Looking up and beyond
I picked up a pair of 10×42 H2O Binocular 10X 42 Standard Water-Proof, Porro Prism Black Rubber this year and I’m reliving my childhood explorations. A good pair of binoculars can be used for anything from 4th of July viewing, hunting, bird watching, Stargazing or being a part of the neighborhood watch. I know a neighbor that was able to bust a drug dealer with a pair of binoculars and he used it to help relay info to a 911 dispatcher which helped the arresting police officer know where a weapon was hidden. Would you pay $80 to do all of that?
When I was a kid I use to look at the stars through some of the cheapest optics around. I remember the first time I looked through my Uncle’s Bushnell Binoculars and I was amazed at how clear the stars and the sky could be seen. There’s a big difference between all of the differing brands and levels of optics, but for most practical purposes there is a pretty broad middle of the road. My Uncles optics were a pair of Bushnell binoculars and he’s had them for decades
It’s a decidedly American story: one century ago in 1907, a young German immigrant named Fred Leupold set up a one man shop at 5th and Oak Streets in Portland, Oregon, repairing optics for surveying equipment. Leupold & Stevens is still family owned, though our focus has turned from surveying to helping people all across the globe survey their environments with the innovative, high-performance sports optics and accessories.
Carl Zeiss was a German optician known primary for the company he founded that manufactured lens and that have aided in the modern production of lenses. His first foray into lens was with microscopes in 1847 winning a number of awards for his designs.