Helios Bins (1 Viewer)

[Macca]

Hi

Does anyone use Helios bins. I have pair of Helios Patrol 10 x 42 and have quite a frustrating time with them :C . I cannot seem to get them to produce a crisp image at all. The image is ok but never quite feels right with both eyes. I do not know if I am expecting too much for a £70 bin but I reckon that even my Nikon 8 x 24 compacts give me a better image and feels better on the eyes..... and all paid for them was £16 in an argos sale. Does anyone know if Helios give a garauntee? As when I bought them it did not say anything on the box or docs.

Cheers
Macca B

 

[Leif]

Hi

Does anyone use Helios bins. I have pair of Helios Patrol 10 x 42 and have quite a frustrating time with them :C . I cannot seem to get them to produce a crisp image at all. The image is ok but never quite feels right with both eyes. I do not know if I am expecting too much for a £70 bin but I reckon that even my Nikon 8 x 24 compacts give me a better image and feels better on the eyes..... and all paid for them was £16 in an argos sale. Does anyone know if Helios give a garauntee? As when I bought them it did not say anything on the box or docs.

Cheers
Macca B

Sounds like they are out of collimation i.e. a optical element is out of position. Of course it is also possible that the overall quality is not so good, although amateur astronomers seem to rather like these cheap far eastern imports, warts and all (the warts being on the bins, not the astronomers).

Have you tried looking through each eyepiece in turn? If they are out of collimation then chances are that one image is okay and the other is bad. I once had a pair of bins that were out of collimation, and I often got a slight headache using them, although I did not immediately associate the two. the view through the right hand eyepiece was good but was severely lacking in depth of field compared to its twin.

I think you can expect binoulars to give a useable image. If they are very new, then I would take them back and explain the problem to the shopkeeper. He might give you some bovine by product but I am sure you can see through it.

Lastly, are you sure that both of your eyes are okay? Some months ago the cornea in my left eye was swollen due to some microscopic dirt embedded in the surface. I was not aware of the problem until I went for new glasses.

 

[scampo]

As has been said, the cause must be the alignment of the prisms or internal lenses. Sounds as if they have been dropped either by the seller or yourself without realising this damage occurred. For £70+ you do indeed want a clear, bright and sharp image. My experience of lower cost binos is that you often sacrifice the field of view and brightness rather than the problems you describe. I would take them back to the shop as I think they have a good guarantee period.

BTW, I wouldn't label them "cheap" myself, nor would I expect warts on them - £70 isn't such a low price for binos these days, even though you can easily spend ten times that.

 

[Leif]

BTW, I wouldn't label them "cheap" myself, nor would I expect warts on them - £70 isn't such a low price for binos these days, even though you can easily spend ten times that.

I have in the past spent 10x that on bins but I assure you that it wasn't easy! (On a par with having a root canal done ...)

Yes, the Bushnell 8x40 H2O require only a little bit more readies to purchase, and are said to be quite decent. My Nikon 8x40 Egret cost £70 used and are surprisingly good. They are also tough as old nails - and about as attractive!

 

[scampo]

Leif

My 16-year-old is having his root canals filled on the two front teeth he damaged while walking into a closed patio door unknowingly, a few years ago. I hope it hurts him as little as it hurt me when I bought my bins! But... I suspect otherwise - poor lad!

 

[Leif]

Leif

My 16-year-old is having his root canals filled on the two front teeth he damaged while walking into a closed patio door unknowingly, a few years ago. I hope it hurts him as little as it hurt me when I bought my bins! But... I suspect otherwise - poor lad!

Actually, these days dentistry is so good that root canal work is not at all unpleasant, just boring (no pun intended) and expensive. I almost enjoyed it, as my dentist explained what she was doing, which I found interesting! She said that some patients nod off during root canal work, though I am not sure that is true. The worst part is the anticipation.

Ooops. Not exactly bird related ...

 

[scampo]

It wasn't - but you've made me feel much better for him. Sadly, after he has the root work done, he then has to have them both capped. All he wanted for Christmas was his two front teeth...

 

[marcus]

Yes, I have those Bushnell 8x42 H2O, and their optics are pretty good condsidering their low price.

 

[Macca]

I eventually took the Helios back. Shop assistant agreed they were not right and sent them off for further investigation / repair. Waiting to get them back now its been a couple of weeks so hoping to have them back in working order soon.

Thanks for the comments guys.

Cheers
Macca B

 

[alan_rymer]

Actually, these days dentistry is so good that root canal work is not at all unpleasant, just boring (no pun intended) and expensive. I almost enjoyed it, as my dentist explained what she was doing, which I found interesting! She said that some patients nod off during root canal work, though I am not sure that is true. The worst part is the anticipation.

Ooops. Not exactly bird related ...

No, not bird related, but I did sleep when I had a root canal done!.

 

[Leif]

No, not bird related, but I did sleep when I had a root canal done!.

Well I never! It's true then ... Don't s'pose your dentist is in Windsor?

BTW Have you tried birding on the Jubilee channel? It's brilliant. Over the last week or so birds I've seen include Teal, Gadwall, Pintail, Shelduck, Lapwing, Golden Plover and Skylark as well as the usual suspects. I'm told there's Stonechat too. The nice old council have erected lots of screen hides. A nose peg helps though when the wind is blowing from the poo farm.

 

[Steve Jones]

I used a pair of Helios 10x50's for several years after 'coming back' to birding in my mid twenties. I found them really good after ditching some dixons binoculars (not in a bin - I actually sold them for a tenner which was amazing considering how c**p they were). They were really good value for the £35 I paid, were sharp and bright (albeit with a colour cast which was not noticable until compared with much more expersive bins) and not as heavy as their bulkiness suggested. Apparently these bins are now endorsed by Chelsea FC.

Steve.

 

[alan_rymer]

Well I never! It's true then ... Don't s'pose your dentist is in Windsor?

BTW Have you tried birding on the Jubilee channel? It's brilliant. Over the last week or so birds I've seen include Teal, Gadwall, Pintail, Shelduck, Lapwing, Golden Plover and Skylark as well as the usual suspects. I'm told there's Stonechat too. The nice old council have erected lots of screen hides. A nose peg helps though when the wind is blowing from the poo farm.

Leif

That particular one was a specialist group somewhere close to High Wycombe!.

Regards the Jubilee Channel, never been there, driven over it many times ( M4 ). My birding tends to be very close to home ( Lavells lake sans dog and a couple of Pits at Twyford whilst dog walking ). there are lots of places locally which hold lifer's for me, should I ever decide to put more effort into my birding!.