A 15×80 big eye naval binocular telescope by Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd., produced in Japan in the 1970s for naval service. With 80-millimeter objectives and fifteen times magnification, the Fuji Meibo 15×80 was the standard large-aperture observation instrument of the Japanese naval service — compact relative to the 25×150, yet delivering a quality and quantity of light gathering far beyond any conventional binocular.
The sand-cast aluminum body has been hand-polished to a mirror finish, the surface brought to a uniform brilliance that preserves all original casting details and the Fuji Meibo nameplate throughout. It is presented on an oak-and-brass field tripod of c.1940s manufacture — the dark-stained oak legs with their steel-spiked feet and polished aluminum fittings providing a striking contrast to the mirror finish of the instrument above.
The Fuji Meibo 15×80 represents the final evolution of Japan's Big Eye program — the remarkable story of how Imperial Japan developed the most powerful naval binoculars of the Second World War. For the full history, see our essay Japanese Big Eyes: The Imperial Navy's Giant Optics.
A 15×80 big eye naval binocular telescope by Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd., produced in Japan in the 1970s for naval service. With 80-millimeter objectives and fifteen times magnification, the Fuji Meibo 15×80 was the standard large-aperture observation instrument of the Japanese naval service — compact relative to the 25×150, yet delivering a quality and quantity of light gathering far beyond any conventional binocular.
The sand-cast aluminum body has been hand-polished to a mirror finish, the surface brought to a uniform brilliance that preserves all original casting details and the Fuji Meibo nameplate throughout. It is presented on an oak-and-brass field tripod of c.1940s manufacture — the dark-stained oak legs with their steel-spiked feet and polished aluminum fittings providing a striking contrast to the mirror finish of the instrument above.
The Fuji Meibo 15×80 represents the final evolution of Japan's Big Eye program — the remarkable story of how Imperial Japan developed the most powerful naval binoculars of the Second World War. For the full history, see our essay Japanese Big Eyes: The Imperial Navy's Giant Optics.
Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
