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Lemaire Azur 7x50

Mfr: Lemaire, Paris, France

Date: circa 1960?

AFOV: ~50 degrees

TFOV: ~7 degrees

Eye Relief: ~15mm

Prisms: low index

lem7x50s.jpg (33427 bytes)lem7x50f.jpg (33801 bytes)

This Lemaire 7x50 has a somewhat cheap looking construction.  The objectives in the two piece body do not appear to have an eccentric mount so collimation must be done through the prisms.  On the end of the hinge is a cap with Lemaire's bee logo (see the Lemaire 7x35 for a similar image).

This otherwise undistinguished binocular is notable for exhibiting barrel distortion, with lines towards the edge of field curved outwards.  This is one of the few binoculars I have seen with this trait.  Most binoculars, if they have distortion, exhibit the pincushion type with lines curving inwards.  The barrel distortion results in a strange effect when panning, also noticeable in some wide angle binoculars with low rectilinear distortion (such as the Deltarem), but more pronounced.  The effect is like looking into a ball or globe.  Other than the distortion, the image is nicely flat and sharp across the somewhat narrow field, though with squared off exit pupils from low index prisms.  Also, the image is slightly yellow, possibly due to the dark blue coatings.