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From microscopes to telescopes, rifle scopes to night vision, eHow’s got the optics information you’re looking for. In the market for binoculars? On the hunt for the perfect optical accessories for the bird watcher in your life? Advice from eHow experts make shopping for optics easy. Having trouble getting a good look at Mars on a perfectly clear night? Learn how to focus a telescope. From sighting wild game to locating a paramecium on a microscope slide, see it all with step-by-step instructions from resident experts.

Categories in Optics

Articles in Optics

How to Use a Telescope Tripod

By eHow Electronics Editor

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All telescopes, other than some tabletop or simple refractor types, need a sturdy tripod for both security and optimal viewing. Most sizable telescopes are sold with a tripod, which may or may not be of the quality you'd prefer. Replace it if you ... more »

How to Align the Finder Scope of the Sky-Watcher SK1025AZ3 Short Tube Refractor Telescope

By eHow Electronics Editor

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The Sky-Watcher SK1025AZ3 Telescope is good for beginners and traveling observers. The finder scope is a tool mounted on a telescope to help you target an astronomical object. It does not have high magnification power but it is equipped with ... more »

How to Boresight a Rifle Scope

By eHow Electronics Editor

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When you boresight a rifle scope, that means you're mounting the scope in a way so it is perfectly aligned with the sights of the rifle. By aiming your weapon at a fixed object through both the bore and the scope, you will be able to make fine ... more »

How to Calculate the Field of View of the Sky-Watcher SK707AZ2 Refractor Telescope

By eHow Electronics Editor

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The area that you can see through your telescope is known as the true field of view or the actual field of view. The field of view of your telescope is determined by the design of the eyepiece of the telescope. Calculating the field of view of a ... more »

How to Care for and Clean Your Camera Lens

By Jonae Fredericks

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The lens is one of the most important parts of your camera, so you need to keep it clean. Dirt and dust on your lens can produce a poor-quality photo, so proper care and storage is important, as is protection from being dropped, stepped on, ... more »

How to Focus a Telescope

By eHow Electronics Editor

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A telescope must be focused to show a proper image. An out-of-focus telescope will show blurs or nothing at all. The first time you use a new telescope, it will most likely be out of focus. Get it into focus and begin enjoying the new vistas your ... more »

How to Make a Wet Mount Microscope Slide

By eHow Electronics Editor

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A wet mount slide is the most common type of slide preparation for microscope work. Wet mount slides are used to view living organisms, as well as liquid substances of all kinds. They are also used for any sort of specimen that needs to be kept ... more »

How to Use a Telescope With Setting Circles

By eHow Hobbies, Games & Toys Editor

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Setting circles on a telescope mount aid in locating objects in the sky. There will be two circles. One, the right ascension axis (RA for short), corresponds to the polar axis. Right ascension axes are typically measured in hours and minutes, but ... more »

How to Use the Mode Key to Display Declination Coordinates of the Meade LX90GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope

By eHow Electronics Editor

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The mode key on your AutoStar is similar to the escape key on a computer's keyboard. It allows you to go back tot he previous menu or data level until the top level, Select Item, is reached. However, if you press and hold the mode key, you can ... more »

How to Align the Finderscope of the Sky-Watcher SK707AZ2 Refractor Telescope

By eHow Electronics Editor

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The SK707AZ2 Refractor Telescope is considered an ideal choice for those keen on watching objects in the sky. This model is lightweight, portable and sturdy. The Finderscope is useful in locating an object in the sky and controls the brightness ... more »

How to Care for the ATN Night Storm Night Vision Monocular

By eHow Electronics Editor

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You can use the ATN Night Storm Night Vision Monocular for several activities such as hunting, camping, boating or even surveillance. There are several versions of Night Storm Night Vision Monocular offered by ATN. Refer to your user manual for ... more »

How to Change a Telescope Eyepiece

By eHow Electronics Editor

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Telescope eyepieces form the magnified images that you see when you look through the telescope's optical tube. An eyepiece consists of lens components in a moisture- and dust-resistant housing. You'll need to purchase an array of eyepieces of ... more »

How to Change Units of Measurement on a Rangefinder

By eHow Electronics Editor

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The major benefit of a rangefinder is the ability to zoom in and out on your target with ease. Your rangefinder may feature factory settings or units of measurement that do not help you in completing your tasks. You need to learn how to change ... more »

How to Choose a Home Security Camera With Night-Vision Abilities

By eHow Electronics Editor

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Home security cameras are increasing in popularity every year. As the culture of crime increases, people feel strongly lead to increase security in their homes for the sake of their families and personal property. Many times, consumers come to ... more »

How to Choose Binoculars

By Karen Bridgers

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Binoculars come in many sizes and shapes, and prices vary from less than $50 to well over $1,000... more »

How to Make an Ultrasonic Range Finder

By awisdom

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Do you need to add a distance sensor to your embedded project ? Build this simple ultrasonic range finder ! This quick & dirty PIC ultrasonic range finder will find a place in numerous projects : presence detector, robotics, car parking, ... more »

How to Mount the ATN Night Spirit Night Vision Monocular on Headgear

By eHow Electronics Editor

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You can attach your ATN Night Spirit Night Vision Monocular on a headgear for surveillance and other purposes. This way, you can keep your hands free and observe through your monocular with relative ease. Here’s how to mount the ATN Night Spirit ... more »

How to Use a Binocular Tripod

By eHow Electronics Editor

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Tripods are used to steady binoculars or other optics for ease or enhancement of viewing, especially in outdoor environments. Hobbyists and professionals use binoculars to observe wildlife, terrain and astronomical conditions. Some folks train ... more »

How to Use a Telescope Attachment Kit for a Camera

By eHow Electronics Editor

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Maximize the power of your optics by adding a telescope to your 35mm optical or digital camera, spotting scope or microscope. Wildlife photographers, astrophotographers, laboratory researchers and those who are just curious to see what lies ... more »

How to Use a Telescope Filter

By eHow Electronics Editor

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Once you've mastered telescopic object magnification, it's time to increase the brightness and detail of what you're viewing. Use a telescope filter to increase contrast anytime or reduce glare during daytime viewing. Examine the polar ice caps ... more »

How to Use Black Lights

By eHow Electronics Editor

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If you've ever been to a Halloween funhouse where the lighting made your teeth or clothes glow in the dark, then you have experienced the electromagnetic radiation of black lights. Made in the same manner as fluorescent light bulbs, black lights ... more »

How to Determine the Magnification Power Needed on a Rifle Scope

By eHow Electronics Editor

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A rifle scope is far superior to the iron sights that come on a rifle for shooting at any appreciable distance. The magnification power of the scope determines how far out you can accurately sight in your target. There are other options to think ... more »

How to Perform a Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment of the Meade 8n LX90GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope

By eHow Electronics Editor

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Two stars are chosen manually by the observer from the large database of Autostar. Complete Step 1 through 9, unless you have completed the initialization procedure then complete Step 6 through 9... more »

How to Use a Compound Microscope

By eHow Electronics Editor

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Compound microscopes are much more powerful than traditional microscopes. Where traditional microscopes are able to magnify objects between 100 and 300 times their actual sizes, compound microscopes increase this magnification to 1,000 to 2,000 ... more »

How to Use Autostar to Identify an Object with Your Meade DSX-90 Altazimuth-Cassegrain Telescope

By eHow Electronics Editor

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You can use the arrow keys on Autostar to identify objects you have found in the sky with your Meade DSX-90 Altazimuth-Cassegrain telescope. Center any object and use the "Identify" menu to determine what the object is. Here's how to do it... more »