Discover Your Field Glasses!©

 

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So on Wednesday, a huge Red-tailed Hawk landed on my neighbor’s chimney, and got mobbed by Robins, of all things.  I dug out my binoculars, to get a better look and realized again that I didn’t really know how to adjust or use them.  Maybe someone taught you how to use them, but apparently, I missed that lesson.  Fast forward to the next day, where while absent-mindedly scrolling through military journals on Google books, and I found “Discover Your Field Glasses!”, by Major Shore, buried in the middle of Infantry School Quarterly, and it got me thinking that I high time that I sat myself down and learned to use them. 

 

Major Shore authored his article with Artillery Forward Observers in mind, and the end of the article was all about mils and how to adjust artillery fire.  However the beginning, pages 102 to 106, were helpful, discussing how to adjust the focus and interpupillary distance (IPD) setting on your binoculars. 

 

Interpupillary distance (IPD) is the distance between the centers of your pupils, measured in millimeters.  With binoculars, IPD refers to the distance between the centers of the eyepieces, and it's crucial to adjust this for comfortable and clear viewing.  By adjusting the IPD setting on your binoculars you ensure that the exit pupils of the binoculars align with your pupils, allowing for a single, merged image instead of two separate circles.

 

But I still had some questions after reading the article, particularly on how, or even if you can use binoculars, while wearing glasses.

 

Apparently, you can wear your glasses if you have the right set of binoculars, one with eye-cups, which is designed with glasses in mind.  This is important as wearing glasses puts a greater distance between your eyes and the optics, which will decrease the field of view.  So, if your binoculars aren’t designed to accommodate your glasses, then push your glasses up onto your forehead while you use the binoculars.

 

For more information on binoculars and how to use them and care for them, check out the bibliography.

 

I hope that you enjoy learning from this resource!  To help me to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE.  Thank you and Happy Trails!

 

I hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me on YouTube at BandanaMan Productions for other related videos, HERE.  Don’t forget to follow me on both The Woodsman’s Journal Online, HERE, and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube.  If you have questions, as always, feel free to leave a comment on either site.  I announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.

 

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

 

 

Notes

 

Sources

 

Fa'apoi, Tina; “How to Use Binoculars with Glasses (With Photos & Tips)”, February 2, 2023, https://www.targettamers.com/guides/how-to-use-binoculars-with-glasses/, accessed July 12, 2025

 

Hollister, Jane; “Binoculars, How To Choose Them”, Boating Jul-Aug 1976, page 43 to 47, https://books.google.com/books?id=0CqL_IzXZd8C&pg=RA5-PA47&dq=how+do+you+use+binoculars+if+you+wear+glasses&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiG48vChriOAxVfE1kFHTZqBroQ6AF6BAgGEAM#v=onepage&q=how%20do%20you%20use%20binoculars%20if%20you%20wear%20glasses&f=false, accessed July 12, 2025

 

The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; Navy Airman’s Manual, US Navy, 1953, NAVEAR 00-80T-46, https://books.google.com/books?id=SdBJTKymIDAC&pg=RA1-SA11-PA13&dq=how+do+you+use+binoculars+if+you+wear+glasses&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiG48vChriOAxVfE1kFHTZqBroQ6AF6BAgMEAM#v=onepage&q=how%20do%20you%20use%20binoculars%20if%20you%20wear%20glasses&f=false, accessed July 12, 2025

 

Shore, Schiller F., Maj.; “Discover Your Field Glasses!” Infantry School Quarterly, Volumes 38-41, January 1951, [The Infantry School Fort Benning, Georgia], Page 102 to 111, https://books.google.com/books?id=bh_0AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA111&dq=%22infantry+school+quarterly%22+%22discover+your+field+glasses%22&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsusbi6reOAxViFFkFHSRGIGgQ6AF6BAgGEAM#v=onepage&q=%22infantry%20school%20quarterly%22%20%22discover%20your%20field%20glasses%22&f=false, accessed July 12, 2025