Huet 4x24 Sight

Mfr: Huet, Paris, France

Date: circa 1960

AFOV: ~80+ degrees

TFOV: ~20+ degrees

Eye Relief: ~16mm

Prisms: high index porro (?)

Serial Number: 35461

This Huet 4x24 binocular appears to be a gun sight for the French Navy.  The markings include "Jumelle S4x24 D S.G.O. 1960" (S.G.O. = Societe Generale d'Optique, see Seeger reference below; note that the serial number on the wooden case does not match the number on the binocular).  The 4x24 has heavy brass, steel and aluminum construction.  Interpupilary adjustment is achieved by turning a knob to change the distance between the two sides.  There is an adjustable eye shield (missing the rubber in this sample) as well as metal eyecups on the eyepieces (removed on the close-up view above).   The right side has a reticle in the same "spider web" pattern as found in the Huet 8x40 "Eclipsable" sight.  The fixed focus eyepieces, with a 35mm diameter eye lens, are much larger than those found on the Huet 8x40 models.  The apparent field of view and performance of the eyepiece are similar to the Huet 8x40's, with slightly better eye relief.  The prisms appear to be  porro type.  The optics have light blue coatings.

I find the Huet 4x24 to have excellent wide angle views.  For eyeglass wearers, the metal eyecups should be unscrewed so that nearly the entire field of view can be seen.  Practically all of the Orion constellation fits in the field, an impressive sight.  Stars are not quite sharp to the edge of field, but the distortion and astigmatism are far better than with typical Erfle eyepieces.