Topic: Binoculars (Read 9387 times)

Scribble · « **on:** June 03, 2011 »

Hi can anyone give me any first hand info on a good make of bino , tis my dads 60th and he is looking a pair 25 x 40 , he will be using it for Coastal wildlife but mostly birds , tried the net but it don't really give you the truth all the time

Cheers andy

LennyJ1 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2011 »

I know Andy Dow has a pair of Nikons, he had them in kerry and they were great.

suspectmonkey · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2011 »

Hi Andy, I'm no expert on the matter but did a bit of research when I was looking for a pair of binoculars for astronomy. As it happens, binoculars for general astronomy also seem well suited for terrestrial use.

One thing I would say is that 25x is quite a high zoom, and they aren't going to be suitable for handheld use. 10x is about the highest magnification that you can handhold without noticeable image shake. 15x is pretty much the limit if you have steady hands or can brace yourself against a wall/fence/car etc. There is no point having a high magnification expecting to see more, because the image shake will actually cause you to see less. Also, avoid adjustable magnification binoculars offering a zoom range. Like adjustable zoom camera lenses they make compromises in the optics and you get much better optical quality for less money with a fixed focal length.

By far one of the most important considerations with binoculars is the amount of light they let in. This is denoted by the second figure, for example 10x50, and is a measurement of the diameter of the objective lens. The bigger the objective lens the more light they let in and the brighter the image. Personally I would much rather view something through a pair of 8x50 than 10x25 as the brighter image is more beneficial than the extra magnification.

The physical design of the binoculars will probably see you choosing between either "porro prism" binos or "roof prism" binos. Porro prisms typically produce a brighter image, as roof prisms reduce light transmission because of their design. That said, roof prisms are more compact. For astronomy/bird watching I use porro prisms, but for a day in the hills I take a compact pair of roof prisms. If you aren't so worried about size/weight, go for porros.

Another couple of things to look out for are BAK-4 prisms, which are preferable to BAK-7, and coated or multi-coated lenses. Depending on your budget the Pentax and Olympus brands offer well specced and made binoculars at good prices, but if you win the lottery and want to treat your dad then buy a pair of Leicas

One final note, if your dad is definitely wanting a higher magnification and doesn't mind carrying a tripod or monopod, then don't rule out a spotting scope. You can get some excellent viewing through a scope, and they usually have a large objective lens letting in lots of light.

Scribble · « **Reply #3 on:** June 03, 2011 »

Cheers Lenny, Jon thanks for the intense reply

a lot of it over my head but I will forward your reply to my dad but will delete the lecia part

I will let ya know how I get on tonight searching on the net , thanks again . You really should be writing for a mag

spartan00117 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 03, 2011 »

To be honest if its for wildlife especially birds he would be better with a spotting scope.

sjh1 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 03, 2011 »

Quote from: Scribble on June 03, 2011

Hi can anyone give me any first hand info on a good make of bino , tis my dads 60th and he is looking a pair 25 x 40 , he will be using it for Coastal wildlife but mostly birds , tried the net but it don't really give you the truth all the time

Cheers andy

Do not go for 25x magnification, trust me! Too shaky and not enough light. The most commonly used binoculars for birdwatching are, 8x30, 8x40, 10x40 and 10x40. Even the 10x will be noticeably heavier. These magnifications give the best balance between magnification, light intake, weight and field of view.

The best (but most expensive) brands are Leica, Zeiss and Swarovski. Viking and especially Opticron make good binoculars at cheaper prices.

A telescope would be useful for watching birds out to sea but (again trust me) no birdwatcher can make do with just a 'scope. If you can only choose between 'scope or binos, choose binos every time.

sjh1 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 03, 2011 »

Quote from: spartan00117 on June 03, 2011

To be honest if its for wildlife especially birds he would be better with a spotting scope.

A scope is excellent for when you're in a hide looking at a flock of distant (and largely static) wildfowl. A scope is useless when a bird shoots past you in flight or pops up in a bush 20 metres away - there's just not enough time to get the tripod set up before the bird disappears. And don't even think of a scope without a tripod!

chunk · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2011 »

i'd recommend 8 or 10 x 42, i use this size alot, deer stalking. mintox, swarovski, leica. all very expensive.(£400-£1500+)
bushnell is as near good as these, but alot cheaper, £60+.
i seen a good selection of bushnell binos in jessops.
remember when trying them out in a shop to go on a bad day, over cast, as even bad glass looks good on a good day.

Scribble · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2011 »

Hi guys cheers again for all the replies i decided to go for these seeing as he is a member , hope I ain't screwed this up

http://www.bassandbligh.com/store/rspb-8x42-hd-binoculars/prod_238.html?review=read

Got them a bit cheaper elsewhere

sjh1 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2011 »

Quote from: Scribble on July 25, 2011

Hi guys cheers again for all the replies i decided to go for these seeing as he is a member , hope I ain't screwed this up

http://www.bassandbligh.com/store/rspb-8x42-hd-binoculars/prod_238.html?review=read

Got them a bit cheaper elsewhere

Good call. I've got a very similar pair of RSPB 10x42. Only complaint I have is the weight, those ones look a good bit lighter than mine.

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Scribble

Binoculars

LennyJ1

Re: Binoculars

suspectmonkey

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Scribble

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spartan00117

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sjh1

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sjh1

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chunk

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Scribble

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sjh1

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