Binoculars

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.

Lithril

Administrator
Admin
Jan 23, 2004
2,590
55
Southampton, UK
Cheers Chris, I didn't even think to look in the camera stores, we've got a few around here that have second hand goods in, will go and have a look.

Matt
 

Roving Rich

Full Member
Oct 13, 2003
1,460
4
Nr Reading
Spot on Alick, they only really come into there own at the higher magnifications, where as Alick said you have no hope of holding them steady by hand.
They do come with quite a hefty price tag, about £500-£1500. They are the future of optics, along with auto focus. But then the more electronics you introduce the more possible pitfalls. If you are depending on bino's for your life then simple and reliable is the best option.
If i was spending that kind of money I would go for better optics with less magnification, and steer clear of the electronic gimmicks.(IMO)
Now another interesting pair of Bino's especially for you buckshot, is a range finder pair made by Bushnell. These give you a range to target for shooting which I feel could be useful. Again though you compromise on the optics, which are very good but not upto Steiner or Swarovski, Leica & Zeiss.
Cheers
Rich :-D
 

Buckshot

Mod
Mod
Jan 19, 2004
6,466
349
Oxford
Now another interesting pair of Bino's especially for you buckshot, is a range finder pair made by Bushnell.

Yes I was interested in these rangfinders as well and actually managed to have a look at a pair of Bushnell rangfinder bins at the Midland Game Fair last year.
As you say the glass quality isn't there for me, plus when you press the button to guage the distance to an object the numbers that are displayed are in black with no illumination at all. This means if you're trying to look at something with a dark background (the edge of a wood) you have to then look at a lighter background ( the sky) to read the range :shock: It's even worse at night :shock: :shock: When I tried them I was only looking at a single tree and struggled - and that was at lunchtime
If the display was in red say or illumiated it would be much better
I think these sorts of things will only improve and it does save carrying a rangfinder and bins when 'roaming about'.

Interesting what you say about the image stabalised bins, I suppose you're paying for the technology to the detriment of the glass quality.

You pays your money and takes your choice.

Do Steiner make anything like this ??

Cheers

Mark
 

Roving Rich

Full Member
Oct 13, 2003
1,460
4
Nr Reading
No Steiner do pure optics. Only binoculars infact, nothing else, no scopes, camera lenses or photocopiers
The most electronic they get was a digital compass in one of the marine pairs a few years back. But they have returned to a more reliable capstan compass, with a red back-light of course. Thing is you may have to trust your life to them at sea, so they don't build any crap.
Cheers
Rich :cool:
 
J

JeremyH

Guest
Buy the best you can afford and they'll be friends for ever.

I use Zeiss 7x40 for general birding and Leica 10x32 for seawatching and Leica Scopes for spotting work. One of my scopes has been
blown down the beach, the lens scratched but is still superb - hardly noticeable.
Best to try before you buy as optically all eyes are different and also you will be able to see which are the easiest to the eye.
Buy good quality second hand rather than mediocre - new!

For my clients I use and sell Bynolyt - a tough Dutch binocular.
Have fun on your quest

JeremyH
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE