binocular help

[Joe stockwell]

as i am STILL looking for a new pair of bins, i would like to know what everyone uses, and how they find them i am not too worried about price as i want somthing good

[Colin Key]

Joe,

I have Leica Trinovid 10x50BA, Leica Ultravid 10x42 and Swarovski EL 10x42. I have put them in that order as that is how I rate them optically. The Swaro's are my wife's and they have had mechanical problems and been back to the factory twice now. The Trinovids also had problems with the focus wheel and hinge but were repaired under warranty, during which they also renewed the covering so that they now look brand new.

If I am out for a couple of hours around home I take the Trinovids but they are heavy for a full day in the field with 'scope and camera gear as well which is why I got the Ultravids.

If money is no object I would take a look at the new Leica Ultravid HD's or the soon to be released new version of the Swaro ELs.

Colin

[Joe stockwell]

sounds good, i changed my mind from getting a prime lens to getting some better binos, as i dont need the lens anywhere near as much,

unfortunately i have not yet experianced the difference between a £500 pair of opticrons and a pair of leica's or swaro's as i have not used either of the latter

and i have heard that there is no point in the "expensive" range when there are such fantastic "cheaper" pairs available

could this be true?

[forktail]

as i am STILL looking for a new pair of bins, i would like to know what everyone uses, and how they find them i am not too worried about price as i want somthing good

Nikon HG L are surely the best value for money Joe. Only £599 and as good as anything out there, more or less.

There are some real bargains to be had second-hand too. And for around £300 you can get a new pair of high quality bins.

I still use 19-year-old 7x42 dialyts on occasion, esp if seawatching etc. Been everywhere with me and never let me down. Even fell off car roof at 60 mph and were fine. A good pair of bins could last a lifetime.

F.

[Colin Key]

.....and i have heard that there is no point in the "expensive" range when there are such fantastic "cheaper" pairs available

could this be true?

My first "decent" (i.e. not bought from Boots or Woolworths) bins were Zeiss Jenoptem (at the time East German) which were brilliant but I had them nicked. I then had two Optolyth Alpins which I thought were optically good but mechanically .... and both fell to bits. That was when I coughed up for Zeiss Dialyt 10x40s (or was it 42s?) and these were a revelation - I loved them from the optical, mechanical and ergonomic points of view. But, they were not nitrogen filled or waterproof and mine used to get a bit "misty" (and I suspect might have cultured some internal mould) which is why I went for the Leica Trinovids.

Today there is a lot of optical snobbery but, if you've got the dosh why not spend it on what you want? I think that the "mid range" bins have come on leaps and bounds in the past 5-8 years, mainly due to advances in production quality in the developing Asian countries. I am always interested in looking at and through other peoples bins and have been very pleasantly surprised at the build and optical quality of bins in the £400 - 500 range (but have to admit I have also seen some real rubbish at £300).

Some of these new models at £1,600 or more are almost certainly not worth the money; as I get older I would rather have better eyesight than better bins, and don't forget that better or more expensive bins do not get you better birds. Somewhere, and it differs for different people (and different budgets), there is a cut-off point or threshold in terms of what I would describe as "optical experience" - I have had people look through my bins and say "Wow - I can see why they cost so much", but at the same time I have looked through other people's and thought "Hmm, these are as good as mine at half the price".

A close friend of mine (non-birder) here is in the optics business and has two factories in China. He started off many years ago producing lenses for overhead projectors but now produces optical glass as well as finished lenses for many different applications. He currently produces lenses for Leica bins (but not 'scopes), the mechanical parts are produced in Germany, but the finished article is assembled at a factory in Portugal - so, the "Made in Germany" label is not precisely accurate.

Did you go to the Birdfair? If not, you should have and looked through as many different examples as possible. Go to a well-known retailer and do likewise. And I would agree with forktail that there are some very good second-hand bargains available, given the rate at which the "blue-rinse brigade" (pensioners with more money than sense) upgrade whenever new models are released.

Colin

[michael23]

hi if you are looking for a pair of bins around £500 i use a pair of bushnell elite 8x43, they are stunning in optical quality, kight weight and really good in low light, also i have used leicas in all sizez when i got the chance also stunning and then there are thr nikon hgl ,
hope this helps but you really need to go to a field day somewhere and take time in making your decision what is superb for one is rubbish or not suitable for yourself, but dont discount bushnell they really are good