Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Q I share my binoculars with my wife, and our eyes are different. Do we need to
shift the diopter adjustment every single time we pass the binoculars between us?
A
Althoughyou'dbothgetyourclearestviewbyreadjustingthedioptereverytime,that's
sure not a fun way to go birding! You might try setting the adjustment halfway between
hernumberandyours.Ifthisbothersoneofyoumorethantheother,shiftitalittletoward
that person's proper setting. Some married birders regret not checking out their partner's
diopter adjustment number before making a lifetime commitment. Others just go ahead
and buy a second pair of binoculars.
Q Two experienced birders in my town got into an argument on a field trip, debating
how often they should clean binoculars. One said he cleans them before every bird-
ing outing. The other said you should never clean binoculars unless they're notice-
ably dirty. What do you think?
A
Most of the value of expensive binoculars is due to the quality of the lenses and coat-
ings.Sand,dust,andotherparticlesonthelensescaneasilyscratchcoatingsandeventhe
glass, so it's important to keep your binoculars dust free. When not in use, and that in-
cludes when you're snacking or eating lunch with the binoculars around your neck, keep
the optical lenses covered with the lens caps or rain guard.
I try always to keep a photographer's lens brush in my birding jacket so when I notice
dust on my lenses I can blow and brush it off quickly without the risk of grinding it into
the lens with a tissue or cloth. I clean my binoculars at most once or twice a month when
I'm birding intensively. When I clean them, I always first use the lens brush to gently
sweep and blow particles away. If the eyecups are removable, you can unscrew them to
brush everything completely off the lens.
