Binoculars?

I use a monocular for light, fast hiking on marked trails. It is 5X and about the length and width of my little finger. I use it to look for trail markers. nice to have if you don't want to lug a lot of extra weight.
 
I have no trouble using my monocular off and on for days at a time. I have a nice pair of Zeiss binos (issued to me by my employer) but never carry them anymore. Others at my job use either monoculars or small binos. I don't know if my mon will let me see the pee pee on a hummingbird but they work well enough for letting me see the other guy before he sees me. I agree that 8x is about the max unless you have steady hands. I wouldn't go beyond 10x. You'll need either very steady hands or to take a supported position. YMMV.

Go to a place like Bass Pro, Cabelas, Sportsman Warehouse and look at lots of different binoculars.
Click to expand...

Great advise.
 
omaha-beenglockin said:
If you can swing the dough---Leica's would be my choice---even though I only have Ziess scopes on my rifles.
Click to expand...

lol. Well, I was browsing binoculars.com when my wife walked in the room. So I asked how much money I was allowed to get her to spend on my birthday present.

"Why," says she, "are they expensive?"

At that exact moment, I just happened to be browsing Leica's (just out of curiosity, mind you). So she looks over my shoulder and then exclaims, "OH MY GOD!!"

So I guess I won't be getting those Leica 8x42 Geovids (only $1995, mind you!)

:D :D

I still need to get over to REI and check out some Nikon Monarchs. (What's that honey? I can't go with Leupold Golden Ring? ;) :cool: :p )
 
bulgron said:
lol. Well, I was browsing binoculars.com when my wife walked in the room. So I asked how much money I was allowed to get her to spend on my birthday present.

"Why," says she, "are they expensive?"

At that exact moment, I just happened to be browsing Leica's (just out of curiosity, mind you). So she looks over my shoulder and then exclaims, "OH MY GOD!!"

So I guess I won't be getting those Leica 8x42 Geovids (only $1995, mind you!)

:D :D

I still need to get over to REI and check out some Nikon Monarchs. (What's that honey? I can't go with Leupold Golden Ring? ;) :cool: :p )
Click to expand...

thats a good tactic, start high and show her how the range can go, then those Nikon's will look like a bargain.:cool: :thumbup:
 
555 said:
thats a good tactic, start high and show her how the range can go, then those Nikon's will look like a bargain.:cool: :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Lol, I'll have to remember that if I ever end up sharing finances with anyone again... when buying tools I always showed my stbX-husband that I had shopped around and found something on sale, or one notch up from the lowest quality.

Quote from http://www.betterviewdesired.com/Compacts.html that some might find useful; I sure did:

"The compacts in this issue fall pretty neatly into four distinct groups.

* 1. Inexpensive folding roof prism pocket binoculars ($75-$125)
* 2. Inexpensive porroprism compact binoculars ($75-$125)
* 3. Expensive porroprism compacts ($200-$500)
* 4. Expensive folding roof prism pockets ($400-$700)


Unless pocketablity is your only concern, there is really no reason any birder should even look at inexpensive folding roof prism binoculars. The constrains of the design and the price point do not allow for the kind of optical performance that we need. With the tiny objectives used in compacts, you have to eke out every bit of performance. Any roof prism has to be very precisely made and coated with expensive phase coatings to match the performance of a much less expensive porroprism. The inexpensive roof prisms used in compacts just aren't up to the job. They limit the brightness, resolution, and contrast of the system. When looking at larger objects (big game, varmits, landscapes, etc.) you might not notice the limitations ‹ but birding requires the resolution and definition of extremely small details and subtle colors. Birds are simply too small a target to be satisfying viewed with inexpensive folding roof prism binoculars. Leave them to the hunters and the tourists.

Inexpensive porroprism compacts, on the other hand, provide some of the best values in today's optical market. Because they are small, and require less material to make, they can be quite inexpensive while still employing high quality materials and workmanship. It is common to find BAK-4 prism materials (the best), at least partial (and sometimes full) multicoating, and sturdy light-weight housings with sometimes exceptional close focusing ‹ all in a binoculars often selling for less than $100. The result is a truly bird-worth view ‹ a view that can only be improved upon by investing in one of a handful of exceptionally well designed $200 porroprism glasses or $1000 roof prisms."
 
This thread has started me looking at binolculars :grumpy:

I was considering some Steiner 8x42 Wildlife Pros until someone posted the birdwatchers ratings link and the Nikon Monarchs in 8x42 came out much better at half the price :eek:

They are highly regarded by birdwatchers but I can't help thinking for more general backpacking/outdoors/survival these 8x36 Dream Season ATB would be the dogs bollocks - a still repespectable objective size, same quality, smaller, almost 1/3rd lighter so for me more likely to become a permanant part of my kit.

Ordering some now :D
 
tele16in1.jpg


Here is an alternative with good magnification (12x) that packs in only half the space of even the smallest binocular. Just the right gift for the average pirate.

http://www.stanleylondon.com/tele16in.htm

tele16in2.jpg


n2s
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top