Inter-pupillary distance (1 Viewer)

[Hays]

My spouse and daughter have, I guess, unusually close set eyes. Many binoculars will simply not fold closely enough to be useful. I’m finding that almost no binoculars provide an inner pupillary distance measurement. What I do know is that my 7x42 Zeiss Dialyts work well when completely folded. I once knew what the inner pupillary distance is for the 7x42s but have lost that information. I believe that measurement was in the specifications but I don’t find it in online now.
I did buy my daughter a pair of Nikon binoculars about 20 years ago that worked. An employee at Eagle Optics determined that the eye pieces were close enough to be useful.
Does anyone know how to determine the inner pupillary distance of binoculars now for sale without physically handling them? I would rather not buy another pair of Zeiss.
Thanks!

 

[Vespobuteo]

My spouse and daughter have, I guess, unusually close set eyes. Many binoculars will simply not fold closely enough to be useful. I’m finding that almost no binoculars provide an inner pupillary distance measurement. What I do know is that my 7x42 Zeiss Dialyts work well when completely folded. I once knew what the inner pupillary distance is for the 7x42s but have lost that information. I believe that measurement was in the specifications but I don’t find it in online now.
I did buy my daughter a pair of Nikon binoculars about 20 years ago that worked. An employee at Eagle Optics determined that the eye pieces were close enough to be useful.
Does anyone know how to determine the inner pupillary distance of binoculars now for sale without physically handling them? I would rather not buy another pair of Zeiss.
Thanks!

IPD 56 – 74 mm:

Zeiss Dialyt 7×42 T*P – Binoculars Today

You find specs for a lot of other binos there as well.

Zeiss FL, Zeiss SFL and Leica Ultravid goes down to 54 mm for example.

EDIT:

Other site says:

IPD 53 - 76mm (for the 7x42 Dialyt)

Zeiss 7 x 42 B GA *T* *P* Classic Dialyt - Under 50mm

Zeiss 7 x 42 B GA *T* *P* Classic Dialyt A “ Non - Technical ” Review by Kenny Jones An Introduction : The Zeiss 7 x 42 Classic is a Roof Prism binocular with a long history. This model first appeared in July 1981 since when ,pa...

www.cloudynights.com

 

[lilcrazy2]

Most manufacturers websites will list their various offerings and the specifications for each model and size configuration. Additionally, retailers such as BHPhoto, Optics Planet, Cameralandny, Adorama will also generally list specifications for each model.

 

[Alexis Powell]

...Does anyone know how to determine the inner pupillary distance of binoculars now for sale without physically handling them? I would rather not buy another pair of Zeiss...

If the bins are current or recent models, this spec should be available from the manufacturer's website or catalogs, though sometimes they are wrong (usually erring on the side of listing a larger minimum IPD than the actual limit).
Detail oriented binocular businesses or private sellers will list the spec.

I am a little surprised that the Zeiss 7x42 BGATP is listed as having a 56 mm minimum. My memory may be failing, and I don't have the bin in front of me at the moment to measure, but I seem to recall that it is actually 55 or even 54 mm. Regardless, I do know that its huge oculars make it fairly tolerant of eye positioning, such that if your IPD is 54 mm you might find it comfortable to use, especially at distance. I have a friend for whom that is the case. The close focus of the Zeiss 7x42 BGATP is around 12 feet, which is fairly far away, so it may work well at that distance even for someone with 54 mm IPD. As you look at objects that are very close, the eyes begin to cross, thus reducing effective IPD, so with close focusing bins (i.e. down to 6 or fewer feet) it is important for comfortable close-in use that they are able to be adjusted to a smaller IPD than your usual setting.

Unfortunately, most cheaper roofs and reverse-porro compacts have a minimum IPD of 56 or even 58 mm. More expensive roofs sometimes get down to 54 or even 52 mm, especially in the x32 formats. Zeiss has been a standout in the past for what it has offered, but some past models of cheap roofs from Bushnell also fit close-set eyes. Sorry, but I haven't kept up with these specs of what is currently available from Bushnell and others.

--AP

 

[Vespobuteo]

I am a little surprised that the Zeiss 7x42 BGATP is listed as having a 56 mm minimum. My memory may be failing, and I don't have the bin in front of me at the moment to measure, but I seem to recall that it is actually 55 or even 54 mm.

--AP

Updated my post above. What figure is correct for the 7x42 Dialyt I can't say.

 

[Binastro]

Opticron sell binoculars with small IPD.

The IPDs are usually listed on their website.

Regards,
B.

 

[pat mitchel]

If you go to this website, the pinac collection has a great wealth of information on various aspects of different binoculars

The PINACOLLECTION – Binoculars Today

Older porro prism binoculars (from the 50'still the 90's or so) many had narrow IPD capabilities. What is the IPD of the potential users? Regards, Pat

 

[pat mitchel]

By the way min/max IPD is typically listed on many retail websites (I use B&H photo often for their extensive list of binos they carry and the specifications on them) Pat

 

[elkcub]

I am a little surprised that the Zeiss 7x42 BGATP is listed as having a 56 mm minimum. My memory may be failing, and I don't have the bin in front of me at the moment to measure, but I seem to recall that it is actually 55 or even 54 mm. Regardless, I do know that its huge oculars make it fairly tolerant of eye positioning, such that if your IPD is 54 mm you might find it comfortable to use, especially at distance. I have a friend for whom that is the case. The close focus of the Zeiss 7x42 BGATP is around 12 feet, which is fairly far away, so it may work well at that distance even for someone with 54 mm IPD. As you look at objects that are very close, the eyes begin to cross, thus reducing effective IPD, so with close focusing bins (i.e. down to 6 or fewer feet) it is important for comfortable close-in use that they are able to be adjusted to a smaller IPD than your usual setting.

Sorry to disappoint, but the min. IPD on my 1990 7x42 BGAT*P is exactly 57mm. Being a mechanical feature, of course, it may vary between specimens.

At my normal 65mm setting, the IOD (inter-objective distance) is 73mm, which provides a small stereo effect.

Ed

 

[John A Roberts]

Hi Hays,

The problem is going to be at least twofold . . .

First and somewhat strangely, many binoculars of different designs and sizes, are all listed as having a very similar IPD range of around 56 to 72 mm.
But the actual range, may significantly differ
e.g. a while ago Henry measured the minimum IPD for three Porro prism binoculars, and for two it was very much less:

Just measured 52.5 mm for my 8x30 EII. Nikon 8x30 E measured 48.5 mm. The narrowest IPD among my binoculars is the Swarovski 8x30 Habicht at 47 mm.

And when I checked my three 8x30's, they were the same.

So the good news is that there are going to be binoculars that will work for your family.


But there is also the issue of the diameter of the eyepieces.
The larger the diameter, the less space between them at a given IPD setting.
And that may effect which are useable for an individual, depending on the size of their nose and the shape of their face.


So . . .
the reality is that paper specifications are not necessarily going to give you all the information that you need.
Your family members are going to need to try different binoculars in person, to get a fit that is both useable and comfortable.

The upside to that, is that many other binocular specifications also can't tell you all that you need to know.
And while binoculars may not be as demanding as shoes in terms of individual fit, and other characteristics,
it is always best if possible to try before you buy.


John

 

[Maljunulo]

A case in point is the Fujinon FMT-SX 16X70.

If you are a big-nosed Caucasian, you are going to have a problem putting your beak between the eyepiece housings if your eyes are close together.

Don’t bother to ask me how I know this.

Of course, that’s probably not the binocular you had in mind.

 

[Alexis Powell]

Sorry to disappoint, but the min. IPD on my 1990 7x42 BGAT*P is exactly 57mm. Being a mechanical feature, of course, it may vary between specimens.

At my normal 65mm setting, the IOD (inter-objective distance) is 73mm, which provides a small stereo effect.

Ed

Yes, my memory about the IPD spec was faulty. I checked mine and they are also 57 mm.

--AP

 

[eronald]

I have a small IPD, around 55mm. I have issues with about 50% of the instruments.

Edmund