Eye strain and glassing

[Scwoody1]

So I have never owned top end glass, my main glass has been original vortex 15’s and now 15x50 HD’s. I seem to be pretty sensitive to eye strain as I get a dizzy/motion sick feeling looking through them after 20-30min or so(this is off a tripod)... I made the mistake of looking through a friends EL’s, felt like I could look through them all day... So now I can’t afford el’s but I’m looking at some 10x42 Meopta or Zeiss for my elk/archery deer here out west. I guess my question is do you guys feel this is a problem with my glass and these options would cure that or is it just in my head?

 

[chicoredneck]

Eye strain in binoculars can be caused by many things. Common problems are the image in each barrel not being lined up and the image not being focused properly or poor resolution glass. I can’t say on your vortex, but they have a great warranty.

It’s a good idea to look through a lot of different glass when shopping for binoculars to compare what looks and feels good to me. Many brands now (even cheap models) have resolution high enough that the clarity shouldn’t cause eye strain. That being said, when I’m selecting a pair of binoculars for myself, I do my best to compare them side by side one after the other. I relax while looking through the binoculars, paying attention to comfort and if I detect any straining, I take that option off the buying table. Bad optics can look amazing in bright light, but cause some viewing discomfort.

 

[NoWiser]

The quality of your glass is likely a contributing factor. You do not need to get the ELs. For a bit more than the Zeiss or Meopta you can get SLCs and not wonder down the road of you made a mistake. Same glass In the SLC vs EL, just no field flattener. Many prefer them to the ELs.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

Eye strain in binoculars can be caused by many things. Common problems are the image in each barrel not being lined up and the image not being focused properly or poor resolution glass. I can’t say on your vortex, but they have a great warranty.

It would make sense to send them in and have them checked out

 

[Scwoody1]

It would make sense to send them in and have them checked out

I sent my original vortex in because of this issue and that’s how I ended up with the hd’s. Helped some but I just can’t get past the 30min mark without strain.. thanks for help everyone.

 

[huntsman22]

So now I can’t afford el’s but .....

You can't afford NOT to..... it's your choice

 

[Scwoody1]

I guess that’s a good way to look at it... the wife can forgive.lol

 

[Rackseekers]

I also live in Southern AZ If you can swing a used pair of SLC 15x56's you'll never be disappointed. I spend 100's of hours behind mine each year and love them. Buy once you'll thanks us later

 

[Napperm4]

So I have never owned top end glass, my main glass has been original vortex 15’s and now 15x50 HD’s. I seem to be pretty sensitive to eye strain as I get a dizzy/motion sick feeling looking through them after 20-30min or so(this is off a tripod)... I made the mistake of looking through a friends EL’s, felt like I could look through them all day... So now I can’t afford el’s but I’m looking at some 10x42 Meopta or Zeiss for my elk/archery deer here out west. I guess my question is do you guys feel this is a problem with my glass and these options would cure that or is it just in my head?

Are they by chance the 15x50 viper HD’s?

I had a pair briefly as I was intrigued by the size / weight for packing in and I was impressed with the 10x42’s. Huge mistake.

I sent them in numerous times for colimnation, focus and lens repairs. Still the worst optic I’ve ever looked through. I’d had better luck with $30 tasco binos from Walmart.

Nothing but headache, eye strain and could never get a clear image in them.

My brother has a pair of 15x56 vultures that are ok. I could spend an hour behind them before the eye fatigue set in. I have a pair of kaibabs I bought in search of some decent 15’s at one point too. Those were never bad for budget glass and I could use them for a few hours.

 

[Scwoody1]

Are they by chance the 15x50 viper HD’s?

I had a pair briefly as I was intrigued by the size / weight for packing in and I was impressed with the 10x42’s. Huge mistake.

I sent them in numerous times for colimnation, focus and lens repairs. Still the worst optic I’ve ever looked through. I’d had better luck with $30 tasco binos from Walmart.

Nothing but headache, eye strain and could never get a clear image in them.

My brother has a pair of 15x56 vultures that are ok. I could spend an hour behind them before the eye fatigue set in. I have a pair of kaibabs I bought in search of some decent 15’s at one point too. Those were never bad for budget glass and I could use them for a few hours.

Yes they are the 15x50 HD’s... Thanks for everyone’s help!

 

[Napperm4]

Yes they are the 15x50 HD’s... Thanks for everyone’s help!

I’m not going to knock the entire brand / model based on the experience of a single pair of binoculars but in my case it was definitely the binocs that didn’t agree with my eyes. Strange because I don’t mind the 8 or 10 x 42 but I have a feeling it’s part of the reason those are discontinued.

Best bet is to find a place that allows returns and try some options out for yourself. See what your eyes agree with and go from there. Every ones body is different, all our eyes are different but with so many options there’s a fit for everyone