Your best binocular pair

[Tero]

I know a lot of you folks and some of the stories...some binocular units have made the rounds her.

But it may be hard to keep track what some of you still have. So if you have one or two, it may be tough to decide, that you decide are your best pair, list them here as you go along. You can keep changing your mind with a new post.

Promaster ED 10x42 here. It finally beat my 100 dollar 8x porros. May have to get a similar 8x ED pair...but it might be 8x32.

For the more indecisive, there is a thread as well down here somewhere, Keeper binocualrs. Here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=122774

[DHB]

Tossup between Leica 10x42BA and PM 8x42 ED. These two will be the last to go.

-Todays thought-

[JohnJos]

My Zeiss 8x42 FLs :king:

[Veracocha]

I aquired a pair of Minox BL 8x32 last week, the first quality pair of many pairs I have owned in 30 years of viewing. If it gets better than this then I am missing something. But why do people giggle when they look through them?

[Alexis Powell]

My actively used binos these days are as follows:

Leica 8x20 Ultravid (in my bag all spring and fall; also used when I'm mostly paying attention to plants or taking photos)

Zeiss 8x32 FL (especially in summer as it is excellent for butterflies and it packs well for travel)

Swarovski 8x32 EL (especially in spring/fall migrations)

Leica 8x42 Ultravid (especially in extreme cold--focus was silky smooth at -38 degrees F two days ago at the Sax-Zim bog in Minnesota, USA)

Swarovski 8.5x42 EL (my overall birding favorite except mine is slow focus version so I don't like it for fast-paced forest and brushland birding during passerine migrations)

Leupold 6x30 Yosemite (my kids use this)

--AP

[Steve C]

Right now it's a trio.

The Swift Eaglet 7x36
Promaster ELX ED 8x42
Vortex Viper 10x42 (would be the first of the three to go)

That's only if a new binocular confiscation and registration gestapo forms.

Edit: If you ar refering to a single binocular as a "pair" of binoculars, the the Promaster I have listed is quite certainly the best.

[Fireform]

As of today, in order of frequency:
Nikon 8x32 SE
Zeiss 8x42 FL
Leica 8x20 Ultravid
Nikon 10x42 SE
Leupold 6x30 Yosemites (daughter's bins)

[Guizotia]

Opticron DBA Oasis 8x42.

[jacquot]

Zeiss 10x32 FL. For CBCs the only focus mechanism I have that works in the cold and the clarity and color are great! Binos have to work in the field!

[Tero]

Steve, yes I was trying to get to the one that stays and does not trade, one pair.

In Finnish, binoculars are singular, kiikari, I think coming from Swedish, kikare, also singular. We do have pants in plural though. Trousers as well. So when people use kiikarit in Finnish others will complain it is an anglo use, Finnish is singular.

[KorHaan]

Minox BL 8x32 BR

It's the only one I have at the moment, don't need more.

Ronald

[FrankD]

I don't know. I am going through a transition stage right now. I find I like different binoculars for different reasons.

Of all time? The Zeiss 7x42 FL. However, one has to consider the price in reference to performance. That is the reason I am selling mine.

[Tero]

Frank, do you right now actually have any binoculars? Maybe you sold them all except the Yosemites.

[FrankD]

Nice Tero. Yes, I have one or two.

;)

[orbitaljump]

Swift Audubon Porro 8.5x44

Fujinon Polaris 16x70

Optolyth 10x40

Kowa 7x35 Wide Angle

[oleaf]

Meopta 7x42. Perform with the best and price/performance can't be beat.

[etudiant]

Canon 10x42IS
Wonderfully bright and sharp, plus waterproof and stabilized. A bargain at $1000 US.

[ewsjr]

7x42 Swarovski Habicht porros are my first good binos and the last I'd sell. Then there are Kowa 8x42 BD roofs that are only a gnat's hair behind the Swarovski's.

[ronh]

Any given day I might be doing flips over either of these:

Fujinon 7x50 FMT-SX optically smashup brilliant sensational, bombproof but ergonomically shovel-like.

Leica 8x42 Trinovid BA optically excellent, mechanically excellent.

[Kevin Conville]

Leicas and Fujinons for me too Ron.

In my case Fuji 6x30 AR-SX and Leica 7x42 Uvids. Both are great and I alternate between them depending on my mood.

[FrankD]

Optically, at the moment, I am going to have to go with the Zen Rays. They appear a bit brighter and sharper than my beloved Meoptas and feel as lightweight as a Nikon Monarch.