I gotta show off the big eye binos I just scored

[gunnermhr]

AT will not work, straight or angled. ATS on the other hand makes for a beautiful set of big eyes, but they must be straight, not angled

 

[snert]

I recall the first time I used a set of married "Big eyes". All day on them scoping for groundhogs and seeing lots. End of day in hot sun, no headache. Epiphany! Don't have myown set only because of cost, but loved every minute of using them.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I was on ebay looking through spotting scopes for a big eyes project. I was concentrating on older Leica 62 and 77mm scopes, then stumbled across this:

Swarovski 30x75s. I was 1 of 2 bidders. The price was right; just over half the price of an old Leica 77mm APO Televid, and no custom bracket to fabricate.

Yeah, they're kind of old, but...Swarovski!

Well - I don't see any mention yet of how well they function. Is the glass good? Do they do what you want?

 

[dkhunt14]

Look at Kowa Highlanders. You don't need the Chromatic glass, the regular has a spectacular view. Great depth and low light. Matt

 

[Woodchk]

Well - I don't see any mention yet of how well they function. Is the glass good? Do they do what you want?

I have a pair made from the Spacemasters I use for woodchuck hunting love them .

 

[VaRandy]

Are you saying that the concept is to purchase two spotting scopes and then marry them together with some type of bracketing to create very powerful binoculars?
If that is what is suggested, it would seem that one restriction would be the Optics size. Would be cool to have them with angled for viewing. Reminds me of those oversized binoculars they use or use to use on naval ships for lookouts.

The LAST thing you would want to do is buy two spotters counting on making them into a set of BigEyes. Some would not allow spacing to fit your eyes. Most would not work because you would not be able to buy or make the sophisticated frame to keep them collations. I have Swaro 65's in a frame not available for maybe 15 or s

A lot of the bigeyes have spotting scopes rotated so the eyepieces have the right spacing. Not really an option with angled eyepieces. A pair of Swarovski AT 80s may work. I would need to take measurements off one and do some math. They would make some awesome binos.

I am led to believe that only the current model of Swaro 80s can be utilized for Big Eye. Problem for most is the bodies are so wide that the eyepieces cannot be close enough together for your eyes. Do measurements all you want but good luck on finding the right mount for the job.

 

[VaRandy]

A lot of the bigeyes have spotting scopes rotated so the eyepieces have the right spacing. Not really an option with angled eyepieces. A pair of Swarovski AT 80s may work. I would need to take measurements off one and do some math. They would make some awesome binos.

Even if it would work you normally would not want the angled eyepieces because they need to be mounted on a heavy tripod and most are at standing height. You don't want to spent large amounts of time with your neck crammed downward and also have a hell of a lot more problem to find the target at distance with angled.

 

[Lee in Texas]

I have practically no experience using big binos, so thanks for the advice, Randy...no sarcasm.

This site is a gold mine for anyone who wants to learn.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You gotta make your own mount or buy something like the kowas thats made together

 

[Willie]

I quit carrying my 80 mm spotting scope while hunting @ 9,000 ft. last year. The thought, of carrying 2 + the bracket and the hd tripod they would require, sends chills up my backpack.