Hi. I'm looking for suggestions of binoculars or monoculars that can be easily used by someone with only 1 functioning hand. My friend has Cerebral Palsy and is wanting to get into birding. Anybody got suggestions on binoculars that are affordable and easy to use with 1 hand.
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Binoculars for People with disabilities (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter SeaSparky
- Start date
Mike Crawley
Emeritus President at Burnage Rugby Club
The only person I know who uses image stabilised binoculars only has the use of one hand. I imagine he would recommend them, they work well for him and he’s an excellent birder.
Lerxst
Well-known member
Somewhat related, although this does not address a particular set of bins.... Paul Miller of the Sacremento Audubon Society has developed a lot of adaptations for the use of optics. I've chatted with him many times and would likely welcome any inquiries.
www.fshdbirder.org
Adaptive Birding Equipement — FSHD Birder
www.fshdbirder.org
Binocollector
Well-known member
Something with 6x magnification might work with one hand. Like a Kowa BDII 6.5x32, APM 6x30, maybe even a Nikon Skeleton 6x15 (but they are almost too small and lightweight). Or maybe something with long barrels like a bino with AK prisms. But they might be too heavy for one hand.
I have this:
and find it quite useful. It is fully usable with only one hand, including focusing.
Canip
and find it quite useful. It is fully usable with only one hand, including focusing.
Canip
I would also look at the Kowa YF 6x30 II poro. My wife has severe rheumatism and therefore limited finger/hand functionality and she finds these very easy to use. They have a very deep DOF and once focused mid distance not to be refocused that often. They are optically very nice as well for the price
John A Roberts
Well-known member
Hi SeaSparky,
In terms of portable use one handed, and helping to minimise the effects of shake, something like these may be of assistance:
For the sources, along with images of some other possibilities, see post #960 and following at: New Product Introduction Today From Swarovski ?
John
p.s. Or even better (?) attached to the binocular:
In terms of portable use one handed, and helping to minimise the effects of shake, something like these may be of assistance:
For the sources, along with images of some other possibilities, see post #960 and following at: New Product Introduction Today From Swarovski ?
John
p.s. Or even better (?) attached to the binocular:
Last edited:
has530
Well-known member
This was my thought as well. The Canon 8x20 are small and light enough to be held in one hand and have efficient stabilization providing very nice one handed views.
I sometimes use my 10x32’s (Meopta) with one hand as I often have my dog on the lead on the other.
And welcome to BirdForum btw from all the staff and moderators.
Rich
And welcome to BirdForum btw from all the staff and moderators.
Rich
lilcrazy2
Well-known member
Other than the suggestion for a samll IS bino, I would probably suggest you try one of the small reverse porros such as 7x25 or 8x25. They are extremely lightweight and easily held and operated with one hand - and inexpensive.
I also recommend the Canon 8x20 IS binocular. For someone with CP, image shake is probably even more of a problem than for the most of us, so the image stabilisation will be very useful. This model also has the "push the button quickly and IS stays on for 5 minutes" function, which means you don't have to keep a finger on the button, which I would imagine could be quite important here. It is very lightweight and quite comfortable to use with one hand, and focusing is light. For one-handed use, I would try to attach some kind of a strap the type video cameras used to have, so that the grip could be more relaxed still.
Binocollector
Well-known member
I wonder if one of those headbands on which you can fix a nightvision device could be modified to hold a small bino? I'm not sure how these things are fixed but I think it might actually be a standard screw size like with a tripod.
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