How To Correctly Adjust A Binocular Diopter

I have been asked many times over the years how to properly adjust a binoculars diopter and there really is only one correct method that causes the brain to balance the right and left eye properly.
I hope you enjoy from my teaching and experience...
Feel free to leave any comments or suggestions
cheers
Peter
#binocular #tutorial #lesson101

[@69dlx84]

Just saw this but it is the most correct way to adjust binocs I've seen. As you said, most people get it wrong. Thumbs up!

[@markstone1619]

I just purchased a set of Athlon Midas UHD 8 x 42 binoculars and was glad to see in their instruction manual they also say to adjust the diopter in the same correct manner you described (cover the objective lens and not close/squint an eye). My diopter on this set and past sets always works out best at near zero, a hair positive.

[@shogun884]

Good job, there is always a correct way to do things like most people I've been squinting for years !!!

[@terrywho22]

Ha ha ha. Truly one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments. Many thanks!

[@alejandrojuliandipp7162]

Elegant and simple solution, so much so that neither myself not anyone I know had thought of doing it like that. Thank you for your knowledge.

[@PeterKotsa]

🙏

[@AlexanderB.]

This is so helpful. All my life I was struggling with diopter correction using the squinting method 😉 and the idea of using the lens cover never came to mind, thx Peter 👍🏻

[@PeterKotsa]

Glad it was helpful Alexander, my pleasure :)

[@AlexanderB.]

@@PeterKotsa I just tried it...much better 🔭

[@emgee44]

Thanks for posting, i thought i knew the correct way to set the focus but your method of covering up the lens with lens cap is simple yet effective.

[@PeterKotsa]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chris-ip4pk]

That's the best way I've seen and sounds exactly right,thank you.

[@PeterKotsa]

Works for me 😊

[@stevekerr1386]

Excellent information! Thanks for posting!

[@rob45x]

Just stumbled onto this video. I've seen a few of your recent watch vids. But this is cool. I dug up a old pair of binoculars that don't have the pop out eye cups lol

[@JenniferCostanzo61]

Great video. What kind of binoculars are these? Also I see only black through my Jason binoculars. Need the ones you have!

[@PeterKotsa]

Carl Zeiss 8x42 Victory

[@Mayonaise_VR]

i buy a $50 one i thout i got scamed but after see this it helped a lot

[@szmako]

Hi Peter! Great help, very useful! P.S.: is itt the Zeiss Victory FL 7x42 bino?

[@PeterKotsa]

This one was the Zeiss 8x42 FL...nice unit 👍

[@szmako]

Thanks! I've got the Swarovski SLC 8x42 HD modell (manufactured btw 2010-2013). Would like to try the AK prisms.

[@andrewsavs2328]

Wow! Immediately improved the image. Thanks.

[@PeterKotsa]

👍

[@erikkekkonen2941]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge Sir !!!

[@PeterKotsa]

My pleasure Erik cheers

[@Mixedpuppy]

That was a helpful technique. Thank you.

[@brucekent7442]

What if my porro prism has a diopter on the right side and a focus knob in the middle is it the same method?

[@PeterKotsa]

Same thing 👍

[@hipstachio]

Wow that was so simple haha thank you

[@veinspect]

Thank you, Thank you and Thank you!

[@PeterKotsa]

You are so welcome!

[@OutdoorsIQ]

Well done, I’m sure this will help many with a clearer image :)

[@PeterKotsa]

Cheers, thanks for the feedback

[@timsul3092]

Excellent, now that works.

[@videonasty89]

Makes perfect sense. Great tips and great looking pair of bins too!

[@PeterKotsa]

Glad it was helpful! cheers

[@malin7919]

Does it matter the distance of the object used to adjust?

[@PeterKotsa]

Usually I like to adjust at standard viewing distances If I spend heaps of time looking at things around the 50m mark, then that’s where I adjust it for optimal viewing 👍

[@primecreator]

If one wears glasses do you leave the glasses on when using binocs?

[@PeterKotsa]

Yes, you just lower the eyecups to suit that position. I have some friends who wear glasses and they don't wear them during binocular use, they just simply adjust the diopter to suit their prescription and away you go..either way works ..cheers Peter

[@derekshearer9049]

There are people out there with digital cameras that don't know their camera has a diopter.

[@PeterKotsa]

Hi Derek, that's correct

[@SajuJoseph555]

Hi - how do I adjust the bins with a central focus wheel and a diopter wheel on the right eye? Thanks

[@PeterKotsa]

same method... close one eye focus etc adjust and away you go

[@LS6WS6]

Thank you Peter for the verry informative video on this.

[@PeterKotsa]

welcome 🙏

[@MexicanRmz]

What if my Binoculars doesn't have a lock for left or right? I can adjust it so I can see perfectly clear with both eyes individually, but together they still look doubled

[@PeterKotsa]

If it looks doubled, it means that your binocular is out of collimation Needs a service to get the optics lined up cheers

[@yoniarandre]

do i need to take off my glasses if i use binocular?

[@PeterKotsa]

It's up to you. If you do then simply adjust the dipper to suit your eyes discrepancy. If not, then place the eye cups to their lowest position to cater for the glasses. I ahem friends with glasses that use them with and without their glasses. they seem to enjoy the view better without the glasses on.cheers

[@rorando8704]

thats something new i learn today, next how bout a step by step full build of a watch 😅

[@PeterKotsa]

coming right up..LOL

[@nedshead5906]

Can't believe I've been squinting, didn't even occur to just put the objective cover on LOL, I knew something wasn't quite right and there had to be a better way to tune my bino's, Cheers! *meopta meopro optika lr 10x42 hd

[@PeterKotsa]

Nice binocular..👍

[@nedshead5906]

@@PeterKotsa Just arrived in Aus through Winchester, were supposed be here in April, but worth the wait👍

[@PeterKotsa]

@@nedshead5906 very sharp glass and super clear..well done 👍

[@paulalderson6920]

How do get it as a single image?

[@Nathaehehehrjrhdb]

Nicely said

[@PeterKotsa]

Thanks mate

[@AJMacDonaldJr]

Thanks! 😃

[@PeterKotsa]

welcome

[@charliemaddock3459]

Thanks mate

[@PeterKotsa]

welcome

[@russellmartin3951]

What if you wear glasses. Don't you put the eyecups all the way in with glasses? Your method focuses with eyecups pulled out. So, are you implying that we should take our glasses off when using binoculars?

[@PeterKotsa]

Absolutely. Glasses are required because our eyes differ in strength sometimes and we get them corrected at the optometrist with the right eyeglass prescription. When using binoculars, you have the ability to balance the left eye in conjunction to the right eye and thus personalise the binocular to your eye compensation as needed. Hope that helps, cheers

[@SuperHyperExtra]

@@PeterKotsa Correct, except for astigmatism. If you have astigmatism you have to use your existing corrective lenses with the binoculars. If you wear contact lenses, no problem. If you wears eyeglasses, you have to put the eyecups all the way in and you are going to want to find a binocular with long eye relief.

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

@@PeterKotsa I know this thread is 3 years old but your answer to Russel Martin's question is extremely confusing. He asked you two different questions in regards to your method used in this video. You answered one of them but didn't specify which you were referring to. You start off your answer by saying, Absolutely. Was that to answer his first question which was: should we ignore your instructions in the video to pull out the eyecups during an adjustment if we are eyeglass wearers? Or were you answering his second question which was, should we follow your instructions in the video to the letter, by pulling out the eyecups fully, regardless of whether or not we wear eyeglasses and for us not to wear our glasses at all when using binoculars? Your answer doesn't seem to address his specific questions and instead you go on to speak about the benefits of how binoculars can adjust to balance both eyes and that glasses are important for people with poor vision.

[@PeterKotsa]

@@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life Personally I would adjust the binocular as stated in the video (with the eye glasses OFF) Then put my glasses on and use the binoculars with the eye cups all the way in to offer the correct fov as needed. If that doesnt work (because of extreme astigmatism) then potentially try the same method in the video, however with the glasses ON...see if that works. At the end of the day it is a little bit of trial and error involved with differing eyes and eyeglass wearers Hope that helps cheers

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

@@PeterKotsa Yes, thank you, that explantation was crystal clear and much appreciated. I will try that method before I start my next skygazing session. I bought my first pair of binoculars a few days ago, the Nikon Action Ex 10x50 and I am excited to start my journey into amatuer astronomy.

[@stokebailey]

You fail to mention the need to move the diopter to get the a sharp focus. You only mention adjusting the focus wheel.

[@PeterKotsa]

Hi Anne Marie Did you watch the video properly? On the binocular I used, the diopter adjustment is incorporated int he focus wheel. As soon as you pull out the focus wheel on click, it engages the diopter at the same time disengaging the dual barrel focussing system cheers

[@19Clutch69]

Confused...arent you changing the setting for both lenses on the center adjustment?

[@PeterKotsa]

As soon as you pull the centre adjuster out to the first position, it dis-engages one side of the focussing mechanism Then it re-engages when pushed in 👍 cheers