On Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:36:19 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

These measurements are done over and over and by different persons with
almost the same results (within 0.5°).

I gather the Recta is held at arms length with one hand while the
binos will, of course, be held with both hands right up to the user's
face. So, the Steiners are more likely to be subject to errors from
metal frame glasses or watches with metal components. (You don't have
a WWV receiver in you watch do you?) I'd double check to make sure
that isn't what's happening. If the Steiners are lighted you might
try taking the batteries out and see if that changes your deviation
table. If there are any other metal parts on the glasses that can be
removed (eg. strap adjusters) remove them, too.

Also, the jewel in the Steiners might be jamming. Try going to your
bearing from the right and then from the left and see if there are
differences in the errors. If you tilt the binoculars up and down
does the card break free and settle on a new bearing? If you
overshoot the bearing and move back to it does the answer change?

As another poster has mentioned there Earth's magnetic field is in
three dimensions and so most magnetic compasses come in Southern and
Northern hemisphere models. When used outside of the mid-latitudes of
their intended hemisphere they will have tilt error. My experience is
that tilt seldom changes the ultimate reading on the card but may make
the card take longer to settle. If you do have tilt error, changing
the horizontal plane of the glasses should free it up, but you should
also get new binoculars!

-- Tom.


Perhaps you need to go to:
http://www.steiner-binoculars.com/bi...arine/395.html
and read up on these glasses. They have a world wide chart showing
deviation in various areas. The maximum I noticed was 12.0 degrees.

The chart seems to indicate that the compass is "balanced" for the
specific area where the glasses are sold.




Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct email address for reply)