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My name is Eric Wood. I am retired, and live down here in Cornwall with my wife in a small village just 6 miles from Fowey, and the same from Polperro.
My career as a Textile Technologist/Colourist took me to places as diverse as Mexico, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Korea, and Thailand, as well as frequent trips to France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal.
I achieved Management status in 1963, since when I held senior positions with several large Companies until I retired in 1995, my final post being 22 years in a Technical Management position responsible for merchandise quality, with one of the UK's largest retail organisations.
My hobbies in retirement include collecting and sourcing top quality binoculars in fine condition, listening to classical, jazz, and good popular music (now known as "easy listening"), country walking, eating out, photography, oil painting, playing chess, and books/reading.
My favourite hobby is sourcing and collecting top quality binoculars which I find absolutely fascinating. My trusty Leitz 8x32B accompany us during frequent Cornish coastal path walks and they are world class.
I collect, source and thoroughly recommend Leitz/Leica, Carl Zeiss, Swarovski, and other binoculars of similar quality in new, or very nearly new, condition.
Anyone needing any help or advice is very welcome to get in touch with me. (Please see my contact details below).
This is a recent testimonial from one of my many satisfied customers:
"Are you in need of the best advice regarding binoculars?
Contact Eric, the end and ultimate expert on this subject.
Recently, I bought two binoculars from Eric (his&hers), Minox 6.5x32IF and Optoplyth 10x50B, a make that I had never heard of. I was totally blown away with the quality of both of these two instruments. Considering the Optolyth binos are some 20 years old, the performance is simply mind boggling.
My wife and I, are the happiest campers with these exceptional quality products, suggested by Eric. Using these, makes you a true believer.
Simply, it doesn't get any better. The biggest bang for your buck, as we say here.
Dealing with Eric, everything was perfect, the goods, communication, shipping and transaction as a whole.
I recommend Eric to the highest degree. He knows his stuff. You can't go wrong. You'll never be disappointed.
Over this transaction, he has become a true friend.
Horst Kobialka, Victoria, BC, Canada."
I would also recommend Dr J.W.Seyfried's excellent book, "Choosing, Using & Repairing Binoculars", difficult to find, but available from me directly at £16 + p/p, or from my ebay auction listing. This book is a very comprehensive, expertly written and illustrated,176 page guide.
I can reassure anyone reading this, who may be approaching retirement, not to be concerned about finding enough of interest to occupy themselves! It is difficult to find enough time to keep the garden in order!
Thank you for reading this, and the best of luck in the auction.
Eric Wood.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Telephone 01503 220384
email ericwood992@msn.com
website www.choiceoptics.freeservers.com (This will eventually change to www.choiceoptics.com)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND MY REPLIES:
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Hello Eric,
I am nearing retirement and am thinking about buying a pair of binoculars for use during travelling. At least I think I am. I can't make up my mind at present whether to get binoculars or a longer lens for my SLR camera. My main hobby is golf, but I intend travelling a lot in my retirement. You seem to enjoy your retirement from what I have read in your eBay listings.
Can you please advise?
Regards,
Harold.
Hello Harold,
Thank you for your email. I do enjoy my retirement - I am happier now than I ever was!
You are going to enjoy yours too; you have the right mix of interests. I have never had the time for golf, but I love the outdoors and observing nature! I like nothing better than 'trudging' the coastal paths down here with a good pair of binoculars and a compact but high quality digital camera. Mine is a Panasonic with a Leica zoom lens of 35mm-420mm and weighing 334gms. What would an SLR weigh with a range as wide as this?
Of course, I understand if you are a very keen/professional photographer, carrying an SLR. I have one myself, but I prefer to take my lighter compact with me in this terrain! (After all, I am 72 now!) In other words, I prefer to compromise slightly in photographic image quality, have the benefit of a high quality pair of binoculars and the ability to walk further!!
Now, when it comes to choice of binoculars, the first thing to be categorical about is: don't go for zoom binoculars! They are heavy, complex, almost impossible to repair (and develop faults several times more frequently than normal binoculars), and are also almost impossible to design to hold their collimation over their working magnification range.
The next essential is to get the best you can possibly afford! Low quality binoculars give less detail/resolution, less brightness and cause eyestrain.
In terms of magnification, go for 6, 7 or 8x unless you have very steady hands or are prepared to use a tripod.
Objective lens size choice depends on
a. The age of the user.
b. How much use they will be put to in very poor light conditions (very early morning or very late evening).
There is no advantage in having an exit pupil size of more than 5mm after the age of 50. Indeed, 4mm is adequate for most. Exit pupil size is determined by dividing the objective lens size by the magnification. i.e. for an 8x40 binocular, the exit pupil size is 40 divided by 8 = 5mm. As the age of the user increases, the useable exit pupil size diminishes. This is due to pupil size of the eye's diminishing capacity to dilate with age.
In ordinary daylight, the pupils in the eyes are only 2 - 4mm according to age. Therefore, any exit pupil size of binoculars greater than this will be wasted. So, in daylight, most binoculars will have the same brightness of image, and the image will be as bright to all ages.
When the light begins to fade, our pupil size dilates (expands) and with increasing darkness reaches it's maximum dilation. Depending on age, they could dilate to 7mm and this would favour the use of binoculars with an exit pupil size of 7mm, therefore using the full amount of light available from the binoculars. A 7x50 or 8x56 binocular would here be ideal. This only applies usually to people in their 20s/30s however. Above this, the gradual reduction in the eye's pupil size capacity reduces the advantage which can be gained from high exit pupil binoculars.
Since large objective lenses are heavy and expensive, it is therefore most sensible to opt for the exit pupil which matches the age of the user to avoid carrying unnecessary weight and spending unnecessary amounts of money.
It should now be becoming clear that at nearing retirement age, the best choices are 7x35, 7x30, 8x32 or 8x40.
If there is a need to use spectacles whilst using binoculars, because of astigmatism for instance, only binoculars with a "B" suffix are suitable, having modified eyepiece lens groups and rubber eyecups which can be folded down, or adjustable sliding eyecups.
I only collect, source and supply perfect used examples of Leitz/Leica and Carl Zeiss which are the best. Swarovski are also top rate but are usually not good value for money, especially second hand.
Please contact me again if I can be of any further help.
Kind regards,
Eric Wood.
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Q: |
Hello there, I am looking at these 10x40 and the 8x40B Leitz that you are offering - for general veiwing purposess what would be the advantages of choosing one pair over the other. many thanks si. |
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| A: |
Hello si, Thanks for your question. First of all, do you wear glasses when using binoculars? If so, the 8x40B are the best ones for you. The eyepieces in the 'B' types are designed to be equally suitable for use with and without glasses.
Secondly, the 8x40B are easier to hold steadily than the 10x40 due to the lower magnification. The extra detail picked up by the 10x can easily be lost because of vibration in the hand unless you are very, very steady.
Thirdly, The 8x40B have a little wider field of view than the 10x40 i.e. 128m against 122m at 1000m.
Kind regards, Eric Wood
Q.Hello there,
I am looking for a pair of bins that will be
light and compact to travel with but also good
for general birding, I also carry an SLR with one multi-purpose lens when traveling so compact would be a benefit....could you advise please?
Thank you very much,
Peter
A. Hello Peter,
Absolutely!
Many experts and I agree that 32mm is the ideal objective lens size for birding. The reasons are many but weight and compactness are high on the list of priorities.
Most, including myself, also recommend 8x as the optimum magnification.
So, ideally 8x32 is the specification to go for.
Leitz/Leica are the manufacturer recommended by the majority of forums. Whether you go for these or one of the other top makers is not critical, but, and I quote directly from one of the most respected experts in the field "Above all, don’t settle for anything less than the best view you can get (and are willing to pay for). We birders spend too much time behind binoculars to settle for anything less"
I recommend the Leitz models for supreme ergonomics. The Leitz binoculars have no competition here. They are also equal or better than all other optics available. The weight of the 8x32 is 485gms and they measure 4" x 4", they are weatherproof and extremely durable. They have an astonishing field of view of 150m/1000m or 130m/1000m in the case of the "B" type (for use whilst wearing spectacles). They can be supplied by me for from £399 upwards, in excellent to mint condition.
The only other 8x you need consider are the Leica 8x20BCA. These weigh 230gms and are incredibly good for 20mm objective lenses, but you do sacrifice ease of use, field of view and low light performance.
Please read my listing text for the Leitz 8x32B etc for further information about the Leitz binoculars.
Kind regards,
Eric.
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Q.
Hello Eric,
Can you please give me some guidance on which binoculars to choose for general use.
Thank you.
A.
The book "Choosing, Using and Repairing Binoculars" mentioned above gives a world expert view on this, but here are my guidance notes:
Choosing Binoculars
INTRODUCTION
There is no ideal binocular to suit all users. Choosing binoculars involves identifying the parameters which are important to you, and then considering the various specifications available to match these important parameters.
For example:users for whom light weight is important, i.e. for carrying about on walks and hiking, need glasses with small objective lenses like 8x20 up to 8x32. Individual makers’ products vary considerably in weight for a given specification.
Users for whom use in poor light is important, i.e. early morning and late evening, need glasses with larger objective lenses like 8x40 up to 8x56 (depending on the age of the user).
Users for whom tracking moving objects is important, such as birdwatching, need a wide field of view.
The age of the person by whom the binoculars will be used is an important factor. For low light use, a high exit pupil is required, which means selecting larger objective lenses than normal. However, the degree to which an individual can take advantage of the higher exit pupils depends on their age. Therefore, for use in low light conditions, there is an optimum exit pupil for all ages of people, and this needs to be taken into account. (See also below).
Since most users will want a combination of these, choosing a suitable binocular for individual needs involves making a judgment based on calculated compromise.
SPECIFICATIONS
Example: 8x42. The first figure '8' denotes the magnifying power and allows the user to see an object 1/8th the distance away, or effectively, eight times the size one would see it without binoculars. The second figure '42' represents the diameter of the objective lens (the large lens) in mm through which light enters the binocular. The symbols or letters that sometimes follow can provide important information as to which binocular may best suit your requirements.
The suffix letter B signifies that the binoculars are suitable for use whilst wearing spectacles, having a sufficiently long eye relief to enable the full field of view to be seen. (They are also equally suitable for use without spectacles!). Many binoculars provide the full field of view when wearing glasses by either folding down rubber eyecups or by turning/pushing retractable eyecup assemblies to the 'down' position. As a general rule the longer the eyerelief - the distance between the surface of the eyepiece and the point where the pupil is positioned for full field of view - the better the instrument for spectacle wearers.
MAGNIFICATION.
For hand held use, practical trials suggest choosing a binocular with a magnification no greater than 8x or 10x, the reasons for which are as follows. The magnification effectively spreads the available light over the image being viewed. The higher the magnification, the larger is the image being covered and hence the lower the relative brightness of the image. Higher magnification binoculars also give a reduced depth of field (distance in clear focus at one time) and field of view. Lastly, the higher the magnification the more natural hand-shake or tremor affects the stability of the image. If you want binoculars over 10x magnification it is advisable to try them first and consider using a support such as a tripod to attain a completely stable image, especially when viewing for long periods.
THE OBJECTIVE LENS (OG) / LIGHT TRANSMISSION.
For any given specification of binocular the amount of light passing through the instrument (known as light transmission) varies according to the optical design, optical quality and lens coatings used. However, a few general rules can help you in your choice. The amount of light entering the binocular is directly related to the surface area of the OG lens. A 50mm OG will admit 2.5x the amount of light as will a 30mm OG. The amount of light reaching the eye when positioned at the eyepoint of the binocular is known as the exit pupil diameter or EPD. Its size can be found by dividing the OG diameter by the magnification, e.g. the EPD of an 8x32 = 4mm, the EPD of an 8x56 = 7mm. As a general rule, and depending very much on age, the pupils in the eye can measure between 2 and 3 mm (bright sunlight) and 7 and 8 mm (twilight) and therefore a choice should be made on the type of use the binocular is being put to. For general use, an EPD of 4 to 5mm is recommended for the “average” user.
FIELD OF VIEW.
The field of view of a binocular is expressed as either the width of panoramic view in metres from a distance of 1000m or in degrees. For example: 1 degree = 17.45m approx. A binocular is usually stated to be a wide-angle instrument if the angular field in degrees when multiplied by the magnification gives a figure equal to, or larger than, 65. The field of view of a binocular is dependent on the overall design and for any given design directly related to the magnification. As you read through the information and compare models in the same range, you may find that on occasions the 10x magnification model gives a similar, equivalent or larger field of view as the 8x magnification model. This is because different eyepiece designs are used within a range.
WEIGHT/SIZE.
When choosing your binocular bear in mind the weight and size as you may be carrying them around all day.
Although a pair of compact pocket sized binoculars will not perform as well as a full sized pair, it is sometimes desirable to have a smaller pair to carry around as a larger pair may just be left at home!
A NOTE ABOUT COST!
It does not always follow that the more that you pay the better the instrument will be for you! Some older binoculars e.g. Leitz are believed by many enthusiasts to be better overall than the modern Leica models which cost and weigh much more. By the same token, many again believe that the Zeiss 7x42BGAT and 10x40BGAT are much better than the modern Zeiss equivalent which also cost more.
The quality does go up very generally the more that you pay (provided they are bought from a reputable supplier who knows the models and brands to avoid those that are overpriced) but generally if you double the cost, the quality is not doubled. However there are a number of qualities that may increase by a certain percentage related to the increased price but not always directly e.g. build quality giving more robust performance, and optical quality giving improved resolution, edge to edge distortion, colour fringing, close focus etc.
USING BINOCULARS.
To adjust to the spacing of your eyes known as inter pupillary distance (IPD), simply rotate the two sides of the binocular around the centre hinge until a single rounded picture is obtained when looking through both eyepieces. Some roof prism binoculars have two hinges and a single rounded picture is obtained by rotating both hinges simultaneously around the centre focusing plate. As mentioned, most binoculars are focused by turning the centre focusing wheel. If however there is a difference in strength between the eyes, the diopter scale (often located on the right hand eyepiece or between the objective lenses) can be adjusted in order to compensate. To set the binoculars for your eyes, focus with your left eye on an object using the focusing wheel. When the object is in sharp focus, close your left eye and open your right adjusting the dioptre setting until the image being viewed becomes sharp. Opening both eyes should then reveal the sharpest picture at all distances.
Kind regards,
Eric.
| Q: |
Hi there. Superb binoculars, great auction. Just one question - do they come with the original box and/or any paperwork? Kind regards, Jon |
18-Sep-08 |
| A: |
Hello Jon, No original box or paperwork I'm afraid with these, but I do offer my personal guarantee and have access to professional service facilities should the need arise. Kind regards, Eric Wood. |
| Q: |
I am a minister/birdwatcher and would love to buy these on paypal but I cannot pay this high. Would you consider a better price? |
18-Sep-08 |
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Dear Sir, As you probably know, I source and sell Leitz and Zeiss binoculars in 1st class condition as a retirement hobby. They are very expensive to me when I buy them. If you would settle for a pair in less than mint condition, I could supply a pair at a cheaper price. The only difference would be cosmetic. I guarantee the optics to be A1. If you would like to consider these, please give me a budget guideline. I normally only sell 1st quality on eBay, but could list some with some small paint loss if this is acceptable to you. Thank you. Kind regards, Eric Wood. |
| Q: |
Greetings, Your inventory is exemplary. Do you have any rubber armoured versions of these fine [Leitz] binoculars? Maybe 8X40? Thanks Jason |
18-Sep-08 |
| A: |
Hello Jason, The rubber armoured versions of these (BA model) in Excellent++/Mint condition are now very scarce. I only buy them in this condition. The only BA rubber armoured one I have is an 8x32BA. These in my opinion are the best, unless you are going hunting/stalking in dense woodland. If you are interested in these, please contact me privately for details of availability on eBay. Kind regards, ericwood992@msn.com |
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