binoculars

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adestu

Native
Jan 19, 2010
1,717
3
swindon
Afternoon all
a little help.I'm looking to update my bins.something like a 10x mag with objective lens of about 20 to 40 mm.looking to use freehand for general spotting.I have a budget of about 100 gbp
 

ozzy1977

Full Member
Jan 10, 2006
8,558
3
46
Henley
I have a pair of Bushnell 8x42 h2O bins which I think are around the £100 mark, I have had them about 8 years now and for the money really can not fault them, nice sharp optics and a very smooth focus wheel, and waterproof too. I seem to recall that they made a 10x version too
 

Goatboy

Full Member
Jan 31, 2005
14,956
17
Scotland
Just on a personal note if using freehand that 10x can be a bit shaky unless your grip and stance are pretty good. Also with the smaller objective they could be a bit dark at dawn and dusk.

Some of the Viking range are pretty descent at that sort of price range though and worth a looksee.
 

Dave

Hill Dweller
Sep 17, 2003
6,019
9
Brigantia
Ive got a pair of Barr and Stroud 10x42 Sahara, which cost about that. Theyre very good for the money.
 

Barn Owl

Old Age Punk
Apr 10, 2007
8,245
5
58
Ayrshire
I see a shop in Swindon sell the viking range.
You really are better to try before you buy and as Colin infers, an 8x mag is much easier to use.
Opticron are a trusted make too.
 

baggins

Full Member
Apr 20, 2005
1,563
300
49
Coventry (and surveying trees uk wide)
i have a pair of Hawks and i love em, SWMBO has just bough a pair of Deltas, even cheaper than mine high, lighter, brighter and have a full lifetime guarantee, not bad. can't remember what she paid mind. but both are 10x42. for a comfortable viewing experience, this is as big as you want to go. unless you can shell-out for top end ED glass.
 

Birdingben

Member
Sep 16, 2013
12
0
Canterbury
Ive got a pair of Barr and Stroud 10x42 Sahara, which cost about that. Theyre very good for the money.

Ditto Dave's comment - used to have a pair of these & they're great & can stand up to a bit of rough treatment (I work on a nature reserve). Sadly, I dropped them & the centre column broke.
Better half replaced them with a pair of Barr & Stroud 8 x 42 Sierra & am really pleased with them.
About £80 on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barr-Stroud...+Coated+BARR+AND+STROUD+SIERRA+8X42+BINOCULAR
 

gravelmonkey

Member
Feb 11, 2013
15
0
UK
I've had a set of the Vanguard Orros 10x25 for the past few months- £54 off Amazon. Fairly lightweight and fold down small enough to fit in the breast pocket of my outdoors shirt.
 

demographic

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Apr 15, 2005
4,691
710
-------------
If I remember right Barr & Stroud are the same company as Bushnell?

I have a set of Bushnell 10x42 Legends that I personally can't fault, brilliant things.
 

shack

Nomad
Mar 30, 2007
304
1
51
Devon
Bushnell H2O's have my vote. Great quality.

Ive got a small pair of these and can't fault them, read a few reviews and went for x8 mag which were good for wildlife and birds. The decent opticsmore than makes up for lower magnificatication.
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,664
McBride, BC
Another thing to consider is the diameter of the exit pupil of light.
It has to be smaller than the diameter of your pupil or else the image
will not be as bright as it could be and should be.

My Nikon Prostaff 82mm scope has a 7.6mm exit pupil of light.
My eyes are about 8mm or a little more, so I get to see all the collected light.
My 7x50mm Pentax binoculars are about the same.

On a hunting trip a few years back, I got to try out a pair of Zeiss (size unknown).
The image focus and brightness was a thing of beauty! Hate to say it but some days,
you really do get what you pay for.
 

gsfgaz

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jul 19, 2009
2,763
0
Hamilton... scotland
I see a shop in Swindon sell the viking range.
You really are better to try before you buy and as Colin infers, an 8x mag is much easier to use.
Opticron are a trusted make too.
I've lost my Opticon when I moved house ... probably in a box somewhere .....
 

daveO

Native
Jun 22, 2009
1,453
513
South Wales
Wildcard entry as it doesn't really fit what you've asked for but I've got a Visionary 10x50 monocular http://www.digiscopediary.co.uk/visionary-m10.html

It's a lot cheaper because it's basically only half a bino but nice and bright, coated lens and has a tripod if you need a steadier view. Mine lives on my desk by the window most of the time. It's a chunky bit of kit but not much more than a smaller pair of binos.
 

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