Binoculars

[Josette]

I am having a heck of a time with my binoculars. I bought them because they were light around my neck, but it takes me forever to find the bird as the FOV is small. Do you have any suggestions on a good pair that aren't too expensive, but will do the job.......and aren't very heavy? Just an all around decent pair. What do you think?

[Tero]

Look for a pair of porros that is 8x25, or bigger, 8x36 etc. at your local sports or camera store. The field of view is written in two styles. If your current pair looks worn or is not crried by the store, perhaps you can take it with you for comparison.

Porros have the bend in the tube, roof prisms are straight. I have a pair of 8x25 roof prisms with decent FOV, so some of those may be OK too.

[Jodievdw]

Warning... monumentally stupid question approaching!!

I have a tatty secondhand pair of 8X25s from a disposal store... I wouldn't say they're cheap, but I do tend to see blue or orange halos around both the birds :) I also have trouble finding the bird, but that's more a reflection on my own incompetence than on the bins.

What does 8X25 actually refer to? Also, since they came minus manual (I told you they were cheap) is there an easy way to focus them? I find at the moment focussing involves a lot of fiddling around, and I'm sure I'm not doing it properly.

Thanks muchly for any advice.

[Beverlybaynes]

Couple of tips for you, Jodie.

You should find that the end of the right eyepiece closest to the eye can be turned. With the binos to your eyes, close the left eye, and adjust the right eyepiece by turning until the image is sharp.

Now close the right eye and look through the left eyepiece. The focus here is controlled by the focus wheel that's located between the two eyepieces. Adjust the focus wheel until the left image is sharp.

Now open both eyes. You should have a good, sharp image. It may take a little fine adjustment. And be sure that you have adjusted the positioning of the eyepieces so that you are getting a single image with both eyes open. It is possible to have the eyepieces too close together or too far apart. This is adjustable, as everyone's eyes are spaced differently.

Others can give you more information about the numbers: 8x42, etc. I can tell you that the first number refers to the magnification: 8 x 42 means that you're seeing an image magnified 8 times.

As for good all-around relatively inexpensive binos, I'm very happy with mine, Swift Ultralite 8x42. If you can't find them in Germany (although you should be able to, I would think), try eagleoptics.com, a very reliable on-line retailer.

[Quacker]

I'm a novice myself, and feel strange giving advice on here! - I use 8x42 - I have and have used narrower field of view (25s) and I cannot get away with them for birding. Trains, boats and planes etc. ok.

My father tried my 8x42 and was stunned by the brightness and field of view, much better that his zooms. - One thing I read was the FOV should be approx 6 times greater than the magnification - but this is open to debate. I don't have a typical birders brand of bins mine are Olympus - actually the same as Opticron as was pointed out to me at an In-Focus demo.

I tried them out in the shop doorway, even in Sunderland city centre, there was an obliging Herring Gull a few hundred yards distant on a chimney comparisons were made on the sharpness, brightness and focus etc, not only on the bird, but the patterns on the brick chimney.

Hope that helps

Steve

[robinm]

An additional suggestion would be to use a binocular harness. My wife could never use "ordinary" bins until she had one. This - http://www.eagleoptics.com/TE+Scott/Binoculars/pid1398 - is an excellent make.

[simon]

I have used a harness made by bino suspenders for the last year due to a neck problem it has worked wonders but if you don't want to stretch that far changing the strap to a wide elastic one will reduce the strain on your neck and make any bins more comfortable.
As for a reasonably priced pair that do a good job i personally think you can't go too far wrong with the Bushnell natureview either 8*42 or 10*42

[Mickymouse]

Hi Bev - good advice on focussing but I think you do it the other way round. Focus the left side first then adjust the right. The centre adjustment affects both sides so if you did the right side first it would be sharp but subsequently turning the centre focus wheel would put the right side out of focus.



I quite agree, but bare in mind that the adjustable eyepiece can be either side, my favourite bins are different. Am I making it worse, sorry :-(

Mick

[jward]

Hello all!

I have been using a pair of 20x52 bins for the past 6 months. I love them and now can't go back to an 8 power pair that I also have. What to do?? Should I just be happy with the 20 power or should I try to learn to love my 8s??? I never see anyone here say that they like powers above 10. What gives?

j

[Mickymouse]

Not at all ;) And of course there are always those bins with independent eye focussing :eek!:

What more can you say 'cept EEEEK!!!

Mick

[Pinewood]

Most people would not recommend anything over a 12x for birding. The main reasons are that anything higher magnifies any hand shake, so it's difficult to keep them stable. Also, you get a very much narrower field of view which can make finding and following birds a lot harder. And then there is the fact that they are likely to let in less light which makes it more difficult in dull conditions.

Brian,

I would not recommend anything over eight power, but I am no youngster. I need a monopod for ten or twelve power binoculars. For fifteen, I use a tripod, although there are a couple of monopods, which might accomodate higher powered glasses.

Additionally, an exit pupil of less than 3.75 mm., as in an 8x30 may be problematic for me in aligning my eyes and the binocular lenses.

Happy birding,
Arthur

[jward]

I guess I should consider myself lucky and keep on keepin' on. I will continue to try other brands/sizes for a better mix, but I'll stick with my 20s for as long as I can. Take care and thanks for commenting!

[Pinewood]

For my own use I would agree with you Arthur. I use 8x42s myself and can't imagine anything else. For more magnification I use a scope (though a lighter one wouldn't go amiss).

To return to Josette's question, the Swift 8x42 Ultralite has received good reviews as a "best buy." It retails from Eagle at $200. Does anyone have experience with this glass? Does it work well with specs or with sunglasses?

Happy birding,
Arthur Pinewood

[Spiralynmadly]

Hi Bev - good advice on focussing but I think you do it the other way round. Focus the left side first then adjust the right. The centre adjustment affects both sides so if you did the right side first it would be sharp but subsequently turning the centre focus wheel would put the right side out of focus.

Jodie - As far as the numbers go the first is the magnification (as Bev said) and the second is the size of the front optic (objective lens) in millimetres.

For birding it is usually recommended to stick to 10x magnification or lower as higher magnifications will amplify any shake caused by hand holding. You will also find that for most bins the lower the magnification the wider the field of view, which makes it easier to find the birds. You need to try them out to see which suit you best.

As far as the front objective goes, the larger the lens the more light it lets in, so you are able to see in more lower light levels. However, they also get heavier. You need to find a compromise which suits you. Also, other things need to be taken into account such as the type of glass and the coatings on them, as this can also affect the light transmission.

The best way is to just try out lots of different pairs, and see which suit you best.


Hand holding causes me to shake too, but only because I haven't done it for so long! :eek!:

[GAZ]

Hi Everybody
Just going to throw in idea to confuse you - Do you have a regular birding area ? ie shorelines, woods, wetlands - or do you got to a hide regularly - if so you might consider adjusting your Bins selection.
for instance you like sitting in hides looking at shorelines / wetlands then you could use a higher magnification because you can support you bins using your elbows ( creating a 'human' tripod)
or
If walking in woodlands is your favorite you could use a lower magnification - as its easier to find your bird and they aren't normally to far away / the light maybe lower

I use a pair of Bushnell 8 x 42 natureviews - and am really happy but may make the leap to a pair of Leica's soon if they really are as good as they say

I also have recently bought a second hand scope as a back up which has been a really good move especially at home and in hides

cheers

Gaz

[Pinewood]

Hi Everybody
so you might consider adjusting your Bins selection.
for instance you like sitting in hides looking at shorelines / wetlands then you could use a higher magnification because you can support you bins using your elbows ( creating a 'human' tripod)
or
If walking in woodlands is your favorite you could use a lower magnification - as its easier to find your bird and they aren't normally to far away / the light maybe lower

I also have recently bought a second hand scope as a back up which has been a really good move especially at home and in hides

cheers

Gaz
Dear Gaz,

I use a monopod with with a twelve power, but this is not fully portable for me. Others depend on one when travelling with a higher powered glass or even with a 'scope, but that is a subject for a different forum, not here.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

[Vectis Birder]

Gaz, I can thoroughly recommend the Leica 8x42 BNs. I have a pair and they are as every bit as good as the hype says they are. They are certainly better than anything I have used previously, but it is all down to your personal preference. Buy what you are most comfortable with and which suit you better, after all, you will be the one using them, not us.

[Alan M.]

I am having a heck of a time with my binoculars. I bought them because they were light around my neck, but it takes me forever to find the bird as the FOV is small. Do you have any suggestions on a good pair that aren't too expensive, but will do the job.......and aren't very heavy? Just an all around decent pair. What do you think?

Let's start with what brand and model and, if possible, magnification, you are currently using. That might determine why the FOV is so small. Do you wear eyeglasses while using the binoculars? That also might give some clue.