Binoculars?

bulgron

bulgron

Joined
May 19, 2005
Messages
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I've got a birthday coming up (halfway through my 40's now. sigh) My wife wants ideas for a birthday gift.

I've been wanting a decent pair of binoculars for hiking for a while now. But I know absolutely nothing about them and I'm too lazy (well, too busy, really :D ) to do the research on my own. So I thought I'd ask you guys.

So... the parameters would be compact (for fitting into the possibles bag), armored against dust and rain, and of high quality.

Suggestions?
 
How much of your wife's money are you looking to spend?

Nikon Monarch are about 300. Very good for the money. Wind river(Leupolds Chinese Partner) are good also. If you are unafraid, Leupold Gold Rings are awesome, steiner, swarovski. Tell me what you're looking for, Light gathering, power, zoom capability
 
I seem to be able to get by with a pair of 1960's vintage German Made binoculars...

In all honesty, there are plenty of moderatly priced options that will work as well.
 
Check binoculars.com. That's where I got my Nikon Monarchs (8X). You'll also find good comparisons (Google 'binoculars comparison') on bird watcher sites. The Nikons are very close in quality to the uber binoculars like Zeiss, Swarovski, Leica, but much less expensive. I doubt my eyes could tell the difference, which is mostly around the very edges of the focal fields.
 
Silva make some of the best Binoculars you can get but you have to pay for quality !!!
 
z282z06 said:
How much of your wife's money are you looking to spend?
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lol. Well, I would say "as much as possible" but one way or another I'd say that I'll pay for them in the end, so I guess I better keep it to a dull roar.

What I want these for is hiking and casual nature watching. So reducing the weight and keeping them small for fitting into a possibles bag is important to me.

Those gold rings look nice, but at a grand a pop, that's probably too much money.

All I'm looking for is reasonable weather proofing and compact for, say, under $500. Low light isn't really an issue for me on these.

I don't know what to say about magnification versus FOV since there appears to be a black magic correlation between the two, and I have no actual experience with binoculars so I don't have a gut feeling for, say 8x versus 10x.

The Nikon Monarchs look good in terms of price and weatherproofing, but they aren't compact? Most irritatingly, binoculars.com don't give weight on these things.

Maybe the right thing to do is get myself to REI and handle a few binoculars.

Hmmm....

So far, the Compact Alaska Guide binoculars from Cabalas is leading the field, just on size and price.

Any other suggestions?
 
If you are looking for a smaller binocular, take a look at the Leupold Katmai series. They are light weight and have standard size optics. (6x32, 8x32) Unless small size is really importent, I would avoid the compacts like 6x18 and 8x22. They are hard to hold still and even the really good ones are not as bright as the full size binoculars. I have a Steiner Predator Pro 8x22 that is nice to carry, but almost useless after sunset.

Having bought and sold some very expensive binoculars, Zeiss, Leitz, Swarovski, I settled on an older $125 Nikon 8x32. It does everything I want it to do, but it is kind of heavy.
 
if this is your first set i can tell you it will not be your only or last set if you go outdoors much. they get to be like knives they all perform different. i hate to tell you i have 6, 3 cheap to stay in the trucks and 3 mid grade. most with different powers and MM lense size. and so my wife or kids and i can enjoy wildlife at the same time. so don't sweat to much on the first set get them and enjoy because i can see more in your future.
maybe even a spotting scope. just for the night sky.
 
555 said:
if this is your first set i can tell you it will not be your only or last set if you go outdoors much. they get to be like knives they all perform different. i hate to tell you i have 6, 3 cheap to stay in the trucks and 3 mid grade. most with different powers and MM lense size. and so my wife or kids and i can enjoy wildlife at the same time. so don't sweat to much on the first set get them and enjoy because i can see more in your future.
maybe even a spotting scope. just for the night sky.
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Yeah, I'm afraid you're probably right, 555.

So what you're saying is the most important thing here is to get them in cameo so they, you know, go with my pickup truck. Right? :D :D :D
 
If most bang for the buck is desired, then get a pair of porro prism binoculars. They are less expensive at the same level of quality than roof prism binoculars. The trade off is that roof prism binoculars tend to be more compact, although slightly heavier. Porro prism binoculars have a bend, and roof prism binoculars are straight the entire length of the optic. Because it the unique design of roof prism binoculars, look for ones that say they are phase coated. Basically this is a coating on the prism that eliminates blurring and double vision that can occur with these binoculars. Porro prism binoculars do not need phase coating. Also, look for fully multi coated optics. What this means is they have several coatings of glare reducers and transmission enhancers on every light transmitting surface. Multi coated optics may mean only the outer lens faces or only one lense. Fully coated will have at least one coating on every lens surface. When comparing identical binoculars with different coating options, the fully coated optics will be brighter, sharper, higher contrast, and more expensive. Look for waterproof optics. These will be o-ring sealed and nitrogen charged. There is little worse than pulling up a pair of binos and seeing only fog. There are waterproof ratings than range from mist resistant to impervious to prolonged submersion at depth. The higher the rating, the more expensive the optic. Remember the rule of 5. The human pupil can dialate to approximately 5mm diameter. Divide the objective diameter in mm by the power and that gives the diameter of the exit pupil, or the diameter of the "beam of light" transmitted from the binocular to the retina. The narrower the exit pupil, the more dim the binocular will appear. Anything more than 5 is overkill as the human pupil is too small to make use of it. In my experience, anything more than 10x is too high mag to be useful without some sort of rest. For me, 12x and above requires some sort of tripod. Leupold, Leica, Steiner, Swarovski, and Zeiss make outstanding glass. You don't have to buy from one of the above to get outstanding glass, but it is easier to find.

It's easier to find your keys in the dark alley where you dropped them, than under the street light where you did not.
 
bulgron said:
Yeah, I'm afraid you're probably right, 555.

So what you're saying is the most important thing here is to get them in cameo so they, you know, go with my pickup truck. Right? :D :D :D
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cameo
One entry found for cameo.


Main Entry: cam·eo
Pronunciation: 'ka-mE-"O
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -eos
Etymology: Middle English camew, from Middle French camau, kamaheu
1 a : a gem carved in relief; especially : a small piece of sculpture on a stone or shell cut in relief in one layer with another contrasting layer serving as background b : a small medallion with a profiled head in relief
2 : a carving or sculpture made in the manner of a cameo
3 : a usually brief literary or filmic piece that brings into delicate or sharp relief the character of a person, place, or event
4 : a small theatrical role usually performed by a well-known actor and often limited to a single scene; broadly : a brief appearance or role
- cameo adjective
- cameo transitive verb

sorry about that and i know my spelling is bad, but i found this funny, in camo and how i drop things in the woods (losing them) to cameo as a brief appearance.:D
no offense intended.:)
 
I have Monarch 10x35's. Very good clarity but I only carry them in my pack if I know I am going to be doing something special to get the field of vision, brightness, etc.

I normally carry 10x25's. Older Minoltas. You loose a fair amount in field and vision and light but win in compactness and weight. I like straight tubes that fold together for full compactness. It would be good to try both sizes - the 35's and 25's.

I like the 10 power for the extra power. They are a bit marginal to hold steady, especially for very long. A lot of people stick with 8 power. It would be a very good idea to try some 8's and 10's to make your own decision.

Be sure what you get are gas filled, fog proof, and have good, coated lenses. Since binoc's get knocked around sometimes strongly constructed is also good.

I actually ordered several binoculars and returned the ones I did not want when I bought the Monarchs but I do not live where there are good selections.
 
No matter which Binocular you choose, before you buy it, hold it away from your eyes and look through them. If you see a "diamond" shape through the lens, the lenses are not aligned properly and will give you the clouded or fuzzy edges or distortion around the viewing area. Japanese and German lenses tend to be more clear, because their governments have quality standards optics must meet. But to get an idea of what to look for, pick up a cheap toy binocular, or even just a lower end brand and you will be able to see it. The less of a diamond shape you see, the more clear your view will be.
 
555 said:
cameo
One entry found for cameo.


Main Entry: cam·eo
Pronunciation: 'ka-mE-"O
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -eos
Etymology: Middle English camew, from Middle French camau, kamaheu
1 a : a gem carved in relief; especially : a small piece of sculpture on a stone or shell cut in relief in one layer with another contrasting layer serving as background b : a small medallion with a profiled head in relief
2 : a carving or sculpture made in the manner of a cameo
3 : a usually brief literary or filmic piece that brings into delicate or sharp relief the character of a person, place, or event
4 : a small theatrical role usually performed by a well-known actor and often limited to a single scene; broadly : a brief appearance or role
- cameo adjective
- cameo transitive verb

sorry about that and i know my spelling is bad, but i found this funny, in camo and how i drop things in the woods (losing them) to cameo as a brief appearance.:D
no offense intended.:)
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Woa. Taken to the woodshed by 555. I really am going to have to start watching myself around here, aren't I? :eek:

None taken, btw.
 
LikeHike said:
I actually ordered several binoculars and returned the ones I did not want when I bought the Monarchs but I do not live where there are good selections.
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Bumppo said:
No matter which Binocular you choose, before you buy it, hold it away from your eyes and look through them.
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I'm beginning to get the idea that I really don't want to get binoculars over the internet.

I ought to be able to find a pair in town here. Thanks for the advice, everyone.
 
mp510 said:
I seem to be able to get by with a pair of 1960's vintage German Made binoculars...

In all honesty, there are plenty of moderatly priced options that will work as well.
Click to expand...

mp510 - With respect, that is FAR from accurate. In your experience, a moderate pair of binos may be good enough, but they absolutely will not work as well. Like it or not, you get what you pay for.

I'm glad you have been happy with your vintage German glass. They may in fact be very high quality, irrespective of their age. On the other hand, your circumstances may not require high performance from your binoculars.

If your basis of comparison is looking through several pairs of glasses at the optics counter inside a sporting goods store, or even midday in the field, you are not really putting the glass to the test.

Quality optics will have vastly superior light collection abilities, will be sharper, the color will be more accurate, there will be less distortion, there will be greater clarity, better fogproofing, better shock resistance, and a better warranty.

I have found that low light situatiions, such as dawn and dusk, are when I REALLY need my glasses to come through for me. When elk hunting, I have had the opportunity to compare my $150 Nikons with my partner's $1200 Leupolds. "Is that a bull or a cow out there in that meadow?" "How many points does it have?" Not only were they sharper, they actually acted as "night vision" and made the magnified image brighter than with the naked eye!

-- FLIX
 
You have been getting some excellent advice here. One thing I want mention is the power you choose. Not all that long ago 7x35 was considered the best all around binocular and 6x30 was also just fine. Don't get caught up in the bigger is better thing. If you buy a 10 power binocular, you may find that you can't hold it steady without resting it on something. 8 power is now considered by most to be the most useful all around binocular.

While it is definately true that a $1200 binocular would be expected to be better then a $150 binocular, there are less expensive ones that are arguably just as good. The top of the line Nikons are rated as high as the best Zeiss and Leica binoculars.

Check out the reviews at Better View Desired. I am not a bird watcher, except for the 2 legged variety, but they are as fussy about their optics as anyone.

http://www.betterviewdesired.com/RefSet.html
 
bulgron said:
Yeah, I'm afraid you're probably right, 555.

So what you're saying is the most important thing here is to get them in cameo so they, you know, go with my pickup truck. Right? :D :D :D
Click to expand...

i only have one in camo and they were given to me. (and no joke, it was my mother's, mom's, should i say Ma's thats what i called her, and was the thing in camo she owned BTW):)
last weekend i bought a wind proof lighter and yes the first one in my hands was (you guessed it) was camo, then common sense hit me (wife standing there) i'll buy the black one instead, i'll just lose the camo one.
keep in mind when shopping at Dick's SG's when i was buying a new (you guessed it) camo shirt she says why don't you buy the pants too.:cool:
but she make stop and think twice about that full body tattoo and how that camo design will be outdated in 30 to 40 years. (she's a keeper and the smart one):D
so i guess you can have too much camo after all.
and the weather is getting warm here and you know those darn snakes wear camo too. so this year this summers project is tieing orange survey ribbon on them so they can be seen.:D
 
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