Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics big binoculars too wide to use?

I recently got some 15x60 Oberwerk porro prism binoculars I am quite pleased with. I wanted to compare these to a pair of Kaibabs (15x56 roof prism binos) to see how mine compare with the higher end stuff. When I put the Kaibabs up to my face, I could not quite get the eyepieces close enough to match my eyes (insufficient interpupillary narrowing adjustment). Do other people have this issue or am I just built wrong?

my 15x56 swaro's need to have the covers off of the barrels to get close enough for me. it is because we are narrow focus creatures....predators.

Grady:
The IPD or (interpupillary distance) that binoculars have
may certainly be a concern. In the big types like you are
talking about here, it may be a factor. Some do not close
enough to work for the user.
I know how it varies, as when I set mine, and hand it over
to my son, he needs to close it up quite a bit. I guess he
gets his narrow set eyes from his mother !!
You are not built wrong, but some binoculars are built wrong,
meaning they do not include the narrow size you need. This is
an engineering design from the start. Usually this only happens with the large objective types. Too bad as the Kaibab
has good reviews.
That means, you will not be able to use these very well.

Jerry

Must have been built for the tree huggers....grazers. miles

If the Kaibab's don't close enough, forget about Swarovski 15x's.

I am in the same boat.

The Ziess 20x60s work well because the oculars are fixed and just the eyepiece moves to change interpupillary distance.

Thanks for the responses gents. My Oberwerks are quite good. I am just going to be happy with them.

Grady,

I have the same problem with the Kaibab's. Interestingly, the Sawarovski 15X56 is no problem, same with the Leica 15X56, they both close down fine for my eyes.

I looked at the specs on their website's and found the Kaibab's are 1 mm short of closing down to Swaro specs. That is too bad as the Kaibab's are significantly less expensive and the optics are really good.

Jim

We are all different. I have the opposite problem.....some roof prisms don't open up wide enough for me. I guess I'm broad-minded.

Grady8541,

Recently I compared some of those with my Minox 13X56. They were so close to the Minox I would not have purchased the Minox if I had the 15X60 Oberwerk already.

Another thing to watch for is the base you strap/screw your glass to to mount it on a tripod or window mount. For the Leica 15x56s anyway, Once it's fixated on the base closing or opening the barrels further to suit your face is very limited.