Binoculars

[DX grunt]

Hi all.

I'm looking for binoculars.

Any suggestions or links would be appreciated.  I'm gunna start doing a lot of remote travelling soon and need something decent that will enable me to see distances and pick up lotsa detail.

Thanks.

Take care out there.

Rossco

[Wortho]

I picked up some Canon image stabilised Bino's a few years ago for a trip to Africa. The IS works really well and same technology they use in the cameras I believe. They are sharp as well with good optics as you would expect from Canon. Only downside is the price : (
http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/products/Canon-12x36-IS-II-Binoculars.html

I got mine in the US but the prices are quite good local with the current exchange rates.
http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/products/Canon-12x36-IS-II-Binoculars.html

Cheers

Mark

[Pipeliner]

Things to look for with binoculars:

Magnification:  large magnification numbers sound good (16x, 20x) but be aware that you have to hold them very steady or the thing you want to look at will be bouncing around in the viewer.  I bought a pair of 16x20 Pentax in Manila Airport some years ago and as general binoculars they aren't very useful.  This brings me to

Objective size:  the size of the objective lens (the larger one at the front) governs the amount of light the binoculars can capture and the field of view (the size of the picture you can see through them).  20mm is really too small for a 16x magnification as the field of view is too limited.

For a general use pair of binoculars I would recommend something like 10x25 or 10x30 - if you want high magnification then go to 15x50.  Buy a good brand with a reputation for good lenses (Olympus, Pentax, Zeiss) if you can afford them.  Pay for the optics, not for fancy stuff like zoom.  Make sure they fit comfortably into your hands, the focusing control is easy to reach, and that you can adjust the eyepieces to account for the difference between your two eyes.  Bear in mind that a good pair of (say) 15x50 will be bulky and heavy and not something you want to hold for any extended period of time.

[Mace]

We have 2 sets:

Small set of 7x35 Nikons for quick use, sports, concerts, etc.  Gets used 80% of the time.

Larger TASCO 10x50's for specific uses, hunting, long range viewing, used the remaining 20%.

Try:

http://www.ozbinoculars.com.au/

There is a good Binoculars 101 guide there as well.

[austastar]

Hi,
   I bought No.1 Son a pair of Leica compact binoculars for his 21st many years ago.





Cost about $700 about 14 years ago, but they are magic optics.


I have a larger (and cheaper) pair of Vivitar binoculars that were too good at the price to leave there, but they are not as convenient to carry, thus spend more time in the cupboard rather than the pocket.


cheers

[RebsWA]

Rossco, I have a pair of Zenith Tempest binoculars 16 X 50 Prismatic Coated with field 3.5 whatever that all means.
I have owned them for some 40 odd years and they have just sat on a shelf in the shed and have "never been used".
I do not know the quality rating of this brand but I'm sure someone else on here will know.
Maybe once you have figured out what sort of binoculars you want, if this pair fit the bill then I am happy to do a deal and move them on to someone who can use them.

[hoytshooter]

I use Alpen 10x40 for my archery for spotting arrows and are quite good value for a set of waterproof binos. But saying that if I had the money it would be Leica .... Best binos I have ever have looked through

[xcvator]

x2 for the image stabilization

[DX grunt]

Rossco, I have a pair of Zenith Tempest binoculars 16 X 50 Prismatic Coated with field 3.5 whatever that all means.
I have owned them for some 40 odd years and they have just sat on a shelf in the shed and have "never been used".
I do not know the quality rating of this brand but I'm sure someone else on here will know.
Maybe once you have figured out what sort of binoculars you want, if this pair fit the bill then I am happy to do a deal and move them on to someone who can use them.

Thanks everybody.  Stay tuned RebsWA.  I'll do some homework.

Rossco

[LC]

Have a look at Bushnell as well. They make good stuff. Probably not the cheapest but I've always liked the ones I've used.

[Mace]

Bushnell make good stuff. Probably not the cheapest but I've always liked the ones I've used.

The rifle scope I have of theirs has certainly taken a pounding in the bush and stays adjusted.

[alpinebully]

I have the Lieca HD's in 10X32's for Deer stalking.

They are the ultimate package IMO combining size and extremely good optics.

However the most commonly used size would be 7x40/42 or 8x40/42 or there abouts.

The difference between 10X and 7 or 8X is very, very noticeable when it comes to holding them still in the field.

I would strongly suggest you try out as many as you can in the 7>10X range and see what suits you best. Any magnification greater then 10, i would say forget it... Maybe look into Spotting scopes and tripods then.

In recent years many new 'brands' have hit the market, some are really good value for money in the sub $1000 range.

If money isnt really an issue then its Swarovski or Leica hands down but expect to be around $3K lighter in the pocket.

Travis.

[peanut2]

Hi all.

I'm looking for binoculars.

Any suggestions or links would be appreciated.  I'm gunna start doing a lot of remote travelling soon and need something decent that will enable me to see distances and pick up lotsa detail.

Thanks.

Take care out there.

Rossco


Mate of ours has just bought a set of Olympus 10 x 50 binoculars.  I had a look through them and then through my own 8 x 40's.  The 10 x 50 shows everything so much bigger at the distance.  So if you want the detail then 10 x 50's is probably what you will need.

Peanut