I Tried Using Binoculars Without Eye Relief and Here’s What Happened!

I tried using binoculars without proper eye relief, and it was a disaster. Not only was my viewing experience uncomfortable, but I also couldn’t see the full field of view. My eyes couldn’t align with the eyepiece, and I could only see a small portion of the image. However, it was like looking through a small window instead of enjoying the full panorama. This experience taught me the importance of choosing binoculars with adequate eye relief.

If you’ve ever worn glasses and tried to use binoculars, you know how important eye relief is. Binocular eye relief is the distance between the eyepiece and the viewer’s eye that allows the full field of view to be seen without any loss of clarity or vignetting. It is typically measured in millimeters.

Moreover, Eye relief is particularly important for glasses wearers as it determines whether or not they will be able to see the entire field of view. Binoculars designed for glasses wearers have longer eye tubes, providing more space for glasses frames. Some glasses wearers may even need to remove their glasses entirely to see the full field of view.

Let’s dive into the article to gain a clear understanding of this topic.

What is Short Eye Relief?

Short eye relief is a term used to describe the minimum distance between your eye and the eyepiece of binoculars in order for you to see the full image. This distance is typically around 3-4 inches for most telescopes and binoculars. For some people, this may not seem like a big deal.

Well, who wear glasses, or need to keep their eyes a certain distance away from the eyepiece, short eye relief can be a major problem. Another cause of short eye relief is an incorrect interpupillary distance setting.

This can be adjusted by changing the distance between the two barrels of binoculars. By making these adjustments, it will be possible to achieve a clear and sharp image.

There are a few ways to work around this issue. Such as using an eye patch or special eyepiece extenders. But ultimately it is best to choose binoculars with longer eye relief distances to avoid any potential issues.

What is Long Eye Relief?

The minimum long eye relief is around 10-12mm. But some manufacturers make binoculars with a much longer eye relief of 18mm or more. This makes them easier to use for those with glasses, and also provides a larger image for those with sensitive eyes.

Moreover, Long eye relief binoculars are also good for bird watching. As they allow you to keep a safe distance from the birds while still getting a clear view.

In general, long eye relief binoculars are a good choice for anyone who wants a more comfortable viewing experience.

What is a Good Binoculars Eye Relief?

Depending on the optical design of binoculars, every binocular has a specific eye relief. This distance usually falls in the range of 10-20 millimeters. The user can see the whole picture if the eye is located at this distance from the binocular eyepiece.

Otherwise, if the eye is too close, the image becomes shadowy from the sides. And if the eye is too far, the image becomes constricted.

Moreover, understanding binocular eye relief is more concerning for people who wear glasses. As they need to keep their eyes at the appropriate distance from the eyepiece.

If the glasses take the user’s eye too away from the eyepiece, the outer part of the image will be lost. Due to this, the user will only be able to view the center of the picture.

Some glasses wearers even need to remove their glasses completely in order to see the full field of view.

Long Eye Relief vs Short Eye Relief

If the relief is too short, your glasses will block part of the lens, making it difficult to see. On the other hand, if the eye relief is too long, you’ll have to hold the binoculars too far away from your face, which can be uncomfortable.

The best binoculars for glasses-wearers offer a comfortable middle ground, provide a clear image, and allow you to see the entire field of view. With so many options on the market, there’s no reason to settle for less than the best.

Can Eye Relief Be Adjusted

Almost all the best hunting binoculars come with helpful features that enable users to tailor binoculars according to their requirements. One such feature is eyecups, which can change binocular eye relief.

Eyecups are attached to the ocular barrel. The purpose of them is to prevent stray light from entering the eyepiece. If glasses wearers fold the eyecups, they can shorten the distance between the eye and the eyepiece.

After retracting the eyecups, users can adjust binocular barrels to match the distance between their eyes until a solid image is seen.

Additionally, premium binoculars mostly have the long eye relief needed by wearers of glasses; however, cheap and old binocular models are usually unsuitable for eyeglass wearers.

Who Requires a Long Binoculars Eye Relief?

Eyeglass wearers require long eye relief because the distance between their eye and the eyepiece needs extra room for the glasses to fit in. We recommend an average of 16 millimeters of eye relief to ensure that the user can accommodate glasses without making glasses take the user’s eye too away from the eyepiece.

Furthermore, the exact eye relief requirement depends on the distance between the glasses and the user’s eye. If glasses are close to the eye, an eye relief of 15 millimeters will suffice.

Does It Matter for Non-Glasses Wearers?

A short and long eye relief will work for a user who does not wear glasses. Let’s say a binocular has a long relief, the user can use eyecups to hold the eye at an appropriate distance farther from the eyepiece.

People May Ask

Final Wording

A short eye relief less than 15 millimeters in size is not suitable for eyeglass wearers. In contrast, eye relief falling in the range of 10-20 millimeters can be used by non-glasses wearers depending on the user’s requirement.

The concept of eye relief is more significant for glasses wearers than for non-glasses wearers, but a basic understanding of binocular eye relief is crucial for all. We hope this article was able to provide you with that basic understanding.

Additional Common Questions

How paramount is eye relief for binoculars?

Eye relief is an integral feature for binoculars, especially for users with prescription glasses. Essentially, it’s the distance at which you can hold your binoculars away from your eyes while still being able to perceive the entire image. So, when you wear glasses, they naturally keep the binoculars a tad bit away from your eyes, and adequate eye relief ensures you don’t lose any part of the image because of that. For maximum effectiveness and a comfortable viewing experience, I would personally insist on an eye relief of at least 16mm, as is common in high-performance brands like Viking Binoculars. This value offers excellent image visibility, even for eyeglasses wearers.

Is it beneficial to utilize binoculars with or without spectacles?

Interestingly, the need to wear eyeglasses while using binoculars largely depends on what vision issues you have. For instance, if you have either nearsightedness or farsightedness, binoculars could potentially replace your glasses. The reason being, the built-in focusing mechanism in the binoculars allows for necessary adjustments, thereby making up for your sight issues. In my personal experience, I’ve found that I don’t need my reading glasses when I’m out bird-watching or stargazing using binoculars because of this helpful feature. However, be sure to experiment with your own to figure out what works best for you.

Can individuals with poor eyesight utilize binoculars?

Yes, binoculars are designed in such a way that they can accommodate people with less-than-perfect vision. Essentially, as long as your binoculars’ focusing range extends to infinity, a nearsighted person will see clearly with them. Otherwise, you’ll need your corrective glasses or contact lenses on when using binoculars. I have a friend who is nearsighted and he can still enjoy the splendid views of Mother Nature without any problems due to the adaptable design of his binoculars.

Why do I experience difficulty seeing through binoculars?

The primary cause of not getting clear views through your binoculars could be due to improper adjustment of settings. Primarily, you need to ensure that the space between the barrels aligns with that of your eyes. The ideal end goal is to have a single circular image when peering through the lenses. Secondly, check the state of your eyecups. If you’re wearing glasses, you’d want the eyecups in their retracted form or ‘rolled down’. I learnt this firsthand after enduring blurred images during my initial experiences with binoculars. But once I mastered the settings, my binocular time became seamless and a lot more enjoyable.