Scanning For Ideas: Binoculars With Two Magnifications
The Duovid line of binoculars from Leica Camera AG based in Solms, Germany (leicacamera.com), gives users two levels of magnification.
Edited by Stephen J. Mraz
The 8+12
42 model, for
example, can
switch, not zoom,
between 8 and
12, while the
10+15 50 model
switches between
10 and 15.
To switch, users
must give the
deliberately stiff
rubber-armored
rings on both
barrels or oculars
a quarter twist.
The stiffness
prevents the
magnifications
from slipping back
and forth.
The binoculars
use a roof-prism
design and are
completely sealed
and nitrogen
charged. This
means they are
fogproof and
waterproof (down
to 16 ft). The
prisms are phasecoated
to reduce
color aberrations,
and the lenses
are multicoated
to improve light
transmission and
scratch resistance.