O/T Help please - Binoculars

[Ron Manager]

On a similar note I recently discovered that my neighbour has been spying on me whilst I get changed

 

[Pretty Plnk Fairy]

If you can afford it go for Zeiss Terra. I saved up all the profits from a months jam selling and splashed out. Especially good if you are in climate that is humid or with salty spray when checking out sea birds nesting. Make sure you wear decent camouflaged gear to as otherwise can scare off parents and leave young birds vuneralbe to predators. Not light at 720 grames (it will be in ounzes when Saint Teresa triggers artical 50 though) but extra size allows more light in.

Ive had some great cormorant and petrol shots with them, just disappointed Ive never had a shag/

Regards
DR

 

[Collingburnian]

Do you mean petrel?

 

[whitelion]

If you can afford it go for Zeiss Terra. I saved up all the profits from a months jam selling and splashed out. Especially good if you are in climate that is humid or with salty spray when checking out sea birds nesting. Make sure you wear decent camouflaged gear to as otherwise can scare off parents and leave young birds vuneralbe to predators. Not light at 720 grames (it will be in ounzes when Saint Teresa triggers artical 50 though) but extra size allows more light in.

Ive had some great cormorant and petrol shots with them, just disappointed Ive never had a shag/

Regards
DR

An alternative to vodka?

 

[Goldstone1976]

If you can afford it go for Zeiss Terra. I saved up all the profits from a months jam selling and splashed out. Especially good if you are in climate that is humid or with salty spray when checking out sea birds nesting. Make sure you wear decent camouflaged gear to as otherwise can scare off parents and leave young birds vuneralbe to predators. Not light at 720 grames (it will be in ounzes when Saint Teresa triggers artical 50 though) but extra size allows more light in.

Ive had some great cormorant and petrol shots with them, just disappointed Ive never had a shag/

Regards
DR

It's strange that you say that not wearing camouflage gear might scare off the parents; I'd have thought that the opposite might be true. One lives and learns. Handy that the Zeiss are good at coping with salty spray though. That might come in handy.

 

[knocky1]

Worth looking at the Nikon 'Monarch' range.

Had a pair for several years - compact, lightweight, durable with decent lenses / spec and there is a reasonable range to suit different budgets, especially if you look for a deal. From a practical 'point of view' they're not heavy for wearing around the neck or for prolonged in hand use. Handy for tucking 'out of sight' in the car.

Like DSLR cameras 'the sky's the limit' with bino's when it comes to 'up-specing' and price. You could easily pay 3-4 times for similar 'spec' Leica binos or scope plus tripod.

Good luck.

Second Nikon. Got a lightweight pair for the wife's Birthday a few years back. Then asked to borrow them on my trip to Australia to watch the Ashes a few weeks later. Brilliant vision.

 

[Seagrrl]

Slightly off topic but have you been to the West Coast at that time of year before?

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[Psychobilly freakout]

If you can afford it go for Zeiss Terra. I saved up all the profits from a months jam selling and splashed out. Especially good if you are in climate that is humid or with salty spray when checking out sea birds nesting. Make sure you wear decent camouflaged gear to as otherwise can scare off parents and leave young birds vuneralbe to predators. Not light at 720 grames (it will be in ounzes when Saint Teresa triggers artical 50 though) but extra size allows more light in.

Ive had some great cormorant and petrol shots with them, just disappointed Ive never had a shag/

Regards
DR

Pretty Pink Fairy out spying on Shags, in "decent" camouflage gear....

 

[Goldstone1976]

Slightly off topic but have you been to the West Coast at that time of year before?

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Uh oh.

I think I can guess this is unlikely to be good news.

Cold, is it? Wet, too? Snow? Unlikely to see much of anything through the horrible fog, so no point buying bins (see how easily I slip into the patois?) ?

 

[Paskman]

Whatever you do, do not get zoom binoculars. Nikon/Opticron good bets in your price range. Go for either; 8 x 32 - if weight is consideration. If you want a bit more power then 10 x 42 - there is not as much difference in the magnification that you would imagine and you will get more image shake from the 10 x 42s. Whatever you go for make sure it is waterproof (Scotland can be wet!).

For more advice try Birdforum. net - http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=112

 

[Seagrrl]

Uh oh.

I think I can guess this is unlikely to be good news.

Cold, is it? Wet, too? Snow? Unlikely to see much of anything through the horrible fog, so no point buying bins (see how easily I slip into the patois?) ?

Speculate if you like if you haven't been there at that time of year. I'll say nothing more as any actual information seems to be unwelcome.

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[mune ni kamome]

Haven't read all the thread but as an experienced twitcher you should be looking at a pair of 8x42's. This is the optimum size for bird watching combining maximum light gathering qualities with ease of getting the targets in vision

 

[Goldstone1976]

Speculate if you like if you haven't been there at that time of year. I'll say nothing more as any actual information seems to be unwelcome.

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I think you misread the tone of my response. I most definitely would like your input - forewarned is forearmed.

I was just mentally preparing myself, s'all...

 

[Goldstone1976]

Haven't read all the thread but as an experienced twitcher you should be looking at a pair of 8x42's. This is the optimum size for bird watching combining maximum light gathering qualities with ease of getting the targets in vision

Thank you. Early responses seemed to prefer 10*50 for light gathering, but I must admit that my research was tending to lead me to 8*42, partly for weight, and partly for the fact that I can get better lenses for the same price as I'd pay for less good 10*50...

 

[Goldstone1976]

Whatever you do, do not get zoom binoculars. Nikon/Opticron good bets in your price range. Go for either; 8 x 32 - if weight is consideration. If you want a bit more power then 10 x 42 - there is not as much difference in the magnification that you would imagine and you will get more image shake from the 10 x 42s. Whatever you go for make sure it is waterproof (Scotland can be wet!).

For more advice try Birdforum. net - http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=112

Just seen this response. Many thanks. Why not zooms out of interest? A gimmick? How about 8*42s?

I'll check out the URL you've provided...

 

[Boroseagull]

As others have said, do not go for zoom binoculars, they're cheap and not suited for what you want them for [not really suitable for any form of quality viewing]. Having specialised in selling optics to bird/wildlife watchers all my working life [40+years] a reasonable pair of 8x42 is the top pick for bird watching. Power has nothing to do with the performance of binoculars, the performance comes down to optical quality alone. If you want the best value then buy Opticron http://www.opticron.co.uk/Pages/binoculars_menu.htm They for many years [since the 70's] have specialised in importing directly from Japan and China and selling directly and via retailers to birders. Do bear in mind if you exclude Swarovski, the quality end of Zeiss, Leica [I worked for them for 20 years] and the very top Nikon HG's virtually all the others you see listed emanate from a couple of factories in either China or Japan. How they are finished and branded and how many wholesalers they pass through determines the finished retail price. Compare it to car manufacturing/marketing and you know where I am coming from.

The best advice is; always try before you buy, and I don't mean in a department store. Find a specialised dealer, look for where they are holding an open day near you and go along. This way you will get something that is suited to you in your price range. But whatever you do - don't waste your money buying zoom binoculars!

 

[Goldstone1976]

Whatever you do, do not get zoom binoculars. Nikon/Opticron good bets in your price range. Go for either; 8 x 32 - if weight is consideration. If you want a bit more power then 10 x 42 - there is not as much difference in the magnification that you would imagine and you will get more image shake from the 10 x 42s. Whatever you go for make sure it is waterproof (Scotland can be wet!).

For more advice try Birdforum. net - http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=112

Haven't read all the thread but as an experienced twitcher you should be looking at a pair of 8x42's. This is the optimum size for bird watching combining maximum light gathering qualities with ease of getting the targets in vision

What the hell - I might as well ask the specific question. What do you think of the Hawke Nature Trek 8*42? They do them in open bridge and top hinge versions - any real difference between the two?

 

[Goldstone1976]

As others have said, do not go for zoom binoculars, they're cheap and not suited for what you want them for [not really suitable for any form of quality viewing]. Having specialised in selling optics to bird/wildlife watchers all my working life [40+years] a reasonable pair of 8x42 is the top pick for bird watching. Power has nothing to do with the performance of binoculars, the performance comes down to optical quality alone. If you want the best value then buy Opticron http://www.opticron.co.uk/Pages/binoculars_menu.htm They for many years [since the 70's] have specialised in importing directly from Japan and China and selling directly and via retailers to birders. Do bear in mind if you exclude Swarovski, the quality end of Zeiss, Leica [I worked for them for 20 years] and the very top Nikon HG's virtually all the others you see listed emanate from a couple of factories in either China or Japan. How they are finished and branded and how many wholesalers they pass through determines the finished retail price. Compare it to car manufacturing/marketing and you know where I am coming from.

The best advice is; always try before you buy, and I don't mean in a department store. Find a specialised dealer, look for where they are holding an open day near you and go along. This way you will get something that is suited to you in your price range. But whatever you do - don't waste your money buying zoom binoculars!

Great response - thanks. Looks like I'll be making a trip to a dealer. Hawke nature trek - any view?

 

[Paskman]

If you want to try some, this company near Robertsbridge has a good selection and somewhere you can try them. They have good reviews.

http://www.feathersoptics.co.uk/binoculars.php

Whatever you do, do not be tempted to try the Swarovski's or you will not be able to afford to go to Scotland!!!!!

 

[Boroseagull]

Great response - thanks. Looks like I'll be making a trip to a dealer. Hawke nature trek - any view?

Good value, one of the 'other' companies that specialise in the birding market. If you are East Anglia based try Viking Optical among other retailers. But try before you buy - I can't emphasise that enough with optics.