Vintage Binoculars

[wookie1965]

I am trying to pick up a pair of preferably Japanese made vintage binoculars for not so much money £30 or less if possible.  Can you seasoned binocular users cast your eyes over these and let me know what you think.

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194222386158?_trksid=p11011.c100360.m3755&_trkparms=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fitm%2F194222386158%3F_trkparms%3Daid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150112100634%26meid%3D30f9f64ae8484ff69c0a5615c6664ab8%26pid%3D100360%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D8%26b%3D1%26sd%3D154513156468%26itm%3D194222386158%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D11011%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic&_trksid=p11011.c100360.m3755&mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11011.m3755.l2648&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=d27a4880739b4055afb12f5dd7b1d93f&bu=44224039772&exe=98324&ext=231945&logid=nqt%3DAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgAAAAACAgAAAAAAACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAAAAABIA**%26nqc%3DAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgAAAAACAgAAAAAAACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAAAAABIA**%26mdbreftime%3D1625120397249%26es%3D3%26ec%3D1&osub=-1~1&crd=20210630233209&segname=11011&sojTags=ch%3Dch%2Cbu%3Dbu%2Cnqt%3Dnqt%2Cnqc%3Dnqc%2Cmdbreftime%3Dmdbreftime%2Ces%3Des%2Cec%3Dec%2Cexe%3Dexe%2Cext%3Dext%2Cexe%3Dexe%2Cext%3Dext%2Cosub%3Dosub%2Ccrd%3Dcrd%2Csegname%3Dsegname%2Cchnl%3Dmkcid

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133803711286?_trksid=p11011.c100360.m3755&_trksid=p11011.c100360.m3755&_trkparms=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fitm%2F133803711286%3F_trkparms%3Daid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150112100634%26meid%3D30f9f64ae8484ff69c0a5615c6664ab8%26pid%3D100360%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D8%26b%3D1%26sd%3D154513156468%26itm%3D133803711286%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D11011%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic&ul_noapp=true

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154507658232?hash=item23f95fc3f8:g:AdEAAOSwkspgyyGq

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255029740194?hash=item3b60f502a2:g:gZEAAOSwdv9fT9nT

 

Thank you

Paul

[Sabalias]

Hi Paul,

How vintage are you looking for? I don’t know much about binos but I have a pair of 25 ish year old Japanese binos I can’t use anymore. 
 

Stu

[wookie1965]

Im just looking for a decent vintage Japanese pair around 7x50 10x50 or 12x50 I have bought a couple of pair and sent them back (out of collimation) and had my eye on some tecnar swift ones but read they were at the bottom end of swift range and not that good even though they looked perfect. 

This is why I asked on here I dont know much about the different ones obviously I dont want top of the range ones far too expensive but mid range good glass nice views. I have a pair of revolution 10x42 and they are brilliant bought a pair of Olympus 10x50 DPS1 and I am not really that happy with them.

[wookie1965]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPER-TYOTA-COATED-OPTICS-7-x-50-JAPANESE-BINOCULARS-BLACK-CASE-GREAT-CONDITION-/203510863466?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Just bought these on a auction site £16 all in just took a punt look decent. 

[wookie1965]

Well binoculars turned up and they are out of collimation they are lovely bins as well. 

[wookie1965]

Pity I cannot get them fixed fairly cheaply. 

Lovely pair. 

[mdstuart]

It is possible to access the prisms and adjust the collimation. A bit fiddly but possible.

Mark

[wookie1965]

5 minutes ago, mdstuart said:

It is possible to access the prisms and adjust the collimation. A bit fiddly but possible.

Mark

I have not had a good look, the seller has said just post back and issue a full refund. 

But if they could be collimated easily I would keep them saying that I would not fiddle with them myself, I am out at the moment I will check when I get in. 

[PeterW]

Getting them collimated isn’t hugely costly, if the rest of the optics are OK and you like the views. I got some old 7x35 sorted for about £30 a few years back, subsequently gifted them to a young relative. Old Japanese Porro should give a long service, so the cost per use of fixing them should be minimal.

 

Peter

[mdstuart]

http://binocular-repair.co.uk/

Not a recommendation but will give you an idea. I suppose it is nice to bring a set of binoculars back to life.

Mark

[mdstuart]

https://intrasights.co.uk/

Reviews look good.

 

[PeterW]

East England is where I got mine fixed. Worked fine, they can also clean things up and repair too if needed.
 

peter

[wookie1965]

Had a good look at them and cannot see how to get to the collimation screws or if they have any. I have parcelled them up and I am returning them for a refund. 

I will just keep looking hopefully a pair will turn up. 

Thank you everyone much appreciated. 

[wookie1965]

On 01/07/2021 at 11:47, Sabalias said:

Hi Paul,

How vintage are you looking for? I don’t know much about binos but I have a pair of 25 ish year old Japanese binos I can’t use anymore. 
 

Stu

Hi Stu, 

    What magnification are they please. 

Paul 

Edited July 4, 2021 by wookie1965

[Sabalias]

10 hours ago, wookie1965 said:

Hi Stu, 

    What magnification are they please. 

Paul 

Hi Paul,

They are Kowa 7x40 BAK 4 Prism with (it says) a field of 7.5 degrees. The serial number is 00057.

 

Regards,

Stu

[wookie1965]

Hi Stu,

That is a pity really wanted something with a 50mm objective I have a pair of 10x42 which are excellent but thank you appreciate you showing them to me.

They look like they are  worth a pretty penny more than likely out of my price range anyway.

Best wishes

Paul

Edited July 5, 2021 by wookie1965

[Sabalias]

23 minutes ago, wookie1965 said:

Hi Stu,

That is a pity really wanted something with a 50mm objective I have a pair of 10x42 which are excellent but thank you appreciate you showing them to me.

They look like they are  worth a pretty penny more than likely out of my price range anyway.

Best wishes

Paul

Hi Paul,

Not a problem. Honestly, I have no idea how much they might be worth 😅 so if you have an idea I'd be glad to hear it. My daughter is a zoologist so might take them (or a pair of Bushnells) off my hands.

Cheers,

Stu

[wookie1965]

4 hours ago, Sabalias said:

Hi Paul,

Not a problem. Honestly, I have no idea how much they might be worth 😅 so if you have an idea I'd be glad to hear it. My daughter is a zoologist so might take them (or a pair of Bushnells) off my hands.

Cheers,

Stu

I found a pair for sale second hand $89 thats second hand so around £75. If you had said I will give you them I would not of accepted them knowing they are worth that much.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373614707360

http://www.praxistrading.com/kowa7x40zcf.html

Best wishes

Paul

Edited July 5, 2021 by wookie1965

[johnbaz]

Hi

Have to say I love Swift Tecnar bins, I bought these 10x50 off the bay but collimation was so bad that it hurt my eyes and made me dizzy when I tried looking through them, I contacted the seller, He ignored my messages so a week later I opened a dispute, He eventually reimbursed me, I was about to put them in the bin when I noticed a gap on one side of the objective bell where it meets the prism case, It had been removed for some reason and replaced badly cross threaded, It took a fair bit of time to get the threads to start properly as it was trying to start in ot the crossed thread but eventually it screwed on freely (Was extremely tight to unscrew), The seller never sent an address to post them back to so ending up, They were free!

This binocular is actually quite lightweight having a plastic body and bells, It does actually feel lower qua;lity than some of the others I have but the view in nice and bright and very clear now!!

 

 

These Tecnar 12x50 are much older, Much heavier and such a fabulous clear view, It's hard to imagine the difference in weight!

 

Another fab bin is this Swift Audubon 8.5x44, I bought it fairly locally from the Marketplace on Facey for £50, They were gret but as soon as I got home and tried them again, The focus started jamming, I enquired about a service but covid had put a damper on things!, In the meantime, They came back to being fine! 🤨 Still want to get them serviced in case it happens again and damages something!

 

These 8x40 Tecnars were only about £15 from a local antiques centre (Junk shop!!), although they have a 40mm objective, They're lovely and clear, There's been loads also in the charity shops that looked so new and brilliant but when I looked through, They were terrible, Always best if poss to try them out at a shop!

I've bought quite a few binoculars from the bootsales too, had some cracking stuff but also bought some rubbish too!! 😊


Good luck with your quest!

 

 

John 👍

[wookie1965]

I have give up I have bought 5 pairs now all out of collimation, I started to ask before I bought 7 different ones and all replied they could not say for certain or they are a older family members.

So easy to check but none of them have so saving for a really decent pair.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

I had great luck with a pair of Swift Newports a little while ago.  £17 for a pair of 10x50s and they were in collimation with a wide field of view too.  They are out there...

Edited July 16, 2021 by GrumpiusMaximus

[PeterW]

I “fixed” some old family 8x40 by unscrewing and reassembling them… didn’t change anything like you did…. The view just was mended on its own.

I’ve got a pair of the Audubon 8.5x on my “be interesting my get” list, but the binocular cupboard probably doesn’t have enough space in….

Peter

[Mr Spock]

I had a pair of Prinz 12x50 years ago ('70s). Decent quality but narrow FOV and difficult to hand hold.

[wookie1965]

17 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

I had a pair of Prinz 12x50 years ago ('70s). Decent quality but narrow FOV and difficult to hand hold.

I had a pair of prinz 12x50s not the best make but they were brilliant crisp bright images. My mum kept ringing me saying what's that in the sky she was on a lounger with blanket over her using some small binoculars 7x30 or something so I gave her the prinz and she loves them looked at the double cluster just for instance and was blown away. 

I picked them up on a boot sale for a fiver but sadly nothing has come close to these yet. 

I have had a word with a friend and I am saving up for some helios apollo/delta extreme 15x70s now they will last a lifetime.