DIY Fluid Goggles

[nostres]

Originally Posted by qai4321

How did the 21dia/23fl lenses work Nostres? were you able to compare them to 20x20 lenses? whats the difference?

They work near perfect for me but I am not sure how much of a factor is my slight astigmatism here. Efattah says it doesn't matter so let's stick with that.
Till now I only had 21.5/23 lenses so no comparison. I just ordered 20/20 lenses from Anchor Optics what a hell, one life.
I should get them in few days and will post results from pool.
But I did discover something big, I am able to get my 23mm lenses to give me perfect vision just by tilting the goggles!
By tilting I mean changing agle between eye and lens by moving them underwater, top of goggles slightly away from face. So by mounting lenses inside goggles on angle I should achieve the same effect, it's just tricky to find sweet spot as it has to be done underwater.
Almost there, we'll make it perfect
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[nostres]

Thank you for contacting Anchor Optics, a division of Edmund Optics. I show that your order has been received. However, item 23086 is on backorder. The current ship date is 8/6/10. We are in the process of trying to expedite this item. We are hoping to receive this item in stock by 6/30/10.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact our customer service department toll free at 1-800-363-1992.

Regards,

Danielle Kay
Catalog Sales Support Rep
Edmund Optics | America
1-800-363-1992 x 6005
Fax 856-573-6295
Website & on-line catalog : Optics, Imaging, and Photonics Technology - Edmund Optics
Learn more about Edmund Optics Products & Capabilities at: Marketing Literature - Edmund Optics

[ptoot]

Hi all,

Apparently Optotronics did not send lenses according to their specs on the website. I have not yet been able to determine the actual focal length of the lenses sold, but the diameter sure is not 20mm.



Now, as others have noticed as well, the spheric lenses (half marbles) hardly give you better vision that no lenses at all under water. Yesterday in the pool I experimented with one lens inside the goggle and one held in front of the goggle and guess what? It works!

The underwater vision is sharp, it does not take much of an effort to get used to (it is slightly enlarged, as is often the case with masks too) but allows me to see the line, plate and watch ) Happily not all is lost.

Downside is that with these weak lenses you actually need 4 of them. But some of us ordered quite a few to get to the 20$ minimum order. I used clear "silicone glue" (the kind they used for fishtanks) to glue the lenses with one drop to the inside and outside of the goggle.

I have to admit: The field of vision is not very wide but what do you expect from watching through a crystal ball?



Optotronics have run out of stock, seems to have sold anything that remotely looked like a lens a a PCX20/20.

There is NO comparison with optical lenses sold by Edmunds. I was as clumsy as to drop two perfect lenses, but check out the picture below: The flat lens on the left is actually TWICE as strong as the two hemispheres on the right.



Also notice the difference in diameter and hight of the two lenses on the right, sold as 20mm diameter but actually measuring 17.x and 19mm.

I'm thinking of filling anything out of my sharp field of vision with silicone to minimize the risk of a 'frozen brain' from thermocline.

Now are these the lowcost goggles I intended to build? Depends on where you live! I had it sent to Europe, adding another 29$ (!) postage to the order, but this is the final account:

I used Arena kiddy's goggles (these are clear, enough space between the goggles for me and the lenses are perfectly flat (they often are NOT parallel in adult models, pointing outward).

Here goes:

Arena goggles: 7 euro
4 Optotronics lenses including postage: 41 euro (51$)
Glue 6 euro

Total: 54 euro

BTW: Optotronics sent me 5 lenses rather than the 6 I ordered in two different sizes.

They suggested I'd send the lenses back ($29) and so they could replace them with actual 20mm ones and return them ($29) but they would not pay for the postage (an extra $58). Alternatively, I could send them back ($29) to get a $21 refund, actually costing me 8 dollars; Which one would you choose?

[qai4321]

Ptoot thats interesting info you supplied. Ill try that idea of placing a second set of lenses on the outside just so that I can make use of the damn things.

Did I see correctly, you placed the lenses with the flat bits facing each other? Im not sure if I have the optics right, but doesnt that almost cancel them out?

I did place an order with Anchor optics, unfortunately they have a back order till the end of June.

The website claimed the shipping would cost 10$ but after I made the payment they claim the cheapest option available is 24$...which sucks a bit.

Your lenses look really neatly attached, can you explain further how you used one drop of silicon glue to attach them?

[ericvrp]

I took the new toys to the lake and loved the noseclip. The fluid goggles were of the same unsharpness as in the bathtub. I'm mailing with Trygons to see why things are like this.

- Eric

[ericvrp]

According to Trygons they have been sent a batch of lenses of incorrect strength. These ended up in the fluid goggles I order for me and some friends. Trygons is very responsive to my emails and is doing their best to fix the problem. They want to be 110% certain that this is what causes the bad underwater vision. When they are sure of this fixed goggles will be arriving at my place soon.

- Eric

[qai4321]

Originally Posted by ericvrp

According to Trygons they have been sent a batch of lenses of incorrect strength. These ended up in the fluid goggles I order for me and some friends. Trygons is very responsive to my emails and is doing their best to fix the problem. They want to be 110% certain that this is what causes the bad underwater vision. When they are sure of this fixed goggles will be arriving at my place soon.

- Eric

Did you get the issue sorted Eric? How are you finding the goggles now?
Q

[ericvrp]

Hi,

To tell you the truth I am less than satisfied with them. The goggles now have holes where the lenses are glued in. This puts the lenses another mm closer to the eyes. Some people can't even open or close their eyes anymore. But the biggest problem is that with the focus distance of these lenses they should be further away for a sharp image. The lenses are somewhat foggy compares to clear glass lenses so you loose some sharpness already. Anyway... I am not happy with them and although the shape of your head plays a role, I would not buy them again.

Eric
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[qai4321]

Shame, i guess ill wait a few months for them to work out their kinks.

Thanks Eric

[nostres]

Shabbat shalom!

OK fellow freedivers, I come here with good news. Final solution for great goggles is here! It is confirmed, tested, nice and simple. It comes from Anchor Optics and it catalog number is:

AX23086

Anchor Optics - Commercial Grade Plano-Convex Lenses (PCX) , Uncoated

From all different lenses and companies this particular one is by far the highest quality finish and sharpest image. How sharp is it?

I see clearly underwater to the point that I read smallest digits on my Suunto!
I had it both in pool and lake and it works great, couldn't be happier about it.

Few pictures below:
1) Product package and number
2-5) Process of making - aquarium silicone used to glue lenses. Weird lever thing is basically weight needed to keep goggles flat and leveled while glue was drying.
It is OK to glue lenses outside goggles using one drop of glass glue (super glue kind) but field of vision is compromised. Same sharpness but less view.
Mounting lenses inside, flat side towards eye gives better field of vision.
I have them so close I touch them while blinking but I am fine with it.

[nostres]

3) Underwater pic. - it is not how it looks underwater when Your eye looks thru it (obviously camera is in housing) It is only to show how strong magnification on the lens is

Pic. 4&5) Final product - after many experiments with different goggles I went with cheapest ($9) Speedos because of their comfort and short distance from the eye.

Good luck and enjoy making and diving with them, it's fun!

[qai4321]

Nostres, did glue the lens only to one edge of the goggles?

Q

[nostres]

Originally Posted by qai4321

Nostres, did glue the lens only to one edge of the goggles?

Q

First goggles yes, but I didn't like it. Last goggles have silicone at two edges.
They are the black Speedos and You can see them at the last two pictures.
This silicone is plenty strong to hold lenses yet quite easy and mess-free in case You want to remove lenses in the future (for example when You scratch goggles a lot)

[ericvrp]

Hi,

Nice thread - thanks!

The first picture is from a shipment from edmundoptics and not anchoroptics. Are they the same or did you post the wrong picture?

Do you happen to have a name and picture of the goggle (last two pictures) without the neoprene glued to it? Did you have to modify the goggle before you could glue that on (assuming it was not there to begin with)?

You put that neoprene there for warmth or to have the goggle right for the focal length of the lens?

cheers
Eric

[nostres]

I think Anchor and Edmunds must be sister companies, I placed order at Anchor and it came from Edmunds.

Speedos have black neoprene out of the box, no modifications. I just bought the cheapest goggles at the sporting goods store for two reasons - comfort and short distance from eye to lens (bigger field of vision)

And cheap goggles turned out to be the best for the job of all kinds of goggles I tried including expensive Orca's.