Need binocular advice for M-I-L

19-3ben

19-3ben

Joined
Jul 27, 2015
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My mother-in-law told me she believes there are great sales on binoculars coming up (I have no idea if that's based in reality or not) and she has decided she wants to buy herself some good binoculars and has asked me for advice. The problem is, I know jack squat about binoculars, but she assumes that with me being the outdoorsy sort, I'd know optics. She's the type to be taken in by any salesman's pitch, so the last thing I want to do is send her into her local outdoors store and tell her to speak with the staff.

She has set a budget max of $200. She lives in Tucson AZ and doesn't travel, so I don't expect waterproofing and anti-fog are going to be important in the slightest. There's not a whole lotta wet going on in the Sonoran desert... She is a homebody, so these will not be taken out bouncing around on trails, camping etc... They are to be used from her living room and back deck to check out hummingbirds, coyote, jack rabbits, and other wildlife anywhere from right in her back yard, out to the ridges behind the property.

Bottom line for those who want to skip ahead:
So I figure the ability to adjust zoom for close/far is a priority as is glass clarity/quality, especially for clarity at different light conditions. Low priority for anti-fog, water sealing, and shock resistance. Budget $200. If I can keep it lower, all the better. What's the best in class in that range?
 
Not an expert opinion but I have read a little. The smaller 6x25 are better than nothing and anything larger than 12x50 is probably too big. 7x35, 8x40, maybe 10x42 at the most. Smaller magnification by smaller objective lens is not good for low light times. 12 power and larger will probably too heavy to hold up for long periods with out a small tripod.
 
Something else to consider is fixed focus are fine but you want to be sure to have the independent focus rings for each eye. Some models will have center focus wheel and then focus ring for one eye.
Roof prisms? Porro prism? Not sure about which is best. Nikon and Leupold make some nice ones in your price range. I use Steiner at work.
 
I sent a link to a catalog to you pm inbox. Disregard about the choosing a binocular for marine applications. The rest explains a little more.
 
Awesome! Thanks!!! Will read tomorrow when I’m awake enough to digest the info.
 
There are a lot of good brands on the market. You can do some research at a site like optics planet.

The first consideration is magnification. Unless she knows she wants more power I would suggest 8 power.

The next consideration is size. If she wants compact binocs then the objectives would be 30mm or less. Normal size binocs would be in the range of 30mm-40mm but you can buy full size models up to 50mm.

The last consideration would be porro prism vs roof prism. In that price range probably not a major considerations.

I've found that you can find different brands with different features and ratings so there is some advantage to shopping around, but you could just pick a Nikon model in that price range and be good. You can buy some pretty good models in that price range.
 
B bdmicarta thanks to you too for the advice.

Is there any particular brand or model that is generally considered to be an outstanding within the price range? Thinking like the OKC RAT1 of the binocular world.

Obviously I have some serious homework to do, but it’s always nice to have a few recommendations as a jumping off point.
 
SWFA and bhphotovideo both have knockout online optics offerings that run from the ridiculous to the sublime. Both are worth checking out. On another note, I’d strongly recommend avoiding OpticsPlanet. I recently had an experience with them that was so incredibly bad that I’m having a hard time believing how stunningly bad their excuse for so-called “customer service” actually is.
 
Alot of good brands out there ... but many of those you will pay dearly for the brand name ...

I haven't purchased new binoculars in awhile but Burris and Bruton make good quaility binoculars that aren't crazy high priced ...

Cabelas line of binoculars used to be pretty decent ... might be worth a look ...

one thing I would suggest ... depending on whether or not she wears glasses ... if she does be sure to get collapsible eye pieces ... and she can use them with or without her glasses that way.
 
Something else to think about if she will just be using them from her deck and not carrying them around ..

a good spotting scope with a tripod will give her much higher zoom ability and a stable base not having to hold binoculars.
 
If your MIL is anything like mine, light weight is important. Mine is 85 and she just likes to see what the neighbors are up to. I gave her a cheap pair of mini ones. (Lightweight)
I told her daughter, my wife, we should get her a pair of those ones that also are capable of taking a picture.


Come to find out, life in the doghouse ain't half bad. A little cramped.
 
Best thing to do is visit birder sites/fora. Look and ask there. Seriously. Birdwatchers will know more about binoculars than any other single group.
 
leghog said:
Best thing to do is visit birder sites/fora. Look and ask there. Seriously. Birdwatchers will know more about binoculars than any other single group.
Click to expand...

Almost definitely true and kind of what I figured. I was just thinking of posting here first since I'm already a member and it didn't require me signing up on another sight.
I have a bit of homework to do so that I can go into a birder forum and not ask total newb questions. If I can limit the amount of homework I ask people to do for me, the better. i like to mitigate my stupid whenever possible.
 
19-3ben said:
Almost definitely true and kind of what I figured. I was just thinking of posting here first since I'm already a member and it didn't require me signing up on another sight.
I have a bit of homework to do so that I can go into a birder forum and not ask total newb questions. If I can limit the amount of homework I ask people to do for me, the better. i like to mitigate my stupid whenever possible.
Click to expand...
You can do your homework on birder sites prior to registering.
 
One thing about binos is the better glass you can afford, the better off you are. Check out binos by Vortex, they started out making bird watching binos and make good ones in the price range you are talking about. John
 
19-3ben said:
I have a bit of homework to do so that I can go into a birder forum and not ask total newb questions. If I can limit the amount of homework I ask people to do for me, the better.
Click to expand...

You can do some internet searching for things like "best binoculars" and you can find articles written by people suggesting good models and/or doing comparison reviews.
 
I'm no expert but friends have had good luck with the Carson brand, in your price range. I think the best are 8x42, those are what I carry in by Jeep, perfect for birding/wildlife etc.
I picked up a pair of 10x42 Sig on sale for $199.00 shipped, we use them around the yard, you just have to be a little more steady with a 10 power.
 
Oh my goodness. Some good advice on this thread. For that matter, i wasn't looking for binocs, but damnit... now I want some.

Anyway, she put in an order. She ended up with a pair of Nikon Aculon 10-22x50. The variable mag was important to her so that she can view things in her back yard, or out in the distance. Also nice is that if she zooms it out, she can follow things like a coyote chain a jack rabbit or some such thing that obviously would be tougher if fixed at a higher mag. Also the 50mm objective ought to allow in enough light to give her a good image when watching crepuscular animals, which is particularly relevant in a desert.

Found her a great deal. She got them for $116, so enough $$ left over to get a mount and tripod for them which gives her some of the benefits that would come from the spotting scope as mentioned above.

Thank you guys so much for the advice.
 
I should add that based on reviews, the two biggest knocks to the Nikon Aculon seemed to be that the carry case is crap and that the weather proofing left some to be desired, but otherwise they got pretty positive reviews.

Considering that she is going to keep them at home in the desert, I didn't see these as particularly big drawbacks so long as the optical quality is good and they seem to be based on reviews.
 
I would look at Leupold and Vortex brands in the up to $200 price range. I would go 8 power for general use. I have two pairs of Leupolds (6x and 10x) that ran me about $100 each that I am good with. The 6x were purchased for general use in the woods hunting and wandering around. If your eyes are bad, it helps to be able to adjust the binoculars for that. I have found that some of the $50 ones simply will not adjust to me. My eyes are medium... but have a stigmatism.

My better binoculars are made by Nikon (8x). The Monarchs run in the $300 or so area and are generally pretty good; Just over budget.

Added: I see you already made your choice before I responded. Hope they work out for her.
 
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