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wandering diopter

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wapitiwacker View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
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Joined: August/14/2006
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    Posted: August/14/2006 at 23:54
Hello all;

I'm new here and so far have found the site a wealth of information. Thank you to those of you willing to share your expertise.

I have a question I hope one of you optics gurus will be able to shed some light on. I have a Pentax DCF 10X42 binocular
that has served me quite well for about 8 years. During last years hunting I noticed that I had to constantly change the diopter
setting on the binocular. Sometimes without having adjusted the focus but having the binocular away from my eye for some
time, and at other times while actively glassing and changing focus, all of a sudden the right eye would change in focus
relative to the left. At first I put it off to my aging eyeballs as I know for a fact they are starting to lose their ability to close focus.
But after talking with my hunting partner, (who has a DCF 8X42, and is experiencing the same thing), and now after using a
set of Leica 10X42s for the last couple of days, I am scratching my head as to why this is occuring and also wondering if it is
fixible?? Any ideas? The Leica's have been rock solid and crysal clear without touching the diopter once.

Thanks,

Lee
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lucznik View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucznik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/15/2006 at 10:30

Originally posted by wapitiwacker wapitiwacker wrote:

  I have a Pentax DCF 10X42 binocular that has served me quite well for about 8 years. During last years hunting I noticed that I had to constantly change the diopter setting on the binocular. Sometimes without having adjusted the focus but having the binocular away from my eye for some
time, and at other times while actively glassing and changing focus, all of a sudden the right eye would change in focus relative to the left.

 

Based on your post I am assuming that this is a relatively new development in your binoculars.  In other words, you haven't been having this problem for the entire time you've owned this Pentax. This tells me that after eight years of solid performance, something about your diopter adjustment has changed, broken, or shifted.  It happens.

 

Originally posted by waptitwacker waptitwacker wrote:

...now after using a set of Leica 10X42s for the last couple of days, I am scratching my head as to why this is occuring and also wondering if it is fixible?? Any ideas? The Leica's have been rock solid and crysal clear without touching the diopter once.

You would expect the Leica to be rock solid, not only because it costs something like 4 - 5X what the Pentax did but, also because it has not been in service for the last eight years. You could buy a $25 cheapy from Walmart and after 2 days it also would still be rock solid though, it wouldn't stay that way for long.  Leica has a very busy service department and their products are definately not immune to breakage.

 

 

As far as your Pentax binocular is concerned, your best solution will be to send them to Pentax for repair.  You can download a mailing label off of the Pentax website.  Their repair department is fabulous and they should be able to put your binocular back into fighting shape in no time.

What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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wapitiwacker View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wapitiwacker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/16/2006 at 09:37
Thanks Lucznik;

That is the direction I have been leaning.

You are corrrect, the Pentax just started showing this abnomality last hunting season. As mentioned above I
origionally put the problem down to my aging mark 1 eyeballs. Now after using a binocular without the same
problem I came to the conclusion it must be the optics. Not being familiar with the operation of the diopter
adjustment I wasn't sure whether it would "drift" in and out of focus or not. The adjustment itself is quite a positive
click. The Pentax have been solid performers (awesome value even though I paid a couple hunderd more than
they sell for now, 8 years later) and I will definately look at getting them fixed.

Thanks again

Lee
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