How To Use A Lensatic Compass For Beginners - Cammenga 3H

This video covers the basics of how to use a lensatic compass for beginners. Knowing how to use a compass is a skill I think every adult should know. And the Cammenga 3H tritium compass is an excellent land navigation tool trusted by the US military for years. Thanks to Optics Planet for providing the compass for this demonstration.
Get these compasses shown in this video from Optics Planet and save 5% on your entire order by using the coupon code 'SOP5'
Cammenga 3H Lensatic Compass: www.opticsplanet.com/cammenga...
Suunto MC-2 Mirror Compass: www.opticsplanet.com/s/suunto...
Suunto Clipper Watchband Compass: www.opticsplanet.com/suunto-c...
UST Heritage Brass Lensatic Compass: www.opticsplanet.com/ust-heri...
For more info on compasses and maps, check out this playlist: • Map and Compass Skills I made those videos a while back. The first one about getting free maps is pretty outdated because the USGS website has changed, but the rest are valid. Honestly, if I need a map I buy it from MyTopo.com. You can create custom centered maps in a variety of scales and get them on water-resistant, tear-resistant paper for about $16 or so.
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[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

For more info on compasses and maps, check out this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLlvBLL5-fJbjKV34J5pvApsrMrrpJhRzE I made those videos a while back. The first one about getting free maps is pretty outdated because ethe USGS website has changed, but the rest are valid. Honestly, if I need a map I buy it from MyTopo.com. You can create custom centered maps in a variety of scales and get them on water-resistant, tear-resistant paper for about $16 or so.

[@PLT-dq3dd]

USMC Land Navigation Sergeants Course is sold on Amazon. The two compasses you highlighted are the only two I would trust my life with. For anyone wanting to get out and learn, they can find a local orienteiring group. REI may even offer classes.

[@castinbronze6649]

4 years of being in the Army and having this explained differently each time Ive never fully understood. Thank you. You made this so easy!

[@NSWvet83]

🤣 Army. Should have joined the Navy. Lol jk we use the stars to direct our sea free floating spirits

[@galehess6676]

Wait. The Army has been lost for 4 years?

[@michaelsnow5229]

Land Navigation instructors in the Army ha ha

[@Vinterfrid]

Very confusing explanation as far as I am concerned - I still don't understand how to use the army compass.

[@SergeantExtreme]

@@galehess6676 Actually, the Army has been lost for nearly 250 years.

[@kzgc8y3n]

Always impressed at creators who make their content with Mr. Tripod. He is a highly decorated, award winning film maker with the most Academy Award nominations ever. No clue how this guy afforded Mr. Tripod as he usually demands millions in both budget and huge percentages of box office sales. Very impressed.

[@galehess6676]

Yup. Thought the same thing

[@glenntrumbo3381]

Thanks, finally a lesson on reading a compass that i could understand.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I'mglad it helped

[@jordanfrancisco27]

Me too. Civvie here. Helped a lot. Hopefully i wont be lost in the triple canopy jungles of the Philippines. 😬

[@alexanderweaver7066]

Hi Brian. I am retired military and as a retirement gift my friends gave me a tritium lensatic compass. I have used it along with a Suunto MC2 for years on hiking/backpacking trips around the world. I have never gotten lost while using these valuable tools. You explained the uses of the lensatic compass extremely well. I think everyone who goes into nature on hikes, camping or just traveling should have a compass in his/her possession. Too many people veer off trail or the road and get lost, sadly, sometimes paying the ultimate price.

[@Sobki]

Ive been searching for some layman instructions and you just made it so easy to get a grasp on what the heck I'm supposed to be doing with my compass :) thank you

[@colinlawrence2186]

Thanks for sharing i just found a lenssatic compass in a shed on the property i just purchased thanks to you i now know how to use it thanks once again 😀 God bless you and stay safe in these troubled times 🙋‍♂️ 🇬🇧

[@peterrussell798]

Only suggestion I’d have is remember to adjust your bearing to include magnetic declination.

[@zantigar]

Wow, that was the BEST explanation of how to use a lensatic compass I've seen on the net yet! You took the trouble to show in close-up detail how to line up the magnifier and sighting wire as the user would view it. Excellent, enlightening video!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@clyde1406]

And you can bet if ANYONE knows anything about compass reading it's a scout! Great video!!

[@h3llrayzor59]

I still have mine that was issued to me while in the Marines way back in 1988. I qualified with this Compass... At night!!! I'm in my 50's now & still prefer to navigate with this Compass than a GPS. Thanks for highlighting this amazing piece of tech.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Cool

[@arctodussimus6198]

Semper Fi

[@richardrodriguez9680]

Thank you, I was in the Army and this was the compass that we used for land navigation and finding a 6 digit grid reference. I also think I used this compass back in the day when I was a Scout. Keep up the Fire!

[@rexmatt417]

Was seriously terrible at this no one ever explained the purpose of the index marker. Lighting just struck my brain. Thank you

[@NSWvet83]

Nice. Technic tip: you can hold your eye to the little magnifying glass, and see your bearing and see the wire (direction) at the same time. You don't need to lift your eye to see the wire. Slide the lensatic eye piece into the cover that has the grove to match the lensatic grove. They should be touching.

[@galehess6676]

thx! I think if I had graduated lenses like the OP, I wouldn't be able to do this, but you pointed it out!

[@SteveAubrey1762]

That was the best lesson on the compass I've ever seen. Books overcomplicate it. Ty!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lutherhgrindstonemtn3456]

I have tried to understand how to use one of those, but maybe my mind wouldn't catch ahold of what the instructor was saying, but I think now maybe a little of me and instructor, But Brian, it was very clear to me how you explained it! Thanks for ALL your videos, they help so much! Side note, I'm 70 now and joined the BSA when I was about 10 and only stayed about 2 years then quit, maybe me maybe scout master but something didn't work, but if he was anything like you, I would have been a proud eagle scout and probably a life long scout master like you!

[@jetjaguar4285]

my first video from you. good stuff 20 years in the army, 85-2005.

[@tramontane3239]

I just received one and the initial impression is very positive. One day I realized that my Suunto compass was the most fragile piece in my kit, great compass though for sure. The Cammenga is built tough and I can sense the potential for greater accuracy. I think the face plate has appearance of fine print and therefore viewed as more complicated. The Tritium glows all night. After ten years the Suunto mirror is becoming a little cloudy, reflectiveness seems to be fading. I would carry the Cammenga on a belt but the Suunto needs insulation from shock and abrasions. .

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Carry the Suunto on a lanyard around your neck or in a breast pocket. I know many Marines who have dumped the Camenga for the Suunto in civilian use. The Suunto should not be banging around in a rucksack or bugout bag.

[@christopherbeining825]

This was great. I’ve been through a couple land nav courses in the military and this easily made things a lot less complicated than it’s made out to be. Thank you.

[@galehess6676]

Looked good to me, good to know it meets military approval (That's you ;) ) . Couple of us heading into desert, just wanted to get brushed up, for the first time and not get too parched.

[@michaelalexandergraham]

Best compass tutorial I’ve watched on KZbin!! Thank you so much!!

[@EthanBlakeProductions]

Probably the best basic lesson on using a Cammenga on the internet. Thank you for posting.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I’m glad you found it helpful.

[@anthonyharper8161]

Great video.. Maybe this knowledge will help me while hunting.. Awesome 😎 Sir..Too find the truck.

[@peterfair2836]

Thanks Brian. I've watched a boatload of videos on lensatic compasses and ended up more confused than before I watched them. Your video got right to the point. As Jack Webb used to say, "just the facts". I watch all of your posts and I greatly appreciate them. You get right to the point and you don't dish out any BS.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks

[@seheabol]

Agreed. For every 100 Lensatic tutorials on the internet, 1 of them is worthwhile.

[@allenelam6135]

Thank you for the refresher course. Haven't done this since I got out of the military about 45 years ago.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

You are welcome

[@jmmartin7766]

I would've failed land nav in the Army if not for buddies who were good at it. This is a great vid- best explanation + DEMONSTRATION I've experienced. Subbed

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I am glad it helped. Thanks

[@coindigger5392]

This learning video is worth its weight in gold, just some people have the gift of teaching that comes naturally and he has it, learned very easy and understandable.. TY

[@GeorgeCUBE-ib8bc]

Very Nice and Easy explanation. The problem of the this compass is, that the 4 screws on the bottom are from not fully unmagnetic steel. The needle has ca. 2 degree deviation in the headings where the needle is close to one of that screws. This is not big problem and I use Cammenga every day but in case I need to find small point then I use Suunto compass or prismatic compass, which is very precise and much cheaper. Cammenga is very easy and fast. And very visible in the night or in the darkness. Thanks

[@dmytrogladkyi]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. The first youtube video were I could understand how to use compas.

[@MsNailgun]

Wow. What a simple to understand and well explained tutorial. After being out of the military for almost 30 years my old brain needed a refresher. Thank you!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thank YOU for the encouragement. I'm glad tis helped.

[@machinegreen1911]

Well done Sir. I'm preparing myself for my first moose hunt this coming fall. That's 6 months away but I want to be ready and confident. Thank you.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

You know where the best place to shoot a moose is, don’t you?

[@thechillhacker]

Another benefit of lensatic compasses: you can find old milsurp ones dirt effing cheap, since nobody knows how great they are, and they are almost always just fine conditionally in my limited experience, and often made in OD or black painted steel, which i personally prefer over the modern composites.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Probably not steel as that would affect the needle

[@thechillhacker]

@@SurvivalOnPurpose absolutely correct - good point. it does feel like maybe a zinc or possibly Al casing. Not sure, but it's nice and rugged.

[@northernsurvivalbackcountr4986]

I bought this compass year's ago only seen 2 videos that explained it simple n easy thx you great video

[@Mansizedtarget]

Thanks for doing this video. It was very well done and clear. I just switched from baseplate to lensatic (after my old Silva one broke) so I thought a refresher would help. Yours was very helpful.

[@davidray4285]

Cool video! I learned how to use one in basic training when I was 18, I have used one in a while amd needed a refresher thanks!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robertmendez2548]

Best instructions on how to use the compass by far, simple and to the point.

[@olusabaolukayode9191]

Thank you for your painstaking work more grease to your elbow. Your lecture on the use of compass is the best for me. Thank you. I will definitely put it in practice.

[@tracewithaview6731]

You can do a three legged, or triangular, compass walk. Pick a bearing and count your paces. One count for every time right foot (or left) hits ground. Stop and turn the bezel 40 clicks to the left. Walk the same number of paces. Stop and once again, 40 clicks towards the left. You'll wind up at your starting point, or at least very close. You'll walk an equalateral triangle. Each detent on the bezel is 3 degrees. 40 X 3 = 120 which is each angle of an equalateral triangle. You can turn it either way initially. Your direction of travel will be opposite from the direction you turn the bezel. If you turn it toward the right...it'll send you to the left on that leg. Just be consistent in whichever way you rotate the bezel. Check out "Ranger beads" which help keep track of paces. Also, learn what your personal pace count is per 100 meters. Average is about 65. So every time you count to 65 (or whatever) pull down a bead. Great confidence excersise. Try for one kilometer per leg of the triangle. Know beforehand what direction it is to get back just in case.

[@galehess6676]

So is this to fine tune one's precision? Kind of like doing homework, or as AI says, "practice?" In other words, are we talking about practice?

[@ThaInfamous20v]

Thank you! Very well explained. Even to the specifics with the lensatic features.

[@colinvalois6516]

Fantastic instructions and guidance video! Really looking forward to applying the knowledge now. Thank you!

[@nihilgeist666]

You explained that well in terms even I can understand. Other explanations I've seen of the Cammenga 3H overcomplicate things.

[@n1c98]

You are a very clear and awesome instructor for this device. I really enjoyed this material. I'm for sure subscribing, have a blessed one

[@willpro6705]

The top and the bottom touch then you look through the lens. Nice job

[@davehatzakorzian6994]

I love the Insight on this video Bryan. Thank you for the tips on how to use a compass I always love expanding my knowledge. And that's why I love your videos. Please keep up the great work. Looking forward to seeing more.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks Dave

[@matzpimp]

Thank you for explaining how to use this type of compass, I've seen this style before but was never really sure how exactly to use it. I'm trying to buy more items made in America and will pick this one up. Thanks for the video.

[@wildsau1965]

this is the compass i learned on in the army, thanks for the refresher, been 30 years since i used one

[@Tuglife912]

I'm a proud owner of one of these awesome compasses! Glad to see this to learn more about how to run a bearing from a topological map.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pipilchocolate8654]

I had no idea how good the Cammenga 3H is! I like how the whole bearing plate rotates magnetically. It definitely rivals the Suunto MC 2 I use!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

It does!

[@williamfleserii4149]

Learned to use a compass in the boy scouts, but lost the skill as I got older and didn't use it, thanks for the refresher, I need to get my compass out now

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

You should. It might be fun

[@jayvandusen8867]

Excellent video thank you! I’ve watch numerous videos trying to explain this topic and yours broke it down in an understandable way!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@aland7236]

Awesome demo! I never quite understood any of the parts of these compasses, other than needle points North. Thank you.

[@youtubeuniversity3660]

Thank you! Like others said, you broke it down and made it very understandable. You have a new subscriber and I can't wait to see what else I can learn from you.

[@bodang158]

Thank you for making this video. My fiance got me one of those Cammengas as a Christmas present 18 years ago. I loved it but had no idea how to use it. I just found it a few weeks ago going through some boxes in storage. I brought it home determined to figure out how to use it. Glad I held onto it.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I hope I was a little bit helpful.

[@GenVirtu]

Great explanation of using this compass. I got the one less expensive version of this compass. But I've wanted a compass for a long time.

[@West-TexX]

Awesome job, sir. Thanks for doing this video.

[@71m3w4573r]

Great video. Completely understand how a lensatic works now, thanks

[@acshaw80]

What a fantastic video- thanks so much for explaining this. Really easy to understand

[@arctodussimus6198]

Last year I just retired my Cammenga compass that I had when I got out of the Corps in 1983. Bought another Cammenga phosphorescent model 27. But after a while, I missed having the tritium, so I bought a model 3H. Then a week later, I couldn’t resist getting the Cammenga wrist compass with tritium. Yeah, they’re that good 👍🏻👍🏻

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Yes they are

[@apodis4900]

Thanks for a great demonstration, that really made sense to me. 😀

[@carlenovember11]

This was a great video! It gave me an idea as to how to use a compass when I had none. You explained it well.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I'm glad it helped.

[@ghostspector3732]

Excellent instructions. Bravo!!!

[@callumclarke7002]

Great lesson but you alway have to remember to adjust for your Grid Magnetic Angle which moves slightly every year. It only works out to a few Mils but when walking on a bearing for a long distances, it can make a big difference to where you end up. 👍

[@obamacare9755]

Where I live magnetic variation is 357mils

[@twocyclediesel1280]

It depends on where you are, where I am in the Eastern US, it’s 12 degrees, much more than a few mils. There are places out west that are much more than that, just easterly rather than westerly.

[@masterakahiba275]

Nice video, super helpful 👍thanks

[@chiefkirk]

Great job Bryan. I have that style of compass and never really understood how to use it till now. You made it easy to understand. Thanks brother..

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I am glad to hear that. Because i almost didn't get this one posted. Let's just say if it was film there would be alot more on the cutting room floor than in the can ;-)

[@stevelucier8346]

Very good Bryan! I used a flat compass in the 70's in Scouts as the few others who had them did also. We all talked about the lensatic compasses but living in the middle of nowhere we never found any to buy. Now they are everywhere and I have 4 lensatic compasses. Gave my first compass to a young scout when I left the Scouts. We also learned to know about the length of our stride walking for compass use. Watching a group of kids take turns following a predetermined course through the woods following a drawing with coordinates and foot length of distance was an experience. Good lesson!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Good old orienteering courses.

[@herrp8765]

Thank you, sir. You did a good job in shedding some light to this helplessly non-directional guy.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad to help

[@bobcuomo5122]

Very easy to understand way to read a compass.......Thank You !!!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks

[@iantorhys]

Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate the use of a Lensatic compass. This was very helpful.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tom-cd8fv]

Just ordered one, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad I could help

[@paulmarkel6233]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@ronprince1478]

Thanks for showing us all these carpisses.

[@terryw.milburn8565]

Very Well Done Bryan ! Oh The Times This Has Been Used While I was In Scouts, Thanks Friend. ATB T God Bless

[@addisonroux4417]

Amazing, now I know how to use a compass

[@butchhill5656]

Oh me and my cousin love doing Land Navigation when we were kids and yes, but some of us learned from the Boy Scouts and some of us learn from our fathers that were in the military. . We had one of those military Compass is back then. Long time ago and enjoyed using it and doing what we did with it Land Navigation, and it was fun. Till somebody stole our compass. Which upset the three of us? . We've always had our suspicions who took it. . This is a great thing to teach. You need to keep doing stuff like this.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I'll do my best

[@ka2pbo]

Thank you! Great explanation!

[@teddythefourth2831]

I'm 28 so I'm a little too old for Webelos or whatever, these videos are as close as I will get to being involved in the Scouts again. Please make more videos like these

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I’ll try

[@davidfarr8217]

Loved your video, thank you so much!

[@mmztiger]

Thank you so much for the information.

[@Mr2fast4uall]

Excellent video! Thanks!

[@ruffmansavageveteran1345]

Very practical and useful. Thanks.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks

[@piratebob53]

Great video. After looking at several compass and pace bead videos I learned the most from yours. This made the Lensmatic seem more intuitive. I may pick one up when the old pension check gets here.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I'm glad it helped

[@jaylovett6018]

Great video man. You’re a great teacher

[@louisianaguy2661]

I spent 6 years in the Army National Guard and we trained a lot with this lensatic compass. I backpacked a lot in the Colorado Rocky Mountains too in my younger years so I used a compass a lot for land navigation my a topo map.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I am more comfortable with a baseplat compass but these are top quality

[@robertguarino355]

That was the best compass reading video I have ever seen. You broke it down so perfectly that I actually understand it now. Please do more on reading maps. Thank you so much for that video

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

For more info on compasses and maps, check out this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLlvBLL5-fJbjKV34J5pvApsrMrrpJhRzE I made those videos a while back. The first one about getting free maps is pretty outdated because the USGS website has changed, but the rest are valid. Honestly, if I need a map I buy it from MyTopo.com. You can create custom centered maps in a variety of scales and get them on water-resistant, tear-resistant paper for about $16 or so.

[@johnnymurphy7664]

Great video easy to understand !

[@mrpeabodythethird]

I agree with the commenter below, finally a video on compass reading that I can understand... fire the most part. There are lots of things that others don't seem to cover. For example, why would you need to set a bearing? The reason is because on a map there might be obstacles between you and your objective. I'm using a cheaper compass (Brunton), my compass face has two lines... (What is the second line for?) What happens if you get off your bearing as you travel at night? My guess is that you would have to re-identify your location if you got far enough off track.

[@haroldguillarawan9066]

thank you for this. You explained it better

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@viking90706]

Great video, thanks for your time and info. I have been educated.

[@anthonyharper8161]

Me too.. That guy compass for Dummies ( Poor ) Whatever ..Confused me ..

[@marcusmckenzie9528]

Thank you for your time and best efforts, great video, very informative and to the point

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tomconway8881]

Good video. Great content. Thank you.

[@ramonvaldez329]

Thanks for the information brian greeting from belize

[@carlosfernandez1]

Great. Thanks for shearing. This video is going to be shearing.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks for sharing!

[@DOMINYPAUL]

Love it carry one for years all over the world, drawing the strait line is cool and it works ,But protractor is better, Good job.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Whatever works

[@IrishZombieNation]

Excellent very detailed and clear tutorial. Great video sir.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

If you could only have seen the parts I cut out. Thanks.

[@PirateXFoxx]

Very informative and clear video. Thanks for the information

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ryszardmilczarek1466]

Świetny materiał, dot. kompasów. Gratuluję i pozdrawiam.

[@markfcoble]

Thanks. Enjoying my firebox, good review. Teaching wife and myself.

[@jamesgreene4554]

Something I would have mentioned is return bearings, and how to be careful not to alter the magnetic properties of the compass. I totally agree with you that everyone should know how to use a compass. Great Video!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I think I covered that in my earlier playlist. If not, I'll get on it ;-)

[@jeffjackson5331]

Awesome video bud. I am very very very rusty on my map skills lol. Watching this and your other compass videos make me want to brush back up on my old skills. Thanks for the info.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Go for it

[@jeffjackson5331]

Survival On Purpose most definitely!

[@charlesdriggers199]

You explained that very well.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks

[@alexsiabest5122]

This was really good