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Binoculars
- Thread starter grant4353
- Start date
I have and use these:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_...older_id=2534374302697307&bmUID=1124673963157
I got mine a fews ago for C$14, but now I see they are even cheaper. This model is more than twice the price elsewhere by the way. For the price, these have got to be the best things out there. The quality is surprizingly good, and they are extremely light weight and compact for carrying around. Before getting mine I read many positives reviews (and non negative), most from birdwatchers.
Will
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_...older_id=2534374302697307&bmUID=1124673963157
I got mine a fews ago for C$14, but now I see they are even cheaper. This model is more than twice the price elsewhere by the way. For the price, these have got to be the best things out there. The quality is surprizingly good, and they are extremely light weight and compact for carrying around. Before getting mine I read many positives reviews (and non negative), most from birdwatchers.
Will
How cheap is cheap. The MEC ones listed above are good for beginners but for you might consider Nikon or Canon travel binocs. They *might* have better optics but I hear many are produced in offshore factories and I would not be surprised if they all the low end binocs came from the same factory for the low to fair quality range lens.
If you go bird watching, I assume you'll be spending good parts of the day looking through your binoculars. The quality of the lens you look through will determine whether you come home having enjoyed your day, or with a splitting headache.
On the high end, you have the Leitz and Zeiss German made binoculars. Super sharp, and super pricey. On the low end you have brands like Tasco. Bushnell makes good ones for the money, and if you want to spend a bit more, you can go with Nikon, Pentax or Minolta.
The larger models, the 7x50's are fine for low light use, as the large 50mm objective lens gathers a lot of light to brighten up the image before it gets to the eyepiece. The downside is that they are heavy, and everything else being equal, you pay more the larger piece of glass in front.
The smaller models like the 6x18's are more pocket friendly (smaller) and lighter, but they sacrifice light gathering power, so the image you see won't be as bright by comparison. They also have a smaller field of view, which is the area you see from left to right w/o having to scan the binoculars from left to right.
I suggest the size in the middle, either the 7x35 or the 8x32. Not too big, not too small, and depending on the brand you select, not too pricey, but still sharp enough so you can use it for hours w/o coming home with a headache.
On the high end, you have the Leitz and Zeiss German made binoculars. Super sharp, and super pricey. On the low end you have brands like Tasco. Bushnell makes good ones for the money, and if you want to spend a bit more, you can go with Nikon, Pentax or Minolta.
The larger models, the 7x50's are fine for low light use, as the large 50mm objective lens gathers a lot of light to brighten up the image before it gets to the eyepiece. The downside is that they are heavy, and everything else being equal, you pay more the larger piece of glass in front.
The smaller models like the 6x18's are more pocket friendly (smaller) and lighter, but they sacrifice light gathering power, so the image you see won't be as bright by comparison. They also have a smaller field of view, which is the area you see from left to right w/o having to scan the binoculars from left to right.
I suggest the size in the middle, either the 7x35 or the 8x32. Not too big, not too small, and depending on the brand you select, not too pricey, but still sharp enough so you can use it for hours w/o coming home with a headache.
If you are seriously into birdwatching or hunting, then I strongly recommend that you forget about "cheap" binoculars.
Even minor distortions in lens will become a major aggravation after a day in the field.
There are some good mid range quality binoculars out there, and quality second hand pairs often come up on eBay.
Bushnell and Browning make good 8x, and Tasco higher end models are fairly good for the price.
If you go for a larger set of binocs, invest in a shoulder harness to carry them, your neck will be very grateful after a long day.
Magnification and objective lens diameters are a subject worthy of a thread all on its own, but if you have a clear idea of when and how you will be using your binocs, the retailers will generally have some good advice for you.
Even minor distortions in lens will become a major aggravation after a day in the field.
There are some good mid range quality binoculars out there, and quality second hand pairs often come up on eBay.
Bushnell and Browning make good 8x, and Tasco higher end models are fairly good for the price.
If you go for a larger set of binocs, invest in a shoulder harness to carry them, your neck will be very grateful after a long day.
Magnification and objective lens diameters are a subject worthy of a thread all on its own, but if you have a clear idea of when and how you will be using your binocs, the retailers will generally have some good advice for you.
As a bird watcher, I would have to agree with the two posters up above. The higher end binocs are heavier and the ones with the larger apertures are quite large and a pain in the neck to carry. But the details you get in low light conditions for bird watching is amazing compared to my Nikon 8x22 Travelite. However, I take my Nikon everywhere and it is so darn light I take it on every hike and backpacking trip.
The classic compromise - weight and quality versus small size and speed!
Here is a site that reviews high end optics
http://betterviewdesired.com/index.html
The classic compromise - weight and quality versus small size and speed!
Here is a site that reviews high end optics
http://betterviewdesired.com/index.html
randjack
BOUNCED EMAIL: I need to update my email address in my profile!
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 128
The de facto standard nautical glass, for good reason, is a 7 x 50. You can hand-hold the things without too much shake [yeah, right -- go run some and try to glass an object] and excellent low-light capability.
Look on e-bay for discontinued Tasco binocs with a built in bearing compass. The compass may be superfluous for your use, but the optics are great for the buck.
Beyond that, don't scrimp on money. If you spend much time behind those lenses, poor quality glass will make your eye feel like they will fallout on the ground.
Look on e-bay for discontinued Tasco binocs with a built in bearing compass. The compass may be superfluous for your use, but the optics are great for the buck.
Beyond that, don't scrimp on money. If you spend much time behind those lenses, poor quality glass will make your eye feel like they will fallout on the ground.
To be blunt, you are not going to get much for that price range and it may even put you off. Spend a little more (about $80) and get a pair of the 8x30 Steiner Safari II's. I ordered in the Predator and Saferi's for a customer and they are bloody fantastic for the money. They are a scaled down full size, meaning its easy to get them to fit your eyes unlike the compact ones that are horrible unless you have a head the size of a fetus!
The Safari and Predator are not rated as 'Water Proof' but these at $200 are
http://www.binoculars.com/products/Steiner_8x30_Military-Marine_679.html
Image taken from www.binoculars.com (Not always the very cheapest, but reputable and often very competative on pricing)
The Safari and Predator are not rated as 'Water Proof' but these at $200 are
http://www.binoculars.com/products/Steiner_8x30_Military-Marine_679.html
Image taken from www.binoculars.com (Not always the very cheapest, but reputable and often very competative on pricing)
mymindisamob
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2005
- Messages
- 15,231
I use Bushnell Legends. I've found all of mine on the Big Auction Site, New and under $100. They have served me well in all situations so far. Good luck in finding what suits you.
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2004
- Messages
- 1,214
I picked up a pair of full size Nikon 8x40s brand new for about $60 after the rebate. The optics are really good for the price, much better than the Travelites. Smaller binocs tend to have tighter tolerances and cost more to make well. Large objective lenses are nice, especially for birdwatching. There are a ton of websites with binocular reviews, particularly for birding.
Gordon
Gordon
I am an avid birder, hunter, boater for 40 years and have used MOST of the high to low end binos. If you are going to use them for birding, you owe it to yourself to get the best you can afford. It is "generally" true that you get what you pay for.
One question no one asked is do you wear glasses? If you do, keep in mind that you need greater than about 15-20mm of eye relief to get full use of the binos. Most cheap ones dont have good eye relief.
Look for BAK-4 prisms-these are the best.
Look for "fully multi-coated optics" not coated or fully coated.
I would say look for 30-42 mm objective lens. This is a medium size and will cover most daylight conditions. The bigger the objective lens the more light gathering power, but dont necessarily get 50mm lens, as this generally increases weight.
These are a few recommendations. check out www.alpenoutdoor.com for some great binos and very good prices. I use and highly recommend them as the very best bang for the buck.
Parting word, look, read, test, and THEN decide.
One question no one asked is do you wear glasses? If you do, keep in mind that you need greater than about 15-20mm of eye relief to get full use of the binos. Most cheap ones dont have good eye relief.
Look for BAK-4 prisms-these are the best.
Look for "fully multi-coated optics" not coated or fully coated.
I would say look for 30-42 mm objective lens. This is a medium size and will cover most daylight conditions. The bigger the objective lens the more light gathering power, but dont necessarily get 50mm lens, as this generally increases weight.
These are a few recommendations. check out www.alpenoutdoor.com for some great binos and very good prices. I use and highly recommend them as the very best bang for the buck.
Parting word, look, read, test, and THEN decide.
ras said:
I gotcha beat. I bought mine in 1982 and they are still doing great. That model has to be the best all around glass you can carry in the field- not real big, and light for their size, and they fit in the side pocket of my old field jacket.
Blueeyeddevil
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- Jul 7, 2005
- Messages
- 110
grant4353 said:
Yes, if you want good and decently priced check the russian made binoculars. I have owned a BPC 7x50 binoculars for nearly 25 years. robust construction and very good optics.
http://uniqueinternationalproducts.com/bpcseries.html
Blueeyeddevil
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2005
- Messages
- 110
Binoculars
About Our Binoculars
"B" - means binocular;
"P" - prismatic with 'Porro' reverse magnification system;
"C" - binocular with central focusing system;
"O" - with magnified exit pupil distance;
"K" - with reverse roof prism system;
"F" - with inside focusing of eyepiece.
"s" - with rangefinding reticule;
Throughout its existence, the USSR was a leader in military optics. After the Soviet Army entered Germany in WWII, they made a concerted effort to occupy as many industrial factories as possible. They occupied the majority of the German optical plants, including the famous Carl Zeiss-Jena factory. They then took the technology and tooling back to Russia, added their own refinements and began to build similar but even more advanced binoculars. For many years these binoculars were strictly for military issue. In the late 80's, a series of testing definitively proved that Russian binoculars were superior to their world-famous predecessors, Carl Zeiss-Jena binoculars. These binoculars provide amazing quality at a fraction of the cost.
Every pair of binoculars we carry are of impeccable quality. We carry a limited selection of the best optics available because Eastern European binoculars are still being produced at such inexpensive prices that we do not need to carry lesser brands to fill in our product lines.
You are invited to compare our quality, selection and prices to the typical mail-order supply house or those at your local discount department store, photo shop or nature store. All of our binoculars have precision ground, multicoated glass lenses - no plastic lenses here. The binoculars featured here will give the much more expensive US, Japanese and German binoculars you see advertised a real run for the money!
What is the right pair of binoculars for you? That is often a very difficult question to answer. Here are some general guidelines and suggestions to help you make your selection:
The BPM 7x30mm Soviet Military Binoculars are your best "general purpose" and all around best value binoculars on the market today. They are excellent for terrestrial viewing including bird watching, as well as for casual astronomy. The optics are crisp and the depth of field will simply amaze you. If your budget is limited to under $300 and you are going to purchase only one pair of binoculars in a lifetime, then I highly recommend that these be that pair. If you want the very best at a reasonable cost, select the BPMs!
They easily outperform other US, Japanese and German made binoculars costing hundreds more!
The Russian-made FOTON roof prism binoculars are very powerful, yet compact and light weight. They are excellent for young children and hunters due to their feather weight. Hunters particularly like them because they are very unobtrusive and light weight and give such crisp images that it becomes easy to pick a deer's outline out in brush or camouflage conditions. They will not give you "neck fatigue" after sitting in a duck blind all day long. If you are planning to give your young child their very first pair of high quality binoculars (not a toy) that will last a lifetime, one of the FOTON binoculars is "the right choice." All the FOTON binoculars give crisp, bright images in a very light-weight package.
These are only some preferred choices and are not even our best sellers. All of our binoculars are top quality and are sure to please. The best way to decide is to define the activities in which you will be using the binoculars then examine the most important characteristics. A hunter will probably be better off with a light weight, wide-angle set while a birder will probably want something with a narrower field of view and better resolution.
About Our Binoculars
"B" - means binocular;
"P" - prismatic with 'Porro' reverse magnification system;
"C" - binocular with central focusing system;
"O" - with magnified exit pupil distance;
"K" - with reverse roof prism system;
"F" - with inside focusing of eyepiece.
"s" - with rangefinding reticule;
Throughout its existence, the USSR was a leader in military optics. After the Soviet Army entered Germany in WWII, they made a concerted effort to occupy as many industrial factories as possible. They occupied the majority of the German optical plants, including the famous Carl Zeiss-Jena factory. They then took the technology and tooling back to Russia, added their own refinements and began to build similar but even more advanced binoculars. For many years these binoculars were strictly for military issue. In the late 80's, a series of testing definitively proved that Russian binoculars were superior to their world-famous predecessors, Carl Zeiss-Jena binoculars. These binoculars provide amazing quality at a fraction of the cost.
Every pair of binoculars we carry are of impeccable quality. We carry a limited selection of the best optics available because Eastern European binoculars are still being produced at such inexpensive prices that we do not need to carry lesser brands to fill in our product lines.
You are invited to compare our quality, selection and prices to the typical mail-order supply house or those at your local discount department store, photo shop or nature store. All of our binoculars have precision ground, multicoated glass lenses - no plastic lenses here. The binoculars featured here will give the much more expensive US, Japanese and German binoculars you see advertised a real run for the money!
What is the right pair of binoculars for you? That is often a very difficult question to answer. Here are some general guidelines and suggestions to help you make your selection:
The BPM 7x30mm Soviet Military Binoculars are your best "general purpose" and all around best value binoculars on the market today. They are excellent for terrestrial viewing including bird watching, as well as for casual astronomy. The optics are crisp and the depth of field will simply amaze you. If your budget is limited to under $300 and you are going to purchase only one pair of binoculars in a lifetime, then I highly recommend that these be that pair. If you want the very best at a reasonable cost, select the BPMs!
They easily outperform other US, Japanese and German made binoculars costing hundreds more!
The Russian-made FOTON roof prism binoculars are very powerful, yet compact and light weight. They are excellent for young children and hunters due to their feather weight. Hunters particularly like them because they are very unobtrusive and light weight and give such crisp images that it becomes easy to pick a deer's outline out in brush or camouflage conditions. They will not give you "neck fatigue" after sitting in a duck blind all day long. If you are planning to give your young child their very first pair of high quality binoculars (not a toy) that will last a lifetime, one of the FOTON binoculars is "the right choice." All the FOTON binoculars give crisp, bright images in a very light-weight package.
These are only some preferred choices and are not even our best sellers. All of our binoculars are top quality and are sure to please. The best way to decide is to define the activities in which you will be using the binoculars then examine the most important characteristics. A hunter will probably be better off with a light weight, wide-angle set while a birder will probably want something with a narrower field of view and better resolution.
I simply refuse to believe that Russian stuff is better. I have yet to see anything come out of Russia that is superior to western made products.
If they were that good the Birdwatching guys would be using them in droves especially after the markets opened up under Gorby. Int his day of the Internet, if they were that good word would get out.
Swarovski are the best bino's available, I have yet to hear anyone say different. Whether you can afford them is another matter. Leica generally come in a tad under Swarovski in performance and its arguable about Zeiss. This being whether they are as good as Leica or just a little inferior.
If they were that good the Birdwatching guys would be using them in droves especially after the markets opened up under Gorby. Int his day of the Internet, if they were that good word would get out.
Swarovski are the best bino's available, I have yet to hear anyone say different. Whether you can afford them is another matter. Leica generally come in a tad under Swarovski in performance and its arguable about Zeiss. This being whether they are as good as Leica or just a little inferior.