The new BorgCo bifocal binoculars are now available.
Externally, they are hard to distinguish from conventional binoculars.
However, the optical path is split into upper and lower paths, capable of separate focus.
There are two focus wheels; the top one focusses the top segment of the image
and vice versa.
The wheels can be locked to allow the unit to operate as conventional binoculars.
They allow the user to observe magnified images of two different objects at differerent distances from the user without adjusting focus.
Gyro-stabilised and night-vision versions are in development, as is a design which also allows differing degrees of zoom for the upper and lower segments.