Binoculars for a new watcher?

[Zorba]

Hi all

First post on this forum and already an apology, because I'm sure this been asked numerous times before.

Being new to bird watching I am looking to buy a first pair of binoculars. Can I ask what magnification would be a good starting point and if possible any particular models in the UK.

Would something like 8x42 be good, and looking to spend no more than about £300.

many thanks

[Steve C]

Zorba

You are right, this comes up a lot. Welcome to the Bird Forum, by the way.
In this case, I advise you to look at two threads listed just below this new one of yours. They are the one on the Hawke Frontier ED 8x43, posted by FrankD, which is my flat out recommendation to you. Another new binocular recommendation post is just a couple below this one , posted by EricBrian titled "Which Binoculars?". I would tell you here just what you just what I posted there. Additionally folks in the UK seem to like Opticron and RSPB brands, which are available there, but not in the US.

And yes 8x40-somethings are likely the best way to go. Spend some time looking over the more recent pages of the forum and use the search function as well.

Good luck.

[Colonel Brandon]

Sir,

Having taken a recent interest in the rewarding field of Ornithology &, being in need of a good pair of Binocular Glasses for a beginner such as my self, I did no little research on the matter & consequently decid'd upon a pair of Vanguard DT 8x42 Binocular Glasses on which I subsequently wrote a short article (http://nature-diary.blogspot.com/2008/12/notes-on-choosing-using-binocular.html) in the pages of my journal & hence invite your good self, if you so chuse, to visit the same at your convenience.

I am, &c.
Your most obliged & humble servant,
Colonel Brandon.
Nature Diary (http://nature-diary.blogspot.com/2008/12/notes-on-choosing-using-binocular.html)

[Steve C]

Colonel,

Well another welcome to the Bird Forum. Not often is it we see a first time poster with a good binocular guide to his credit.

I do have one observation however. Unless I totally misread the specifications for your chosen binocular, they do not seem to be phase corrected. You correctly identify the importance of phase correction in your guide, so perhaps I missed somnething. The decent quality phase corrected binoculars are typically somewhat more expensive than the price listed for these, however there are exceptions.

[orbitaljump]

I recommend the Leupold 8x30 Yosemite, to get started with. Many nice attributes....Pleasing handling characteristics and smallish lightweight body, to go with a sharp, contrasty, spacious view in the eyepiece. And last but not least affordable, @ $99 US.

I dont think you can beat these as a starter bin....and youd be hard pressed to improve upon them without serious money, as well.

[Tero]

Bushnell and Vortex both have phase coated 8x42s in the low end. Up a step from that is anybody's guess these days, there are a lot of models to compare in mid price.

Plus there is Hawke etc. ED glass pairs available.

[orbitaljump]

Birders and there roof prism obsession....what ya gonna do?

[Tero]

Birders and there roof prism obsession....what ya gonna do?

OK, British porros then
http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Opticron_Porro_Prism
made in China.

I actually disliked the handling and eye cups of Nikon Action Extreme series.

[Kevin Purcell]

Another +1 for SteveC's Hawke Frontier ED recommendation. An excellent bin for £270.

Either that or a decent porro: Opticron HR WP (I think that's < $300) (AKA Leupold Cascades in the US) will be easier to get than the Yosemite in the UK but the Yosemite is a very good buy.

There are others e.g. Bushnell Legend for mostly a lot less than your £300.

There are other Opticron's that might match you price point but I think we need more Brit comments.

[John N]

Hello Zorba. On behalf of all the staff and moderators, welcome to BirdForum.Enjoy yourself here. Please feel free to join in whenever you feel like it. I think the most important thing when buying any binocular is to try before you buy.

[Colonel Brandon]

Mr. Steve C.

Thank you, kind sir, for highlighting a very important point. I must agree totally with your concern & sentiments, sir. As is known & practic'd by those in the business of optics production, phase coatings are primarily add'd to the surface of lenses to reduce chromatic aberration induced by the roof prism design, having as it does, a different refractive index for different wavelengths of light (known as the 'dispersion' of the lens). However, unless one pays in the order of many pounds for phase-coat'd binocular glasses, p'haps e'en to the tune of a thousand, one might still notice, but not necessarily as much as one might expect, a certain blue edge tinging to the right of the view'd image, as a consequence of the limits of the design of the said apparatus. A visual test of any binocular glasses consider'd, would, of course, be the finest test as to the pronouncement of the effect in practical & visual terms to an individual user. I have found, at least for my rather amateur use, the optics of the binocular glasses in question are certainly fine & such tinging of the same, in my humble opinion, appears minimal. But, certainly, sir, a point well made & worth emphasizing by your good self, with regard to the points of consideration when purchasing binocular glasses. Many thanks once again for drawing important attention to this point.

I am, &c.
Colonel Brandon.
Nature Diary (http://nature-diary.blogspot.com/2008/12/notes-on-choosing-using-binocular.html)

[Steve C]

Colonel Brandon,

Well sir I must say that you have a unique and refreshing approach to the use of the English language. I rather enjoy reading your posts.

I tend to always use and recommend the use of phase corrected roof prism binoculars. Phase correction is available in almost all decent roof binoculars and decent phase corrected glass is available for a reasonable price. While image quality may not always be immediately apparrent as better when comparing a P-coated to non P- coated binocular, what will happen is that eye strain will set in in the non P-corrected unit and decrease enjoyment of viewing before the equivalent strain sets in with the P-corrected unit. At least that is the view from mye eyes.

[Alexis Powell]

I've not known phase coating to have any effect on either chromatic aberration or eye-strain. Rather, for me, it seems to do what the designers and advertisers say it does--increase contrast, resolution, and thus for the me the user, apparent sharpness.

--AP

[mooreorless]

I have Swarovski 7x30 SLC older non phase coated binocular and I have never had eye strain from this binocular. I have other's tell me this is very good binocular.
Steve

[Nick Tanner]

I bought a pair of Hawke Frontier ED 10 x 43 a few days ago and they have exceeded my expectations in all departments, I don't think you will find a better pair of binos for less than £300, give them a try I'm sure you will be impressed

Nick

[Flemingo]

I use and highly recommend Bushnell excursion 8x32. They have an incredible FOV (426ft), really close focusing (about 7ft), they're light, easy to handle, waterproof, work perfectly if you wear glasses (twist up eyecups), have those clever coatings and best of all if you look around you can get them for less than £100 (eg Amazon). I wouldn't go higher than 8x as there is too much shake. I know 32mm is thought to be small for main binoculars but if you are mature your pupils probably do not dilate over 4mm in dim light so an exit pupil greater than this is wasted.

[Tero]

They are pretty good, better than my first sports store 8x32s. I have lately come to expect a little more from my 8x32s. Though I have two pairs I regularly use, the stray light I never noticed earlier...thanks folks, you know who you are...now bothers me a little. If I have a long walk to make and most of the viewing is too close to the sun, the stray light generally is worse for 8x32s vs. 8x42s. But I really like the view of the 8x42 porros. Just have not put it to a good test yet. FOV is also about 400ft. Downside is weight.

[SG6]

Zorba, back to the question:
For £300 you have a fair selection, RSPB optics, Viking, Opticron, Bushnell all have items at the price you give. ALWAYS best to give them a try before you purchase a set. Simply as some sets just will not suit you for whatever reason.

I cannot really comment personally on any in your price range as the ones I have cost a fair bit less (Bushnell Natureview). If I get a better pair I would be looking at £600 as I tried and liked a pair of Minox some time back, and those would be the one I went after.

The style depends on your preference, porro or roof prism. Roof prism binoculars have more air/glass interfaces so lose a bit more light as it passes through.

Get ones with decent coatings on them = less reflections and better light transmission. Although most good makes/brands have good coating applied these days.

[Kevin Purcell]

Though I have two pairs I regularly use, the stray light I never noticed earlier...thanks folks, you know who you are...now bothers me a little. If I have a long walk to make and most of the viewing is too close to the sun, the stray light generally is worse for 8x32s vs. 8x42s. But I really like the view of the 8x42 porros. Just have not put it to a good test

Sorry, Tero.

This really is a problem having someone point out a problem you never noticed only to find you get very good at distinguishing it.

Like CA ...

[Zorba]

Well, thanks to all of you for comments which I really appreciate in steering me in the right direction.

I tried to find local stores to try some without much success, so decided to order some Hawke 8 x 43 Frontier ED' s. Managed to get some for £255, and was impressed by the cases that came with them. But having tried them, and having only had very cheap binoculars in the past, am blown away by the image quality and brightness, in particular when the light is starting to go.

So hopefully I now have some excellent bino's that will serve me well for years to come.