfortable with the eyecup rolled down by letting the eyecup contact closer to the eyebrow and outside of eye socket.  i had not stumbled on this technique when i had the 15x 70 deluxe a few years ago.  i'd be curious if this works. 

 

i find with the stock 14mm eyepiece (with a large eyecup diameter) that came with my 70mm and 100mm oberwerk bt's that they work beautifully with the eyecup rolled down - they are quite comfortable.  

 

for me, nothing is better than a 42mm diameter eyecup with a rolled edge of maybe 3mm diameter, but by finding different positions for the eyecup, other designs can be very nice.  i find the vortex eyecup quite comfortable as well, along with zeiss, swaro, nikon edg, maven B series.  i know i've tried others that fit but that was a while ago and i might have gotten more picky over the years...

[balcon3]

i have exactly the same issue and actually returned the oberwerk 15x 70 deluxe for the same reason. 

 

i do not wear glasses and typically roll eyecups up fully to observe, but i have found with some eyepiece designs that i am quite comfortable with the eyecup rolled down by letting the eyecup contact closer to the eyebrow and outside of eye socket.  i had not stumbled on this technique when i had the 15x 70 deluxe a few years ago.  i'd be curious if this works. 

 

i find with the stock 14mm eyepiece (with a large eyecup diameter) that came with my 70mm and 100mm oberwerk bt's that they work beautifully with the eyecup rolled down - they are quite comfortable.  

 

for me, nothing is better than a 42mm diameter eyecup with a rolled edge of maybe 3mm diameter, but by finding different positions for the eyecup, other designs can be very nice.  i find the vortex eyecup quite comfortable as well, along with zeiss, swaro, nikon edg, maven B series.  i know i've tried others that fit but that was a while ago and i might have gotten more picky over the years...

I had the same experience. I also do not observe with eyeglasses. With the Vipers I view with the eyecups all the way up. With the OB Deluxe 15x70, at first I used the same approach and they were very uncomfortable. But, like you, I found that if I keep the eyecups all the way down, the eyecups can rest on my eyebrow and  nose bridge  and I can make it work. It's not as natural a fit as with the Vipers, but the rubber of the eyecup is soft so it does not hurt my nose and I can view with them. The biggest issue is that there is more light coming in from the side since the eyecups do not fit inside my eye sockets.

 

A little while ago I tried a pair of APM 10x50 MS individual focus Porro binoculars. The eyecups of these binoculars are wide, and the focus wheels on the eyepiece really dug into my nose. Since the focus wheels are hard metal that was quite uncomfortable and I did not buy them. So now I am wary of IF binoculars. I am curious: have you found IF binoculars that work for you?

 

I am glad to have your list of binoculars that work for you, which suggests that they could work for me as well.  I am also curious about BT-70's. At some point I may go for a pair, especially since I have pairs of eyepieces already for use with my binovewers. 

[glittledale]

it does sound like we are in the same boat.   

 

you might want to try a pair of binobandits on  the 15x 70 deluxe.  i find that they do a lovely job of eliminating stray light from the sides - if they fit over those eyepieces.  i suspect that they would. 

 

the i.f. binocular that fits very nicely for me is the nikon 7x 50, 10x 70, 18x 70 red rings (and their hp counterparts) with the winged eyecup inserted.  the round thin walled eyecup is not as comfortable.  the world seems to be divided on the nikon winged eyecups.  maybe 98% hate em?

 

let me know if you are heading back to vermont any time soon.  you can try my bt-70's.  you could try the nikons as well.  

Edited by glittledale, 25 April 2025 - 05:58 PM.

[StephenVP]

My IPD is 63 and the bridge of my nose should have it's own zip code but I find the Deluxe series Binoculars from Oberwerk to be as if they were made for me (I own the 10x50 and 15x70D) while unfortunately the EDU series, or at least the 12x50EDU would require someone with at least 65mm IPD to fit my sized nose in there somewhere. The views are awesome but the ergonomics don't play well with my face. It will be showing up in the classified soon.

~Stephen

[balcon3]

it does sound like we are in the same boat.   

 

you might want to try a pair of binobandits on  the 15x 70 deluxe.  i find that they do a lovely job of eliminating stray light from the sides - if they fit over those eyepieces.  i suspect that they would. 

 

the i.f. binocular that fits very nicely for me is the nikon 7x 50, 10x 70, 18x 70 red rings (and their hp counterparts) with the winged eyecup inserted.  the round thin walled eyecup is not as comfortable.  the world seems to be divided on the nikon winged eyecups.  maybe 98% hate em?

 

let me know if you are heading back to vermont any time soon.  you can try my bt-70's.  you could try the nikons as well.  

Thanks so much for your offer ! I do plan to be in Vermont this summer, late July and August. I would love to have the chance to look through your BT and binoculars. The  GM8 that I bought from you is serving me very well with the Mewlon 180c. I put encoders on it so I can use DSC’s.

[balcon3]

My IPD is 63 and the bridge of my nose should have it's own zip code but I find the Deluxe series Binoculars from Oberwerk to be as if they were made for me (I own the 10x50 and 15x70D) while unfortunately the EDU series, or at least the 12x50EDU would require someone with at least 65mm IPD to fit my sized nose in there somewhere. The views are awesome but the ergonomics don't play well with my face. It will be showing up in the classified soon.

~Stephen

It is possible that my IPD is less than 63. I haven’t had it measured by an optometrist. I am just going by measuring the distance between the eyepieces when the Vipers feel right on my face. But because of the wide exit pupil on the Vipers, eye placement does not need to be precise, and my actual IPD might be smaller. Either that or there is something about the shape of our faces that is different, such as brow or orbit.

[glittledale]

Thanks so much for your offer ! I do plan to be in Vermont this summer, late July and August. I would love to have the chance to look through your BT and binoculars. The  GM8 that I bought from you is serving me very well with the Mewlon 180c. I put encoders on it so I can use DSC’s.

excellent!  i'm so glad the gm-8 is working out. 

 

i'll be here, binoculars in hand.