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Author Topic: Binocular recommendations (for precisely focussing Hateful 8) Michael Barry Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 584 From: Sydney, NSW, Australia Registered: Nov 1999 posted 01-03-2016 10:51 PM                     Hi there, I'm going to be running 'The Hateful Eight' in 70MM and I want to use binoculars to help achieve precise focus (it's a fairly long throw). My idea is that I'd be able to focus on the grain using binoculars, so I'll know that it's 100% in focus. There's an inexpensive pair of Tesco 10x25mm I was looking at...would they be ok? Any particular suggestions? Thanks!  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-04-2016 03:08 AM                     I've seen many projectionists use field glasses to focus in long throw projection locations. Drive-in's in particular since they have super long throws. Saw a stage house that had a 187' throw to the 35ft screen and it was mandatory to use glasses to focus in the picture on every changeover. Prob any 8xpower units will work.  |  IP: Logged Michael Barry Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 584 From: Sydney, NSW, Australia Registered: Nov 1999 posted 01-04-2016 03:27 AM                     Thanks, Monte! I'm glad to hear that. I wasn't sure if it was a 'silly' question.  |  IP: Logged Chris Markiewicz Expert Film Handler Posts: 209 From: Glenaviegh, County Tipperary, Ireland Registered: Aug 2002 posted 01-04-2016 11:24 AM                     I use a cheap Tasco monocular spotting scope to focus both our drive-ins and on Hateful Eight. Works great. At the Hateful Eight location I'm projecting we've got the Hyperion anamorphic; no softness issues.  |  IP: Logged Kenneth Wuepper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1026 From: Saginaw, MI, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 01-04-2016 01:13 PM                     The original installation of Simplex XLs at the Temple Theatre had the magnifying telescope mounted above the lense on both projectors. The limitation was the fact that they looked at the center of the image and could not be used for the corners or edges of the image. These were only added to the machines when CinemaScope was installed. A high quality Nikon monoscope will also work well as they are color corrected. You may have to rest the scope on the booth glass to stabilize the image at large distances.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-04-2016 02:25 PM                     I always used Opera Glasses  |  IP: Logged Dave Macaulay Film God Posts: 2321 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Apr 2001 posted 01-04-2016 02:32 PM                     My experience is that there is a HUGE difference between $50.00 binoculars and $200.00 binoculars in convergence stability, focus uniformity, sharpness, and brightness. Between $200.00 ones and $2000.00 ones there's not so much difference unless you're using them for night surveillance... or really like the ruby colored lenses... or you believe the "BMW illusion" that makes anything more expensive automatically better. More than 7 or 8 power will give a shaky view unless braced against something solid. A decent "spotting scope" from a sporting goods store may be more suitable, these all have tripod mounting holes. These are small upright image telescopes - you don't need two eyes to focus.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-04-2016 02:38 PM                      |  IP: Logged Michael Barry Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 584 From: Sydney, NSW, Australia Registered: Nov 1999 posted 01-04-2016 08:26 PM                     I'm going to need something a bit more powerful than that, Mark. It's a REALLY long throw!  |  IP: Logged Steve Matz Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 672 From: Billings, Montana, USA Registered: Sep 2003 posted 01-05-2016 12:52 AM                     Tasco has come a long ways since the 70's when their Scopes,etc., were a joke but if you want the best precision Optics in Scopes, Binoculars,etc., then you are looking at European Optics, mostly German(Austria)or Swiss.When I was selling Firearms,assessories. The companies rated at the top of the heap were Zeiss, Swarowski, Kahles, H&R (not neccessarly in that order) American companies like Leupold,Shepherd,Nikon,etc. have excellent optics for the majority of Hunters, Sportsmen, but for that last degree of the ultimate precision optics; than the names I listed are the ones to look for. However their Cost can empty your wallet very fast ...  |  IP: Logged Steve Matz Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 672 From: Billings, Montana, USA Registered: Sep 2003 posted 01-05-2016 02:56 PM                     These would be Nice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrLYoT1bsvI  |  IP: Logged Michael Barry Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 584 From: Sydney, NSW, Australia Registered: Nov 1999 posted 01-05-2016 03:53 PM                     160X magnification!! I guess I just need to see the grain, not the atomic structure of the grain.  |  IP: Logged Michael Barry Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 584 From: Sydney, NSW, Australia Registered: Nov 1999 posted 01-06-2016 12:43 AM                     OK, so I ended up going for a compact pair of Tasco binoculars. 8 times magnification. I'm surprised how sharp and clear they are! I think they will definitely help.  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 01-06-2016 09:16 AM                        I have a small pair of Nikon 7x I've used for years - good quality and very very handy. Useful on this H88 project here in West Palm Beach, FL...  |  IP: Logged

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