Binos or scope? Your thoughts please

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AndyJDickson

Full Member
Sep 29, 2011
191
0
Northern Ireland
Hi,

Have been doing a lot of hunting around with regarding buying my first proper set of binos/spotting scope but haven't been able to decide which. Like the idea of a scope but am happy to take either depending on ease of use/performance and value.

I would love to hear your thoughts and pic your brains. Any help would much appreciated

Andy

Sent from my HTC Salsa C510e using Tapatalk
 

British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,709
1,947
Mercia
Generally bins for wide field of view...7 or 8 times maximum, roof prsim type. These are for "spotting" game. Scopes are generally higher magnification and for observing rather than spotting. Clearly range and terrain feature. If hunting stag over wide open moorland, a scope is the way to go. If hunting game amongst hedgrow, woodland and otherwise obstrcuted terrain, high magnification narrows the area observed and adds nothing

Red
 

ged

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jul 16, 2009
4,976
13
In the woods if possible.
Have been doing a lot of hunting around with regarding buying my first proper set of binos/spotting scope but haven't been able to decide which. Like the idea of a scope but am happy to take either depending on ease of use/performance and value.

If you like the idea of a 'scope, why not try to borrow one for a while? I can almost guarantee you won't use it as much as you think you will, but they do have a few advantages. For the same aperture, magnification and quality of optics they're generally a lot lighter and a lot more compact because there's only one set of optics. The focus arrangement is simpler because there's only one light path to focus, and there's no alignment issue. All that means, other things being equal, they'll be cheaper.

But frankly they're a bit of an acquired taste. If you're using both eyes they help each other, and you can see things with binoculars especially in poor light which you might miss with a telescope of the same power. I keep a monocular in the tank bag on the bike purely because space is at a premium. I might have one in my pocket if I go out walking because it's so small and light compared with binoculars. But if I'm going somewhere specifically to look at things, then I take binoculars. I keep binoculars in the car -- out of sight.

When you get to very high magnifications (more than about 20 times) then the slightest misalignment makes binoculars almost unusable. So at higher magnifications it will always be a telescope. You need a tripod or something similar for anything with magnification more than about ten times unless the optics has image stabilization. There are binoculars with active image stabilization that make a hand-held device with 20 times magnification very possible. They're a joy to use but they're very expensive.

My advice for a first pair would be something in the range of 7x40 to 8x50 binoculars, the best ones you can afford if you're planning to keep them for a while. I already have several in that range and a few outside it, but if somebody gave me a blank cheque and told me I had to to go out and buy something optical as a present for myself it would be binoculars, in that range of size and magnification, but top of the range optics. I wouldn't consider a monocular or telescope at all.
 

vizsla

Native
Jun 6, 2010
1,517
0
Derbyshire
Id always say get binos first mine go everyware with me. Even if you get a spotting scope unless your planning on sitting in a known wildlife location were the scope is ideal you will still need binos to find the wildlife first as you cant realy walk round with a spotting scope at hand. Do your resourch but most of all go to a shop and try them as everyones eyes and head shape take to different binos dont just buy the most expensive presuming they will be best for you. I tried upto 10 pairs not knowing the price and make and picked the ones that suited me best luckily they were about £140 and not the nikon ones that were twice as much
 

wingstoo

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
May 12, 2005
2,274
40
South Marches
I was always told that Bino's are for looking for your "Target" whereas a Scope is for observing it.
 

geordienemisis

Settler
Oct 3, 2010
529
1
Newcastle upon Tyne
I would go for Binos because they are a bit easier to transport whereas a scope tends to be handled more carefully because of the large price tag I think. I have recently got myself a pair of Bushnell one which are really good.
 

British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,709
1,947
Mercia
I've just realised that the OP used "hunting" in a completely different way than I undersatnd the term - oops - sorry :eek:
 

nodd

Nomad
May 12, 2004
485
0
liverpool
I would go for a good quality pair of binoculars first the best you can afford. Set your self a price range to work in and compare as many different pairs as possible. The more you pay the better they get mid price is reckoned to be around £400- 600 mark with top end being £1200 -£1600 there are bargains to be had in all ranges.

I am using Opticron 8x42 DBA S Coat ex display model I picked up for £300 list being £599 when I bought them.

You will find that if you do a lot of viewing over open water then a spotting scope is handy. Same rules apply when buying scopes.

This site is worth looking at for advice http://www.birdforum.net/

Neil
 
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Feb 15, 2011
3,860
2
Elsewhere
I'd go with binoculars too for ease of carrying & rapidity of use(just whip 'em out & point)...I have a pair of 10x50 & 12x50 which are great but heavy........in fact I mostly use a small pair of 10x25 which fit into a coat pocket, don't even realise they're there until I need them. more than adequate for general everyday use.
 
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jacko1066

Native
May 22, 2011
1,689
0
march, cambs
Hi,

Have been doing a lot of hunting around with regarding buying my first proper set of binos/spotting scope but haven't been able to decide which. Like the idea of a scope but am happy to take either depending on ease of use/performance and value.

I would love to hear your thoughts and pic your brains. Any help would much appreciated

Andy

Sent from my HTC Salsa C510e using Tapatalk

Hi Andy, in your original post do you want to no about binoculars vs monoculars?
I think a few people on here think your after a rifle scope pal!!

Cheers
Steve
 

ged

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jul 16, 2009
4,976
13
In the woods if possible.
Hi Andy, in your original post do you want to no about binoculars vs monoculars?
I think a few people on here think your after a rifle scope pal!!

The original post was perfectly clear, but some people here do seem to have a little weapons bias. :yikes:

To most people a spotting scope means something like you can see here:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/spotting-scopes/c2015

That was just the first hit on a Bing search for "spotting scope".

A couple of features common on spotting scopes that you either don't get so often or don't get at all with binoculars all are zoom optics (not common on binoculars) and a choice of eyepieces (I've never heard of them on binoculars). For some 'scopes you can even get inverting eyepieces for looking at things deliberately upside-down. That might seem strange, but because astronomical telescopes generally invert the image, astronomical charts (for example of the moon) are often printed in the same way. If you want to find your way around the features of the moon and you have an inverted chart, it's a lot easier if you also have an inverting telescope. I should have mentioned this in my earlier post but I didn't think astronomy was high on the agenda.
 
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santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
I'd go with binoculars too for ease of carrying & rapidity of use(just whip 'em out & point)...I have a pair of 10x50 & 12x50 which are great but heavy........in fact I mostly use a small pair of 10x25 which fit into a coat pocket, don't even realise they're there until I need them. more than adequate for general everyday use.

+1 on this. I have the larger full sized binos (10 x 50) under the seat of the truck; the smaller, compact ones (10 x 25) are usually on me or in my pack when out and about.
 

nodd

Nomad
May 12, 2004
485
0
liverpool
I too have a pair of pocket size binoculars 8x20 leica trinovids, I bought these first then a leica 77 spotting scope with a fixed 32x eye piece I used this combination for quite sometime. Now I have my 8x42 Opticrons I use these more for field trips and surveys. Keeping the leicas if space and weight is a problem. As for weight the opticrons are about 700 grams the leica's are 235 grams the scope is 2.1 kg plus tripod or monopod or hide clamp.

The leica's for their size are optically very good but full size binoculars give just that bit more, better light gathering and all that. Some people find a pair of 8x32 binoculars a good compromise for size weight and performance.
 
Last edited:
Mar 15, 2011
1,118
7
on the heather
Only a 8x30 but around half the size and weight of binoculars. I’ve used this scope for years now and it has always preformed perfectly.


.

Specifications .

Objective Lens. 30 mm
Magnification. 8x
Field of view @ 1000m. 131
Minimum Focusing Distance. 5m
Length. 139mm
Width. 49mm
Weight. 252g
100 % waterproof.
10 year guarantee.
Around £70
 
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peaks

Settler
May 16, 2009
722
5
Derbys
+1 for Opticron.
Bought one at Xmas after reading a similar thread on here and am really chuffed with it. I've several pairs of bins, but tend to take this when out walking. Its tough and easy to use and really good optical quality.
 

ged

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jul 16, 2009
4,976
13
In the woods if possible.
Only a 8x30 but around half the size and weight of binoculars. I’ve used this scope for years now and it has always preformed perfectly.

...

Specifications .

Objective Lens. 30 mm
Magnification. 8x
Field of view @ 1000m. 131
Minimum Focusing Distance. 5m
Length. 139mm
Width. 49mm
Weight. 252g
100 % waterproof.
10 year guarantee.
Around £70

That looks a great bit of kit. I've had a few Opticron bino's and they've all been fine. I think the only thing that I would want to change in that spec. is the minimum focus distance. Often I find myself wanting to focus at only a couple of metres and it's really annoying when you can't quite do it.
 
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