Could this be turned into a cheap binocular stabilizer?

[Ben the Ignorant]

Not sure if this idea could or could not be modified and applied to binoculars but those who are into binoculars and do-it-yourselfing will know.

 

[Ruud]

Don't know, a monopod might be more practical, but it's a nice project & video.

[Cornelius Varley]

Might be a strain on the arms with a heavy pair of binoculars and you have to beef up the construction using metal tubing instead of plastic. Plus, how would you adjust the focus ?  Google "parallelogram binocular mount" for a better design.

[Ben the Ignorant]

4 hours ago, Cornelius Varley said:

you have to beef up the construction using metal tubing instead of plastic

Maybe not; the tubes beings very short, plastic could be rigid enough, and the bottom might be arched and lightly padded so it rests on the shoulders, with the small counterweights at the rear to balance the mass that's mostly at the front.

The thing might be angled so it's comfy for someone sitting on a lawn chair and aiming at the sky, I don't know. I'm not going to make prototypes because I like my binocs without any accessories but someone else might adapt this. If readers do, please show it, of course.

[mark81]

I've always thought that one of those smartphone neck holders would be ideal - much bigger and stronger of course...

 

[Louis D]

Some years back, S&T had this DIY shoulder mounted binocular stabilizer article:

[Ben the Ignorant]

That's what I had in mind except the long wooden arms could be replaced by short metal counterweights, and the gyro would be at the front, I guess.

[BinocularSky]

I've tried many of these binocular-stabilising gadgets over the last few decades - and I keep coming back to a monopod/trigger-grip for small and medium binocs and parallelograms for the big ones. Many of the innovative designs are much more bulky/unwieldy/awkward to use than a small P-mount and tripod. I do quite like a Manfrotto magic arm attached to my recliner, but for the fact that it turns my 10x50s into pretty good heart-rate monitor.

This gyro-stabilised idea might be useful if it could be made very light, which I imagine (i.e. I've not done the maths) is difficult for a gyro that's got to stabilise over a kilogram of stuff. ("normal" IS adjusts a lens or a prism; much less mass than an entire instrument.) I'd be delighted to be proved wrong! ?

[Ben the Ignorant]

Indeed, trying to gyro-stabilize the whole binoc instead of a few small lightweight components makes it difficult, I had not thought of that. Maybe the only saving grace of this is it wouldn't cost much for someone who can cope with the shortcomings. 

[PeterW]

It’s good to have one thing that touches the ground to take all the weight.

 

peter