As my Nikon Travelite II binoculars have gotten older the focusing knob has gotten much more difficult to use - I think the grease is thickening with age making it very difficult to focus. The focusing knob still works smoothly, but with much resistance as if the lubrication has gotten very thick. It is in very good condition and used with care. Never gotten wet, etc. I'm somewhat mechanical and don't shy away from attempting to fix things, but I can't see how to get into the mechanical innards of these binoculars. Any fix for this?

They are out of collimation, probably because one of the prisms has shifted due to a knock.

FixYa did not replace your friend's binoculars- this site just gives advice and has no connection with manufacturers or retailers. You should contact the manufacturer or perhaps the place you bought them.

Common problem with binoculars after a knock. One of the prisms has shifted, putting them out of collimation (alignment). If they are very high quality or collectible they might be worth fixing. It is likely to be expensive. I have done a few pair myself, but only when it was uneconomic to have it done professionally (I have ruined a few too).

Hello Scott

While I am mostly a camera expert , I have seen the problem that you are describing. Inside the camera there is a little reflector which is used to invert the picture and focus it to the viewing eyes.

These reflectors are stuck to the camera casing using epoxy and the problem is that with time the epoxy becomes brittle and cracks. When it is cracked , the lens will move out of it's fixed posistion but the epoxy does not always break loose fully which is why you do not hear any rattle.

You could attempt to open it up and glue the lens back into posistion using some new epoxy , but you could possibly have some problems with the screws of they are not standard.

In this case ask a jeweler to repiar the binocular for you as this should not cost much to repiar...no more than $15.

Kind Regards
Andrea

Hi,

This is more common than you would think.. Here's how to set up a pair of binoculars to suit yourself.
Any good binocular will be able to do this and the reason is to allow you to adjust them for the difference in strenght between your two eyes. I wear glasses myself and sometimes contact lenses so it's good to be able to quickly adjust them.

1. turn the binoculars over so you are looking at the underside.
2. on the eyepieces can you see on one eye(usually the right eye) a little plus - minus marking. The eyepiece should be able to rotate a little to each side of this marking.
3. Set the rotating eyepiece to the middle setting.
4. Look through the binoculars as normal and bring the two sides together until you form the two circles that you see into one.
5. Pick an object app 10 meters away.
6 Presuming that the adjustable eyepiece is on the right hand side then close your right eye, look at the middle distance object you chose with your left eye and use the central focusing knob/wheel in the middle to bring your left eyepiece into focus.
7. Now, close your left eye and adjust the rotating right hand eyepiece while looking at the same object until your right eyepiece is in focus.
8. The binoculars should now be set for the differences in strenght of your eyes and you can use the middle focus control as normal.

Most binoculars have a soft rubber eyepiece that can be folded back for people who wear glasses but I, like most people I know who wear glasses, find it horribly uncomfortable.

This method allows you to set them for yourself and if someone else uses your binoculars you can quickly reset them for you.

Hope this helps...


- Oh yeah, sorry, forgot to mention.. This set up is so you can use them without wearing your glasses.. Much more comfortable!!

I'm supposing by eyepiece you mean the rubber or plastic eyecup. The eyepiece is the whole unit that contains the lens. Nikon has a service center in many countries. If you have one in your country then they can order the part. I have ordered from Nikon. They find the part number if you tell them your model and can email you an order form. Alternately Binoculars.com is very good to deal with as is Adorama Camera in New York. Both will sell internationally.

wich model do you have as i have some parts for older models...larry 5088331232

They can be fixed but not at home. You need a collimator to properly align the optical paths. If under warranty send them back. If not get a quote first repairs are expensive and you may be better off with a new one.

You will have to contact Nikon and they will more than likely replace them at no charge, especially if you registered them. Retail stores are an option but they will have to order them and there will be a charge.
Please rate this and let me know if this helps.

try...15165474200 or 1800 645 6678...hope this

You have to open each side ( nikon travelite covers just unclip ) to get to the 4 prisms. Once opened to clean make sure you do not break the glue that holds down the prisms ( move the prisms in their seats and your alignment is out ). Clean with window cleaner and isopropanol to finish.