SWFA SS 12X32 User manual

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL
1
MANUAL
MANUAL

CONTENTS
SWFA SS 12x32 BR
Basic Operation and Setup
Interpupillary Distance (IPD) Adjustment
Eyecup Adjustment
Features
4
Binocular Eyepiece Focus 6
Reticle Focus and Orientation 8
Warranty Information 15
Cleaning and Maintenance 14
Range Estimation 10
Introduction 3

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL 3
binocular is a compact roof prism design that combines light weight and
excellent optical performance with an industry first adjustable ranging reticle.
SWFA SS 12x32 BR
THE
SWFA SS 12x32 BR Binocular
with Ranging Reticle
NOTE: Avoid looking at any intense light source through binocular.
For example, looking directly at the sun can result in permanent damage to your eye.

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL
4
Rotating
Winged Eyecup
FEATURES
Center Focus
Diopter
Adjustment
Reticle Focus
Binocular Barrels
Reticle Rotation
Basic Operation and Setup
Eyepiece (Ocular)
Lenses

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL 5
EYECUP ADJUSTMENT
SWFA SS 12x32 binocular is equipped with
adjustable rubber eyecups with integrated
wings that block wind and stray light. Take
care to not rotate the eyepiece and reticle
adjustments underneath the eyecups
When using the
binocular with eye
or sunglasses, fold
the eyecups down in
order to see the entire
Field of View (FOV).
INTERPUPILLARY DISTANCE (IPD) ADJUSTMENT
The IPD setting of the binocular must match the distance between your eyes.
To adjust the IPD, grasp the binocular with both hands and slowly rotate the
binocular barrels inward or outward until you see a single round image without any
“kidneybean” shading for either eye. In order to simplify the adjustment and make it
consistent, choose a reasonably distant object to look at (more than 20 yards out)
and find a stable position with support
for your elbows. Once you achieve a
comfortable IPD setting, note the size
of the gap between the two barrels,
so that you can always return to your
setting if someone else has been
using the binocular or if the IPD setting
shifted during transportation.

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL
6
In order to set the binocular up for a clear and relaxing image, the eyepiece
must be adjusted to compensate for the difference between the user’s left
and right eye. Note, that the difference between the eyes is individual for
everyone. If there will be more than one user for the binocular, each user is
likely to have a unique eyepiece setting.
The center wheel adjusts focus for both barrels of the binocular. In
addition, there is a separate focus adjustment for the right eye, right
underneath the rubber eyecup.
Binocular Eyepiece Focus
HOW TO PROPERLY SET UP THE FOCUS:
1 Close the right objective of the
binocular using an objective cover.
If the objective lens cover is not
available, you can cover the objective
with the palm of your hand or close
the right eye. However, this will have
a detrimental effect on the quality of
the focus adjustment.
2 Keeping both eyes open (the
right eye will not see anything,
but keep it open), find a steady
position, point the binocular at
some not too distant target (~20
yards is ideal) and, using the center
focusing knob, take your time and
bring the target into perfect focus.

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL 7
3 Now, open the right objective and
cover the left objective lens. Making
sure that you do not touch the center
focusing knob, use the eyepiece
focus ring underneath the eyecup to
bring the image (that is now going
to your right eye) into perfect focus.
Eyepiece focus adjustment is very
sensitive, so take your time and make
sure it is done right. Remember to
keep your both eyes open, although
only the right eye is seeing the target.
4 Check that the
focus adjustment was
successful by looking
at a variety of targets
at different distances
using either eye and
both eyes together.
Optimal focus position
for the center focusing
knob should the same
for both eyes. If it is
not, go back to Step 1.
5 Record the
location of the focus
setting mark on the
adjustment ring
with respect to the
“-\+” mark on the
binocular body. You
should not need
to adjust it unless
a different person
used the binocular.
NOTE: Make sure that you give your eyes
a chance to rest throughout the process.
The eyepiece focus procedure is best done
in the morning when your eyes are least
tired. Doing it at the end of the day can
be difficult especially if daytime activities
involve a lot of computer use.
Eyepiece Focus Adjustment Ring
Eyepiece Focus Setting Marks

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL
8
The SWFA SS 12x32 binocular is equipped with a milliradian (MRAD) based
ranging reticle designed for quick and accurate range estimation as well as
POI spotting and a variety of other applications.
Prior to using the reticle, its focus and orientation must be adjusted. The
reticle is located in the left barrel of the binocular and the reticle focus and
orientation adjustment rings are right underneath the rubber eyecup.
Reticle Focus and Orientation
HOW TO BRING THE RETICLE INTO PROPER FOCUS:
1 Set the center focusing knob to infinity position by rotating it
counter clockwise until it stops.
2 Find something distant and featureless to look at (clear sky, for example)
or, if that is not available, point the binocular at a light colored featureless wall
within a few feet of the binocular. The wall will be de-focused, allowing your
eye to concentrate on the reticle.
3 Cover the right objective lens and, looking with your left eye, use the
reticle focus adjustment ring to optimize reticle sharpness. Make sure that
you frequently look away to give the eye an opportunity to rest.

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL 9
Once the reticle focus is optimized, consider the desired reticle orientation. The
reticle orientation adjustment ring rotates the reticle within the Field of View (FOV)
of the binocular. Use the adjustment ring to orient the reticle, so that the horizontal
lines are level with the horizon. The optimal alignment of the reticle will be different
for different IPDs.
Reticle Focus
Adjustment Ring
Reticle Orientation
Adjustment Ring
Reticle Focus Setting Marks

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL
10
Range Estimation
The reticle in the SWFA SS 12x32 binocular provides both
horizontal and vertical hash marks for estimating range using
either horizontal or vertical dimensions of objects of known size.
The reticle is designed to remain unobtrusive during regular
observation while being immediately available when needed.
The maximum object size that can be measured with the reticle
is 45 MRAD. The spacing between hash marks is 1 MRAD and
the stadia are marked at 5 MRAD and 10 MRAD intervals with
longer hash marks and numbers next to them.
The longer hash marks at marked 5 MRAD locations are
1.5 MRAD long.
The hash marks at marked 10 MRAD locations are 2 MRAD long.
The length of the short hash marks is 1 MRAD and they are 1
MRAD apart from each other.

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL 11

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL
12
Range Estimation cont.
The strength of the milliradian (MRAD) based ranging system is the
greatly simplified arithmetic based on multiplying by one thousand.
An object that is 1 yard tall, subtending 1 MRAD on the reticle scale is
1000 yards away from the observer:
Using the formula above, if this same 1 yard tall target subtends
10 MRAD on the reticle, it is 100 yards away.
In order for the arithmetic to remain simple, the target size and distance
to targets must be expressed in the same units, most commonly in feet,
yards or meters.
If the target size is expressed in inches and the distance to target in
yards, a multiplier must be introduced that makes the arithmetic a lot
less intuitive:
𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 (𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠)𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 (𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑑)∗1000=𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 (𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠)
(𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑑)∗1000=𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 (𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠)
𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 (𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠)𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒
(𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑑)∗27.78=𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 (𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠)

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL 13
It is usually easier to first convert the target size into the same unit the range is
expressed in. For example, if you know that the target is 18 inches tall, it can be
expressed as 1.5 feet or 0.5 yards. A 0.5 yard target subtending 10 MRAD on the
reticle is 50 yards away.
NOTE: As a general consideration, for most
precise range estimation use the largest
object of known size available and estimate
how much of a reticle it subtends as
accurately as possible.
Range estimation is a perishable skill
and requires practice.
𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑑∗1000=𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 (𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠)𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 (𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑑)∗1000=𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 (𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠)

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL
14
With reasonable care, the SWFA
SS BR 12x32 binocular will give a
lifetime of service.
When not in use, keep both
ocular and objective lenses
covered. Resist the temptation
to obsessively clean the optical
surfaces. Excessive and/or
improper cleaning can damage the
coatings on the lenses. If it is time
to clean the optics, start by blowing
off all particles using compressed
Cleaning and Maintenance
air. Never wipe the lenses with
abrasive materials and never wipe
the lenses dry. Use pre-moistened
towelettes designed for lens
cleaning or clean microfiber clothes
and cleaning liquid. Regular paper,
tissues and thick cloth usually have
embedded sand which damages the
lens surface.
In the field, if cleaning liquid is
not available, breathe on the lens
surface prior to wiping it.

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL
15
SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL 15
THE 4-LIFE WARRANTY
Never Expires
Transferable, No Receipt Required
No Questions Asked
If We Cannot Repair It, We Will Replace It

SWFA SS 12x32 BR MANUAL
16
5840 Chris Kyle Memorial Hwy.,
Midlothian, TX 76065
© SWFA INC.SS12X32BR