WW2 pilots and binoculars?

[James DeSouza]

This is a probably stupid question but I still want to ask.  I have bad eyes and am using VR.  I am trying to figure out if the use of zoom is "authentic" or not.  I assume pilots would use binoculars as it just makes sense (which would make zoom "authentic"), but at the same time I have never heard of the use of them by pilots or seen pictures of it.  Having never actually used a pair myself I don't know if there's something about them that would make them unusable while flying.

[MAD-MM]

Not sure that ever happen in fighter sized plane someone flying around with binos. Could maybe but think it difficult to spot trough the Binos and the same time flying dont get lost in orientation of your Plane in horizontal vertical alignment. Bombers frequently happen one of the crewmember was spotting with binos targets. Keep in mind the human eye can focus some Object, like near and disctance setting. so find personaly nothing wrong with the zoom in DCS solong they dont simulate the Human Eye

Edited February 24, 2023 by MAD-MM

[Dragon1-1]

Binocs were used to spot ground targets, mostly, and not just in WWII. It's hard to keep them stable while also holding the stick, so if possible, this was handed off to a second crewmember, but for fighter-bombers, the pilot would be the one to do this.

[Mr_sukebe]

As above, I’ve read of pilots talking about using binos to look for ground targets, never for air targets.  Always makes me laugh when I see a YouTube video of “super realistic combat” by someone who’s nearly permanently zoomed in

[Mars Exulte]

5 hours ago, Mr_sukebe said:

As above, I’ve read of pilots talking about using binos to look for ground targets, never for air targets.  Always makes me laugh when I see a YouTube video of “super realistic combat” by someone who’s nearly permanently zoomed in

Technically ''zoomed in'' is what gives you realistic scale. Being able to see your whole cockpit on a 24'' screen three feet away is waaaay ''zoomed out'' and makes it a lot harder to spot anything.

Edited February 24, 2023 by Mars Exulte

[WildBillKelsoe]

On 2/24/2023 at 7:31 AM, James DeSouza said:

This is a probably stupid question but I still want to ask.  I have bad eyes and am using VR.  I am trying to figure out if the use of zoom is "authentic" or not.  I assume pilots would use binoculars as it just makes sense (which would make zoom "authentic"), but at the same time I have never heard of the use of them by pilots or seen pictures of it.  Having never actually used a pair myself I don't know if there's something about them that would make them unusable while flying.

to answer your question which I struggled with long ago, the answer is yes!

 

here is why I think yes is the right answer:

 

1- personal reasons: I used to wear eyeglasses. nearsighted to 2016. got LASIC done. now I still need to kneel in to read small text, or lift up textbook closer to read the fine print. This is human limitation. 

2- game related reasons: our equipment can NEVER match the acuity of the real eyesight. this means if you can not spot the thing from afar, you dont fly. 

 

my point is, as long as you can pick things up using any means necessary, you are not considered cheating. you are considered relieving your eye strain. just like in the real world.

 

I hope this makes sense.

[Dragon1-1]

1 hour ago, WildBillKelsoe said:

2- game related reasons: our equipment can NEVER match the acuity of the real eyesight. this means if you can not spot the thing from afar, you dont fly. 

I wouldn't be so sure. The tech is already there, but it's expensive. I'm expecting "retina" VR displays in consumer headsets to become a thing within my lifetime. Professional grade headsets are already close, and with full FOV, too, from what I've heard. Driving them at native resolution without turning the room into a sauna is another matter, but I'm sure we'll get there, too.

[WildBillKelsoe]

19 hours ago, Dragon1-1 said:

I wouldn't be so sure. The tech is already there, but it's expensive. I'm expecting "retina" VR displays in consumer headsets to become a thing within my lifetime. Professional grade headsets are already close, and with full FOV, too, from what I've heard. Driving them at native resolution without turning the room into a sauna is another matter, but I'm sure we'll get there, too.

Well nothing superseded the old Mk.1 eyeballs since the dawn of time. At least I am led to believe this by living.

[Dragon1-1]

What does it have to do with anything? We already have screens with enough pixel density to match human eye resolution (about 60PPD) at typical Smartphone distances. Doesn't have anything to do with living or not, or with "superseding" human eyes. BTW, if that was your goal, you'd need a camera, not a screen. That, we don't yet have, the highest native resolution you can get out of a professional camera is about 150MP, compared to human eye's almost 600, but that is improving, too (besides, stacking 4 of those gets you there, if you can somehow afford 4 Pentax XFs).