Binoculars
- Thread starter Gleams
- Start date
Try before you buy.
Have you any good dealers near you?
Have a look at www.birdforum.net for some good info.
Second hand are a good bet if bought from a good company.
Ace camera in Bath, Kay Optical in Morden London and London camera exchange are good companies.
I've dealt with them before as a satisfied customer.
There are many models to chose from nowadays with very good performance but you MUST try first.
Some just won't fit your eyesight,face or hands, it pays to put in some time to get one that feels best.
Have you any good dealers near you?
Have a look at www.birdforum.net for some good info.
Second hand are a good bet if bought from a good company.
Ace camera in Bath, Kay Optical in Morden London and London camera exchange are good companies.
I've dealt with them before as a satisfied customer.
There are many models to chose from nowadays with very good performance but you MUST try first.
Some just won't fit your eyesight,face or hands, it pays to put in some time to get one that feels best.
First of all ask yourself what you are going to use it for and then google.
This will explain what's what and how it works.
Based on that search and shop around.
If you have a shop in the area that sells cameras (the ones with detachable lenses), they might be able to tell you and show what you need to know about binoculars.
This will explain what's what and how it works.
Based on that search and shop around.
If you have a shop in the area that sells cameras (the ones with detachable lenses), they might be able to tell you and show what you need to know about binoculars.
Some good info in this thread ....
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64191&highlight=binoculars
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64191&highlight=binoculars
a review of the ones i just got
Over the years I have bought numerous pairs of ?budget? binoculars and accepted the limitations ? numerous as they are.
I had for some time been perusing the market looking for affordable quality. I was lucky enough on a recent stalk to try a very expensive pair of well known high end binoculars. The difference in quality was not comparable to the binoculars I had owned in the past. Unfortunately, the ?900+ price tag was just a step too far for me. The hunt continued, but I was certain of the type of quality I was aiming for now.
Then I came across Strathspey and the information on their website was very helpful as well as promising. I opted for the 8X32 pair and the added bonus was that they were waterproof.
Within a couple of days they arrived and I was not disappointed. They felt extremely solid and well built with a rubber armour finish and weighing in at 0.6kg, they are comfortable to hold for long periods. You get:
Full instructions
Objective lenses 32mm
Prisms BAK-4 roof prisms
Coatings level IV
Field of view 7.4 degrees
Exit pupil diameter 4mm
Tripod adaptor fitting
The exit pupil is defined as the lens size / magnification, so for 8x32 its 32/8=4mm
In sunlight your eye's pupil will contract to a size of 2-4mm. But at night they'll open to 7mm (depending on age). If the light beam is wider than your pupil if can't all get through, so binoculars with 4mm exit pupil size seem as bright as those with 6mm in daylight. However they may seem dimmer than those with 6mm as it gets darker.
This is a trade off for size and weight I was prepared to make.
Having tried them out the first time watching for flight lines over some fields, I have to say I did not notice the trade off I had made, as the light faded, they continued to provide a clear and crisp view. They performed extremely well at various distances.
I have also had the opportunity to use the binoculars during a heavy rain storm whilst pigeon decoying. They did not steam up and performed just as well as they did in clear, dry conditions. From my experience of them so far, I have no doubt they will perform well in any weather.
These binoculars are intended for woodland stalking, shooting and general outdoor use. One feature which I think is a must is the built in lens covers that you flip down, but stay attached to the body of the binoculars so you can?t lose them. If you are anything like me, then you will have lost more than a couple of lens covers in the field, never to be found again.
I have since been able to compare these binoculars directly with the expensive ones that I first tried. I have to say that I found them just as clear and lighter to carry. I was using them up until 10:30pm at the end of May and they continued to perform extremely well and the field of view was excellent.
The guide I was with was very impressed with the quality of these binoculars, having always purchased the well know high end brands. Having tried these, he is now in the market for a pair himself.
If you are in the market for quality binoculars, but find the ?900+ price tags beyond you ? as I did ? then these are the ones for you. In a direct comparison with a more expensive brand, they actually performed just as well for me.
I have no connection to Strathspey this is my personal view.
These can be found at http://www.strathspey.co.uk/
Sorry for the rubbish quality pics.
Over the years I have bought numerous pairs of ?budget? binoculars and accepted the limitations ? numerous as they are.
I had for some time been perusing the market looking for affordable quality. I was lucky enough on a recent stalk to try a very expensive pair of well known high end binoculars. The difference in quality was not comparable to the binoculars I had owned in the past. Unfortunately, the ?900+ price tag was just a step too far for me. The hunt continued, but I was certain of the type of quality I was aiming for now.
Then I came across Strathspey and the information on their website was very helpful as well as promising. I opted for the 8X32 pair and the added bonus was that they were waterproof.
Within a couple of days they arrived and I was not disappointed. They felt extremely solid and well built with a rubber armour finish and weighing in at 0.6kg, they are comfortable to hold for long periods. You get:
Full instructions
Objective lenses 32mm
Prisms BAK-4 roof prisms
Coatings level IV
Field of view 7.4 degrees
Exit pupil diameter 4mm
Tripod adaptor fitting
The exit pupil is defined as the lens size / magnification, so for 8x32 its 32/8=4mm
In sunlight your eye's pupil will contract to a size of 2-4mm. But at night they'll open to 7mm (depending on age). If the light beam is wider than your pupil if can't all get through, so binoculars with 4mm exit pupil size seem as bright as those with 6mm in daylight. However they may seem dimmer than those with 6mm as it gets darker.
This is a trade off for size and weight I was prepared to make.
Having tried them out the first time watching for flight lines over some fields, I have to say I did not notice the trade off I had made, as the light faded, they continued to provide a clear and crisp view. They performed extremely well at various distances.
I have also had the opportunity to use the binoculars during a heavy rain storm whilst pigeon decoying. They did not steam up and performed just as well as they did in clear, dry conditions. From my experience of them so far, I have no doubt they will perform well in any weather.
These binoculars are intended for woodland stalking, shooting and general outdoor use. One feature which I think is a must is the built in lens covers that you flip down, but stay attached to the body of the binoculars so you can?t lose them. If you are anything like me, then you will have lost more than a couple of lens covers in the field, never to be found again.
I have since been able to compare these binoculars directly with the expensive ones that I first tried. I have to say that I found them just as clear and lighter to carry. I was using them up until 10:30pm at the end of May and they continued to perform extremely well and the field of view was excellent.
The guide I was with was very impressed with the quality of these binoculars, having always purchased the well know high end brands. Having tried these, he is now in the market for a pair himself.
If you are in the market for quality binoculars, but find the ?900+ price tags beyond you ? as I did ? then these are the ones for you. In a direct comparison with a more expensive brand, they actually performed just as well for me.
I have no connection to Strathspey this is my personal view.
These can be found at http://www.strathspey.co.uk/
Sorry for the rubbish quality pics.
Hi,
It depends on what you mean by "small" and how much you want to pay. You can pay a lot of money, or you can pay less, get good quality but not with a "big " name. Been some good discussion on here recently if you search.
Have a look at the Visionary range - the Wetland are very good for their price. If you want something very small for general observation have a look at their 6x18 - they fit into a shirt pocket. Had mine for 5+ years and are great for what they are. They all have a good guarantee too. Monoculars might be worth considering? The Visionary range is here :
http://www.opticalhardware.co.uk/
Nikon travelite are good as well. Luger are good and reasonably compact.. The 7dayshop 10x42 are good value + good quality but not what I would call compact.
HTH
It depends on what you mean by "small" and how much you want to pay. You can pay a lot of money, or you can pay less, get good quality but not with a "big " name. Been some good discussion on here recently if you search.
Have a look at the Visionary range - the Wetland are very good for their price. If you want something very small for general observation have a look at their 6x18 - they fit into a shirt pocket. Had mine for 5+ years and are great for what they are. They all have a good guarantee too. Monoculars might be worth considering? The Visionary range is here :
http://www.opticalhardware.co.uk/
Nikon travelite are good as well. Luger are good and reasonably compact.. The 7dayshop 10x42 are good value + good quality but not what I would call compact.
HTH
http://www.strathspey.co.uk/
8x32 or 8x42 slightly bigger but if your not watching things when losing light go for the 8x32, waterproof rugged, Bak4s, telling you they are awesome, and ive had them next to swaros and yes the £1200 swaros are better but not £1100 pounds better
8x32 or 8x42 slightly bigger but if your not watching things when losing light go for the 8x32, waterproof rugged, Bak4s, telling you they are awesome, and ive had them next to swaros and yes the £1200 swaros are better but not £1100 pounds better
