Fringe Observer specs question

[jktechwriter]

I have a pair of old school opera glasses (not that great to use, btw) and I'd like to modify them to display something like the HUD shown in the attached image. Because I'm dealing with actual lenses, my guess is that this might be difficult to do without distorting the HUD graphics... so I may have to replace the lenses with flat glass.

Does anyone have any suggestions for adding a clear overlay to the lenses that would give this HUD effect? I'm not an optometrist, so I'm wondering if the human eye will be able to see the HUD effect as well as whatever he/she is looking at... my guess is that one will always be out of focus so I may simply resort to lines, etc... no data (numbers, etc.)

 

[jason1976]

I have an old pair of these too. When I saw them on screen (months ago) I flipped out, and ran over to an old junk box, and dug mine out. (mine are a little beat up, but they will do.)

I would love to see what you end up coming up with for these.

 

[SomewhatSavvy]

I would try making a file of the graphics from the HUD and then printing it and looking at it through the binoculars at a light source or something to get a feel for what size you need, whether you can see it, etc. You may need to cut out the inner part to get an idea of whether you can focus on it or not.
Then, I would print the graphic on transparency paper of window cling paper and just add it in front of the lenses. You may have to carefully cut them to fit.

Neat project. Good luck!

 

[jason1976]

I looked at my set, after I first saw this thread, but for got to post what I found. (I've been very forgetful lately. )

Any ways, the back lenses (the one in the part closest to your eyes.) Are focused on the backs of the front lenses, or at least they can focused there. (if you hold a magnifying lens away from your far enough, the image becomes clear again, but it will be upside down, if you put another lens between you and the first lens, it flips the image right side up again, that it really the main reason for the rear lens. There is a little more to it, then that, but that will do for now.)

Well, my point is, if you printed the graphic, on transparent "payper" (like posted above, transparency "paper" or Window cling "Payper") you could mount it to the back of the front lenses, and it should be in focus, when you look through the rear lenses. (i.e. us the binoculars regularly.) Also, the front lenses, are fairly flat, on the backs, if not completely flat (at least they are on my pair) so it shouldn't be to hard to mont the graphics there.


If you put them on the front of the front lenses, it would be very hard to mount them to the curve of the front of the lenses, and the curve my make parts of the graphics, out of focus, and/or distorted.

So, in my opinion, you should month them on the back of the front lenses, for best results.