Interesting Books, Articles and Websites about Binoculars
The following is a list of articles, books and websites which in my opinion contains excellent resources for the study of binoculars especially vintage ones and has been of invaluable assistance to me in learning about binoculars and writing the descriptions of the binoculars in my collection. It is by no means comprehensive and, hopefully, will be updated frequently.
Note: If you have a vintage binocular you either wish to sell or would just like some information about, I can be contacted at flagorio@shaw.ca .
ARTICLES
Reid, William (2004) “Barr & Stroud ‘Nitrogen-filled Binoculars’: the facts”. Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society, 2004, No. 81, pages 34-36
This fascinating article puts to rest the idea that the British used Nitrogen-filled binoculars during World War II.
Reid, William (2001) “Binoculars in the Air”. Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society, 2001, No. 70, pages 19-27
Reid, William (1982-85) “Binoculars in the Army”, parts I to IV, Army Museum, National Army Museum, London, 1982-85
BOOKS
Alii Service Notes (1996) “Repairing and Adjusting Binoculars”
This a good introduction to binocular repair. It should be available on-line here: www.montysmagic.com/bin.html
Best, Brin (2008) “Binoculars and People”. Biosphere Publications, ISBN 978-1-904841-03-6
Enjoyable to read book about all aspects of binoculars- history and usage- filled with interesting anecdotal accounts as well. It is often available on eBay.
Carson, Fred A. (1989) “Opticalman 3 & 2”. Naval Education and Training Program Management and Support Activity, United States Government Printing Office.
This is the United States Navy’s optical technician training manual. It is 357 pages long and includes chapters on Nature of Light, Mirrors and Prisms, Lenses, Basic Optical Systems, Design and Construction of Optical Instruments, Maintenance Procedures, Basic Instrument Repair, Machine Shop Practices, and Optical and Navigation Equipment Maintenance. It offers a superb in-depth explanation of how U.S. Naval binoculars and telescopes (as well as other optical instruments such as sextants and periscopes) work and should be maintained. It is available at: babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112105169277;view=1… .
Cook, William J. (2017) “Binoculars: Fallacy & Fact, The Instruments, The Industry, and You”. ISBN-13: 978-1548932190 and ISBN-10: 1548932191, Title ID 7356453
This is an enjoyable introduction to binoculars particularly on usage, construction and optical theory. The technical aspects of the subject are explained clearly in language easily understood. Mr. Cook is a retired U.S. Navy Chief Opticalman and private binocular repair specialist and recounts many interesting stories about his experiences in the industry taking special pleasure in debunking the numerous fallacies about binocular usage which have accumulated over the years.
The book is available from amazon.com .
De Laet, Dr. Peter and Vermeire, Francis (2017) “The Eye of the Flak – Das Auge der Flak, Volume I”. ISBN 978-90-826201-0-8
This extensively researched and fascinating 384 page book contains a great deal of heretofore unpublished information about German WW II military optics focusing on the development, use and construction of the D.F. 10×80 flak glass and should be read by anyone seriously interested in the subject. This important book covers:
-The evolution of flak observation binoculars from 1914 – 1945 with emphasis on the D.F. 10×80 “Flakfernrohr”;
-Interactions between the German military administrations and the optical industry;
-German military optics, logistics and optical repairs in the field during WW II;
-Use and functions of the D.F. 10×80 by Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine from search light directors to the first missile guidance systems;
-New and undisclosed information on codes, lubricants, paints, and coating techniques.
The book is available from: flakfernrohr.com/en_US/
Departments of the Army and the Air Force (1953) “Ordnance Maintenance Binoculars M3, M7, M8, M9, M13, M13A1, M15, M15A1, M16, M17 and M171A and BC Telescope M65”. United States Government Printing Office.
Contains technical information, exploded drawings, and disassembly / repair procedures for many U.S. Baush & Lomb style 6X30 and 7X50 binoculars as well as a great deal of useful information about binocular repair. Available in reprint from www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/b1059.html .
Forslund, Robert (2009) “Swedish Military Binoculars – The Best Possible Binoculars”
Excellent commentary and photographs of hand-held and observation binoculars used by the Swedish military from before World War I to current. Some of these instruments such as NIFE were of Swedish manufacture but the majority were German such as those made by Zeiss and Busch. Some other makers represented are Goerz, Hensoldt, Nedinsco, Nikon, San Giorgio, Schneider, and Voigtlander. I particularly enjoyed the chapter about the production of NIFE binoculars. This is an interesting story beginning in World War II which I doubt many binocular collectors know about. Text is in English. The book is available from the author at Forslund@t-online.de .
Gubas, Lawrence J. (2004) “An Introduction to The Binoculars of Carl Zeiss Jena from 1893 – 1945”, Lightning Press,Totowa, New Jersey.
Well-researched book with much information about Zeiss binoculars and the history of the company. Many photographs of binoculars, Zeiss staff and premises, and pictures of Zeiss advertisements and product specifications. I got my copy of book from: camerabooks.com/
Law, Clive M. (2004) “Without Warning – Canadian Sniper Equipment in the 20th Century”, Service Publications, ISBN 1-894581-16-4
The book devotes about 10 pages to the formation of REL, the manufacture of optical glass in Canada, and pictures, codings and descriptions of REL 6X30 binoculars. Of particular interest are pictures of an REL binocular marked with Chinese characters manufactured under the Mutual Aid Programme and of a letter from Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery to the Canadian Minister of Munitions and Supply thanking him for an REL binocular he was presented. The book is available from:
Reid, William (2001) “‘We’re certainly not afraid of Zeiss’ Barr & Stroud Binoculars and the Royal Navy”. National Museums of Scotland Publishing Limited, ISBN 1-901663-66-3
This book is very difficult to find, but it is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of naval binoculars especially British ones.
Rohan, Stephen (1996) “Eyes of the Wehrmacht: An illustrated guide to The German World War II 10X80 Binoculars, Volume I”, Rohan Optical Press, Bradbury, California.
136 large 8.5″ X 11″ pages. Excellent book about 45, 80 and 20 degree German WW II 10X80 inclined binoculars. The history, use and construction of these binoculars is thoroughly described and numerous large photographs are included. The best work about these binoculars available in English. Available from several dealers specializing in camera books. I got mine from www.camerabooks.com/Default.aspx .
Rohan, Stephen (2001) “A Guide to Handheld Military Binoculars 1894-1945″, Optical Press, Bradbury, California, ISBN 0-97090003-0-9
183 large 8.5″ X 11” pages showing many examples American, German, British, and Japanese military binoculars 1894-1945. Format is generally two large photographs plus a detailed description of each binocular per page totaling over 170 binoculars. Although not as broad in scope and comprehensive as Dr. Seeger’s book, the information presented per binocular is often more thorough. I found the section explaining the differences between the various American World War II Bausch & Lomb style binoculars particularly enlightening. Text is in English. This is a wonderful companion book to Dr. Seeger’s. Available from several dealers specializing in camera books. I got mine from www.camerabooks.com/Default.aspx.
Seeger, Hans (1995) “”Military Binoculars and Telescopes for Land, Air and Sea Service (3rd Edition 2005)”. Dr. Hans T. Seeger, Hamburg, ISBN 3-00-000457-2
537 page profusely illustrated and thoroughly researched encyclopedic work on military binoculars of the world from 19th century Galilean field glasses through World War II to current. This book is very expensive but well-worth the cost for a serious collector of military binoculars. It is written mostly in German but two chapters as well as all illustration captions are in English. Also, a translation of many pages can be found at the europa.com website (see below). Available from several dealers specializing in camera books. I got mine from www.camerabooks.com/Default.aspx .
Seyfried, J.W. (1995) “Choosing, Using & Repairing Binoculars”. University Optics Inc. , ISBN 0-934639-01-9
A good introduction to binocular repair. Available on amazon.com here: www.amazon.com/Choosing-Using-Repairing-Binoculars-Pb/dp/… and also often on eBay.
WEBSITES
Australian War Memorial (binocular collection): www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?query=&op=Search&forma… . This site contains fascinating photographs of binoculars being used by Australian forces during five wars (Boer War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam). There are also photographs of captured German binoculars and Japanese tripod mounted binoculars and of several types of binocular collimators being used.
Better View Desired www.betterviewdesired.com/
Thoroughly excellent reviews of modern binoculars.
BirdForum www.birdforum.net/
Go to their sub-forum on binoculars for discussions on almost every aspect of binoculars.
Cloudy Nights www.cloudynights.com/index.php
Go to their Forums – Equipment Discussions – Binoculars for discussions on almost every aspect of binoculars.
“Colour rendering in binoculars and lenses” www.allbinos.com/index.php?art=160 Allbinos is a great resource for binocular information especially for reviews of modern binoculars and the history of Polish made ones. I particularly like this article about how anti-reflective optical coatings can give the view through a binocular a color bias (i.e. yellow, green or blue toned views). I’ve read that older binoculars will often suffer from yellow/amber views because of the deterioration of the Canada balsam bonding its doublet lenses. However, I don’t agree with this because I have many binoculars with uncoated optics made before WWII and none of them have a yellow/amber view while I do experience the problem with many binoculars with coated optics made after WWII. This is sometimes attributed to outgassing or the sort of optical glass being used which may in a few cases be the cause, but I believe the main reason is the binocular’s type of anti-reflective coating. The Allbinos article explains the reasons for this very well.
Europa www.europa.com/~telscope/binotele.htm
This site is a trove of information for the vintage binocular collector.
Fan Tao web.archive.org/web/20070429015409/http://binofan.home.at…
Excellent reviews of many older binoculars especially wide angle ones.
Holger Merlitz www.holgermerlitz.de/
Absolutely outstanding reviews and comparisons of both modern and vintage binoculars.
Nikon Information
1) hansbraakhuis.nl/ and once at this site select the topic, “All Fuji, Nippon Kogaku + Nikon Binoculars (excel)”
2) www.nikon.com/about/info/history/products/index_03.htm
If you have viewed this collection, it is obvious that I hold Nikon/Nippon Kogaku binoculars in high regard. Generally speaking, I find the optical and build qualities of vintage Nippon Kogaku binoculars as good or better than many of those made by well-known contemporary European manufacturers even though the European binoculars often command a much higher price on the market. However, it is difficult to get good production information about these binoculars especially concerning model designations, serial numbers and the years various models were introduced. The above two websites are the best sources I have so far been able to locate about Nikon binoculars.
Rafael Chamon Cobos sites.google.com/site/rchamon/home/sun-images-method-for-…
Superb article explaining how to conditionally align and collimate binoculars. The explanations and terminology are understandable by the layman and the collimating instrument can be made with materials purchased at a hardware store. Reading this article made collecting vintage binoculars a lot more affordable and fun for me.
Russian/Soviet Binocular and Camera Manufacturerscameras.alfredklomp.com/logos/
This page lists Russian/Soviet factories manufacturing cameras along with the manufacturers’ logos. Since several of these makers also produce binoculars, the page is useful to anyone collecting Russian binoculars especially in identifying trademarks i.e. ZOMZ (includes Kronos binoculars), KOMZ (includes Baigish binoculars), Technointorg (Tento binoculars). Thank you Sifisi155 for informing me about this webpage! Also see: forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?27477-Guide-to-Russia…
Wehrmacht Awards Optics Forum www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=113
Wehrmacht-Awards. com is an important German militaria forum. Go to the Optics Forum under Wehrmacht Uniforms and Equipment for many excellent threads regarding military binoculars. Mostly German, of course, but military binoculars from other countries are also discussed frequently.