Best full sized binoculars?

J

Josh Wilson

Joined
Aug 3, 2000
Messages
232
I am looking at getting binoculars in the 7x or 8x range. I am looking at full sized binos so I can get a decent field of view and large exit apature. Also I wear glasses. Any sugestions?
 
For non-waterproof, two piece bodies Nikon has some 8x30 and 10x42 models that are some of the best that I've peeked thru, including Zeiss, Leitz, Swarovski, B&L, and such, but they're also expensive at several hundred dollars each. Better View Desired has good reviews of birding optics. For traditional 7x50 thru 10x50 binoculars Astronomy and Sky & Telescope have done nice reviews over the years, and the Nikon 7x50 ProStar and 7x50 Fujinon FMT-SX have always done well, typically being best in class. They're both waterproof, one piece body, individual focus binoculars, what most would call marine/naval models. Weenies complain about the weight as they're close to 50 ounces. The Nikons have better edge definition but the Fujinons have are threaded for a tripod adaptor, have better eye relief, mine were almost 1/2 the price, and per my eyes seem to have better color transmission. Fujinon also makes an 8x30 in the same line and the one that I looked thru also had excellent optics.

I had my Fujinon 7x50s out yesterday, just glassing the area while I was watching my kids play, and they're always a treat to look thru. I'm glad that I bought them.
 
I love my Leicas. I've used really, really, old Leicas that were better than some pretty fancy new binos. When you do field biology, you need something that has not only great optics, but will take a beating. That would be Leicas. Worth every cent.



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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
I concur with Hoodoo. Optics really is one of those areas where you get what you pay for. This is not to say that there aren't perfectly serviceable binos out there for a couple of hundred bucks, but when asking about the "best", as Josh has done, there is definitely a next level of performance that Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski are able to offer with their extremely pure and precise glass, advanced lens coatings, and laser perfect collimation. It's also been my experience that these German/Austrian offerings accomodate eyeglass wearers very well with features like foldover/removable eye cups.

If you can afford to spend $1000 on a pair of binos you'll notice the difference when glassing for extended periods of time or in extreme low light situations. If you can't afford this hefty price tag, take comfort in the fact that moderately priced binos have improved greatly of late, and are light years ahead of where they were even 10 years ago.

Josh, if you can tell us a little more about your intended uses and budget, we could probably narrow down your choices a lot better.

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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
While some of the classic German glass is excellent I've also been underwhelmed by some of the models, models which are much more expensive than other offerings. One reason roof prism can get so expensive is that the design requires much tighter tolerances, special coatings are needed in an attempt to reduce the loss of contrast due to the prism design, and labor rates vary quite a bit. Birders seem to traditionally flock to roof prism binoculars while porro prism models are typical for naval/marine use, even Zeiss uses porro prisms for their 7x50 marine, and for astronomy porro prism models are typically used as the point sources tend to be better rendered.

For attributes like eye relief you need to look at each model instead of making sweeping statements about a few product lines. For instance Swarovski has some of the shortest eye relief in 50mm porro prism models while Fujinon has some of the longest.

As mentioned previously check out Better View Desired for comparisons of birding optics. For astronomical use look at the equipment reviews at www.weatherman.com and in astronomy magazines.
 
johno,
My Swaro 10x50s are porro prism and the eye relief seems just about right. The eye cups fit nicely around my eyes and block out stray light fairly effectively. I find that having the eyecups touch my face makes for slightly steadier viewing. Is longer eye relief a benefit just for eyeglass wearers or are there other benefits of which I'm not aware? As I mentioned above, on most of the Swarovski and Zeiss binos I've seen, it's a relatively simple proposition to remove these eye cups to accomodate glasses. Thanks for the additional insight
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Semper Fi

-Bill

[This message has been edited by Bronco (edited 09-22-2000).]
 
I find that long eye relief helps to minimize fogging when it's cold out, but some find it hard to keep centered when it's too long.
 
Once at West Marine I saw a pair of 7x50s for $39. I figured, how can I go wrong? They looked decent, and the price was right.

Well, it turns out this was an awesome buy. They feel good, work great and have an ergonomic weight... And out here in the desert, binoculars are the perfect way to get close to wildlife.

The only identification I found on them says "Made in China". But it taught me to consider the cheapies every once in a while...
 
Steiner. They make 7x50 and 8x56 models, I know. I have a pair of the less expensive Military/Marine 8x30s that are excellent.
 
I had a pair of Bushnell self-focus binoculars that fell apart (literally) in mere -40 weather, and Bushnell declined to fix them the second time around so I said 'good riddance' and shooped around for something different. I found (at MilArms in Edmonton, Alberta) a Russian-made pair of binoculars brand named SOTEM (I think). They're 7 x 50 (120 m/1000 m). The lenses are made by Zeiss in what used to be East Germany -- these are very good optics, and are useful far longer into dusk than 7 x 35s. A bit crude, compared to Leica et al., but for $100 Canadian a real deal. They've held up over half a dozen hunting trips and innumerable hikes.
 
I keep hearing a lot of good stories about russian optiks. Never tried them myself. Isn't there a website that specializes in the stuff? I forget the name.

When I bought my Leicas, I have to admit it was a hard choice between the Leicas and some Swarovski's I was looking at. I just like the eyecups and the rubber armor on the leicas. But Swarovski's sure are sweet. Someday, I may buy a compact pair.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Hoodoo,
I've been receiving a catalog in the mail the last couple of years called "Sovietski" or "Sovietski Collection" or something like that. I'm not quite sure why they send me the catalog, and I've never ordered anything from them (as is probably obvious by the fact that I can't remember their name), but I do know that they usually have some Russian made handheld binos featured. They also have some really huge ship binoculars that look pretty cool, but that's a topic for another day. Anyway, thought that might have been who you were trying to remember.

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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
IF you don't have a huge amount of money to spend, the Minoltas are pretty good quality.

IF you have unlimited funds, go with the Leicas.

Myself, I have a Minolta 8X40 that I am VERY pleased with.
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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
Bronco, that's the outfit I was thinking of. I believe they are online somewhere.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Sovietski.com the soviet binoculars referenced above were rated pretty good by sof. For myself the Mil-Marine 8x30 Steiners have been great.
 
The Nikon Venturers are also highly rated by those in birdwatching circles. In a side by side comparison with my buddy's Leicas, we both agreed that the Nikons were sharper and brighter.
Mike Goldbach
 
Leica Ultra's are the way to go. I love my 8 X 32's! Although Zeiss is coming out with a new model this year that is supposed to be the cat's patoot.
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Seriously, by the VERY best you can possibly afford. You'll never regret Leica's, Zeiss's, or Swaro's... no matter how many years of hard hunting/camping/hiking/birding they see.

AJ
 
These guys don't look at the larger binoculars or individual focus models but they seem to do a good job on typical birding optics. For marine/astronomical models look at the link that I posted previously.

Better View Desired at http://www.lightshedder.com/BVD/

Pentax 8x42 DCF WP with Phase Coating

...A high quality roof with phase coating can come very close to the open, transparent view that exceptional porros provide, while unphase coated roofs always look just a little dim and subdued in direct comparison....

Even with direct comparison, the optics in the Pentaxs hold up well. In the NEED test, they score slightly lower than the Nikon Venturer LX and the Bausch and Lomb Elites (the current and immediate past Reference Standards for roof prism binoculars) but significantly higher than unphase coated roofs like the Fujinon or Celestron. They actually outperform both the Leica 8x32 and the Zeiss 8x30 roofs......

Nikon Superior E 8x32's Revisited

....I always compare anything new to the Superior Es and the Es consistently outperform anything in their class and binoculars several sizes bigger! That is certainly impressive....

 
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