Digital Cameras and Lenses

Opera glasses was one of the byproducts of a long line of inventions. It started during 1608 with the Dutch optician Hans Lipperhey manufacturing binoculars comprising of two twin telescopes connected by a centerpiece. They had an impressive magnification ability of x3. Not to be left behind the Italian inventor Galileo Galilee within a year dramatically improved the design of telescopes, allowing a magnification of x30.

Binoculars of the time had one major disadvantage: Despite offering a much wider field of view than a telescope, they made use of convex lenses – which resulted in the image being inverted! It wasn’t before more than 100 years later that Anton Schyrle for the first time manufactured binoculars with an extra lens that re-inverted the image. And it took another–1 years before John Dollond of England solved another big problem that binoculars had – color distortion. He started using achromatic lenses (color free lenses) and thereby solved this problem permanently.

Another major step forward was the development of prismatic binoculars by an Italian by the name of Ignazio Porro – a gunnery officer. Prismatic binoculars had a much wider field of vision than before and offered dramatically improved magnification abilities as well.

Opera glasses are mentioned for the first time in London newspaper advertisements dating back to 1730. These were not binoculars, but small Galilean telescopes. They were both used decoratively and to watch opera with. The bodies were often inlaid with gems, mother of pearl, ivory, enamel and other types of decorations.

It wasn’t until 23 in Vienna that we first find mention of binocular-type opera glasses. These were in fact simply two small telescopes with a bridge connecting them. The telescopes had to be focused individually by extending the tubes.

They soon became highly fashionable. Going to the opera without one of these was social suicide. The designs became increasingly elaborate. Often you would find an optician, a painter and a goldsmith working on the glasses before they were finally ready for their discerning owners. Once at the opera, they were not only used to watch the stage though – they were also regularly used to check out the other guests to make sure there wasn’t by any chance someone with a more elaborate set of opera glasses!

The design soon improved to allow for the simultaneous adjustment of both lenses. This was another major step forward and only served to increase the popularity of this type of glasses. They also became highly valued gifts – as one can see from the inscriptions found on many opera glasses of the time.

Nowadays there is a wide array of opera glasses available. You can get them in virtually any color you want. They come in many different styles and materials. Strangely enough, monoculars are still popular, as are opera glasses with handles or reading lights. You even get them fitted with a jealousy glass – so you can watch another person in the audience without being seen!

Jeff B. has always loved the theater and opera, he currently helps run an opera glasses retail site where they sell opera glasses. Including Opera Glasses with handle, flashlight, chain and more!

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