New porros

[parrot.fan]

Hi all, As a newcomer to birdwatching i am looking for a pair of
binoculars. my first selections were either Bushnell or Opticron
8x40. but now I am leaning towards Swift Audobons 8.5x42
porros.
Any advice would be appreciated. cheers.

[IanF]

Really it's down to personal choice and handling. You really must try them out for yourself in a shop.

I can't speak for the Bushnell's, but my wife has the Swift and I have the Opticron 10x42. To me the Opticron's are far better giving a much clearer image and despite being more powerful are a lot lighter. However my wife just doesn't like them and carries around the (to me) clumpier Swifts with a softer image.

'Each to their own' as they say.

[Ragna]

parrot fan

i also have apair of opticron hr 10x42 as a spares and find them very good opticron bins are always good value for money

[peter hayes]

Can't give you advice, just a welcome to the site. It's nice to have another member from Cornwall. I'm often in Devon myself.
Look forward to seeing your postings and perhaps meeting you at a BF Bash one day.

[marcus]

Hello parrot.fan
I have those new Swift Audubons. Optically, I think they are really, really great, but like IanF said, 'clumpy'. Or they are just pretty big and heavy binoculars.
If your neck isn't going to mind, go get em'!
marcus

[parrot.fan]

Ianf,Ragna,Peter and Marcus.
Thank you for your comments,It is great to think that people can be bothered these days. Due to the fact that there are very few stockists in my area for me to try out the binoculars, I have decided to give the swifts a try. I'm a big lad so the weight should not be a problem. Once again thanks a lot.
parrot.fan

[Fred777]

Hello parrot.fan
I have those new Swift Audubons. Optically, I think they are really, really great, but like IanF said, 'clumpy'. Or they are just pretty big and heavy binoculars.
If your neck isn't going to mind, go get em'!
marcus

I am in same spot. Looking for a 8-9x bino. On the Swifts, do you have the 24 oz. model or the older, heavier one? How do they compare with B&L or Pentax porrors?

Thanks,

Fred
Boise, Idaho
USA

[scampo]

If you can find them, the brightest, widest and sharpest you'll find for a stunning price are said by very many folk to be the Nikon Superior E 8x32. Do a search on this forum and you'll find plenty of recent comment on their outstanding qualities.

[mcdowella]

I have the Swift Audubon Porro and the Nikon 8x30 E. The Nikon are lighter but don't work well for me - I get these strange occasional 'black-outs' when the view through one eyepiece goes black because you don't have them aligned just right. Optically, I find the Swift Audubon very comfortable but from experience:

1/ Don't trust the "waterproof" marking (The Nikon Porros aren't waterproof either, but don't pretend to be).
2/ Make sure that you can inspect the pair you are buying and/or return them easily if necessary. I don't think their quality control is all it should be.

[Art Thorn]

Hello Fred in Boise. I just noticed that you reactivated a thread that was a year old. I think you owe it to yourself to try as many bins as you possibly can. I have settled on Nikon, owning the 8x32 SEs (not the same as the 8x32 E) and the 10x42 SEs. You ought to try them if you can. Bright, light, contrasty - but not waterproof (no porros are).

[scampo]

[QUOTE=mcdowella]I have the Swift Audubon Porro and the Nikon 8x30 E. The Nikon are lighter but don't work well for me - I get these strange occasional 'black-outs' when the view through one eyepiece goes black because you don't have them aligned just right.
[QUOTE]

Do you mean the Nikon Superior E here?

I find my Swaro cause the same effect if I don't have them precisely right - also when panning some blacking out occurs. The same occurs with my son's Optolyth Alpin's. I think that all binos that are very sharp seem to have to be exactly correct in their alignment to the eyes. I read once that this was a feature that was a technical issue and a compromise has to be reached in the dsign between extreme sharpness / contrast and 'ease' of use. In the end, though, for me I'd rather have brightness and sharpness than worry about an occasional need to adjust them, but when something "gets" at you, I know it can become a real issue.

[pduxon]

No Steve he means the Nikon 8x30 EII. These have had some stunning reviews. Don't Nikon keep you informed of their product lines ;) They are relatively "cheap" <£300 I think

[Hugh Clayton]

As another newcomer, I haven't had much experience of binoculars, but I've used a few and a fair number of telescopes. Last year I bought a new Summit 8X26 MR binocular for £30 and its performance against that of much more expensive glasses seems very good indeed. As far as I can make out the MR series with Hoya optics is being replaced in the Summit series by Chinese binoculars. I seem to remember a magazine giving the MR 8X26 a very high rating a year or two ago. Has any more experienced user any view about their performance?

[pduxon]

Hi Hugh

welcome to the forum. I've never seen the Summit but one member reckons they are good value for money.

[mcdowella]

Yes I mean the Nikon 8x30 E II according to the warranty slip, although I do find the different 8x30ish Nikon porros very confusing. The price was something under £300, which puts them in the same bracket as the Swift Audubons. The styling is very much old-fashioned metal porro. Curiously, they are actually marked as Nikon 8x30 8.8 WF. My impression is that they are lower quality than the SE but have a lower price and a wider field of view.

I have seen black-out mentioned as a trade-off against eye relief rather than quality as such - but I haven't seen a good explanation of what it is and why it happens - I would be very grateful if somebody here could oblige.

[Art Thorn]

Blackout is related to eye relief. With long eye relief the binocular attempts to project the cone of light further out from the eyepiece and hence it is narrower (try drawing a light cone coming out of an eyepiece). Because it is narrower, your eye has to be positioned just so, or you miss the cone and get blackout.

[Ragna]

I sometimes get a slight blackout when panning, i foud i could almost get rid of this by pulling the glasses closer together, i do seem lose a little bit of f.o.v also getting my eyes correctly aligned helps get rid of the blacking out.

[scampo]

Blackout is related to eye relief. With long eye relief the binocular attempts to project the cone of light further out from the eyepiece and hence it is narrower (try drawing a light cone coming out of an eyepiece). Because it is narrower, your eye has to be positioned just so, or you miss the cone and get blackout.
That's interesting and yet the Nikon 8x36 Sporters my wife uses have an unusually long eye relief (I can easily see the whole FOV with my glasses on) - and I never get any 'blackout'.

[Doug Greenberg]

I have owned Swift Audubons and now use Nikon Superior E 10 x 42's. The Swifts are clear and sharp but are not sharp edge-to-edge the way the Nikons are. The Nikon SE's are as good as porros get and I highly recommend them.

[alan_rymer]

Bird Watching mag did a revue of sub £150 priced bins last year ( March ). The Bushnel H2O porro 8x42 came out best, and they are waterproof!.

[Art Thorn]

I have owned Swift Audubons and now use Nikon Superior E 10 x 42's. The Swifts are clear and sharp but are not sharp edge-to-edge the way the Nikons are. The Nikon SE's are as good as porros get and I highly recommend them.
I agree, wholeheartedly. And I like 10 power too. But the 8's are equally good!

[Art Thorn]

That's interesting and yet the Nikon 8x36 Sporters my wife uses have an unusually long eye relief (I can easily see the whole FOV with my glasses on) - and I never get any 'blackout'.
I don't know anything about the Sporters. What is the eye relief? What is their field of view? What do the eyecups look like? Could be any number of reasons they seem to work so well.

[Leif]

I don't know anything about the Sporters. What is the eye relief? What is their field of view? What do the eyecups look like? Could be any number of reasons they seem to work so well.

Given that the Nikon 8x36 Sporter are available on offer at ~£100 from Warehouse Express, I wonder if they would suit parrot fan? Nikon do often produce good value kit. Looks like a job for Captain Nikon! (Hello Steve ...)

[Grousemore]

I'm afraid Steve may be on his way to the airport;an all expenses paid trip to Japan,courtesy of Nikon. ;)

[scampo]

Captain Nikon to the rescue...

The Sporters are a bargain. Their eyecups could be tighter, but they are fine in use. The image is not as bright as 40-50mm objective lenses and has a very slightly yellow cast - b ut it is still a very bright and sharp image indeed. At the current prices, nothing much compares - and, of course, you are getting a world-class name in optics (except in Sweden!!!)...

[william j clive]

I'm afraid Steve may be on his way to the airport;an all expenses paid trip to Japan,courtesy of Nikon. ;)


Oh, yeah.

Sorry.

The Nikon hospitality Dept. is fully occupied.

He's going to have to wait until Leif and I get back!


Clive

[Leif]

Oh, yeah. Sorry. The Nikon hospitality Dept. is fully occupied. He's going to have to wait until Leif and I get back! Clive

Too right. Oooh, more sushi. Don't mind if I do ...

[scampo]

Now of all the things I've eaten around the world, that I cannot enjoy. Raw fish - lI'll eave it to the puffins.

[Leif]

Now of all the things I've eaten around the world, that I cannot enjoy. Raw fish - lI'll eave it to the puffins.

I dislike raw squid and eel, but tuna and salmon is wondrous! You must like smoked salmon, which is raw is it not?

[scampo]

I can tell you have Norwegian roots. Okay - rolled on brown bread only...

The best fish I ever ate was in Scandinavia - but not Norway - a Dover sole in Stockholm. I can still remember it!

[Leif]

I can tell you have Norwegian roots. Okay - rolled on brown bread only...

The best fish I ever ate was in Scandinavia - but not Norway - a Dover sole in Stockholm. I can still remember it!

I have no Norwegian roots, or at least no more than most Yorkshire folk, since my parents come from there. I am sure that I have genes from several viking raiders as do most northerners. I also have some Irish blood - Country Mayo - though I don't yearn for potatoes ... Oops I'd better disappear before I insult too many nationalities with my crass sterotypes ...

[parrot.fan]

I am in same spot. Looking for a 8-9x bino. On the Swifts, do you have the 24 oz. model or the older, heavier one? How do they compare with B&L or Pentax porrors?

Thanks,

Fred
Boise, Idaho
USA
[
FONT=Courier New][SIZE=4]porrops



HI Fred, I have been using these bins for a year now and find them
great. The weight has not been an issue with them(24oz model)
I can not compare them with others, having no experience,But I still
consider this money well spent ! And would recomend them to anyone.
Good luck.
Parrot.fan

[Hugh Clayton]

Many thanks for the welcome; I compared the Summit 8X26 with a Nikon 7X21 Sprint ("made in Japan") and the Summit scored on every point - field of view, contrast and brightness.

Hi Hugh

welcome to the forum. I've never seen the Summit but one member reckons they are good value for money.

[Leif]

Many thanks for the welcome; I compared the Summit 8X26 with a Nikon 7X21 Sprint ("made in Japan") and the Summit scored on every point - field of view, contrast and brightness.

BTW The Summit 8x26 might still be available from Mifsuds in Brixham, Devon, for ~£35. I think it's not at all bad for the price. However, it is no substitute for a full-sized 8x40 instrument i.e. small exit pupil, less bright, less sharp, but much more compact and lighter.

[pduxon]

BTW The Summit 8x26 might still be available from Mifsuds in Brixham, Devon, for ~£35. I think it's not at all bad for the price. However, it is no substitute for a full-sized 8x40 instrument i.e. small exit pupil, less bright, less sharp, but much more compact and lighter.

sounds like a good bin to keep in the glove pocket of a car for just in case....

[Leif]

sounds like a good bin to keep in the glove pocket of a car for just in case....

Exactly. And if a thief steals them, you haven't lost much. I bought my mother some Zeiss 8x20 Classic for £215. They are small and easily pocketed. They were stolen from her sitting room a year later, probably by a nurse from the local care-home.

[Colin M]

Any more views on Swift Audobons 8 x 44 out there?

[scampo]

If you mean the original Swift Audubon's, a neighbour uses them. I've borrowed them occasionally - they are very good regarding image, but bulky and heavy by modern standards.

[marcus]

That's one that I have, the 8.5x44 porro Swift Audubons. And just like Steve said, the image is perfect. Carrying around something that big and bulky is the main question. If you won't mind, then they are great. Their not having good eye relief for those wearing eyeglasses is something that doesn't bother me too much, but that's just me. Anyone else who wears eyeglasses would have to decide that for themselves.
marcus

[Colin M]

Hi all, As a newcomer to birdwatching i am looking for a pair of
binoculars. my first selections were either Bushnell or Opticron
8x40. but now I am leaning towards Swift Audobons 8.5x42
porros.
Any advice would be appreciated. cheers.

Hi parrot.fan,
Is it the new Audobons you have bought? Ed or non Ed? How do you find them. I am considering a buying the non ED's

[Colin M]

Hello parrot.fan
I have those new Swift Audubons. Optically, I think they are really, really great, but like IanF said, 'clumpy'. Or they are just pretty big and heavy binoculars.
If your neck isn't going to mind, go get em'!
marcus

Hi Marcus,

Are you still pleased with Swift Audobons? Have you got the non Ed's? Or the basic new model?

[marcus]

Hi Marcus,

Are you still pleased with Swift Audobons? Have you got the non Ed's? Or the basic new model?
I am very pleased with those Audubons, (u, not o). The only thing is that the diopter does not stay where you want it set. Like old binoculars, it's always moving and has to be reset. I bought mine about 5 years ago. Maybe Swift fixed that problem now.
It is a standard one. Not Ed's, and I don't know why I would need one, even though I have never looked through an Ed.
If you won't mind carrying a large porro binocular, then there is nothing wrong with these. Like they have been created for, they are perfect for birding. Of the six binoculars that I have, these are the clearest and brightest ones.

[Henry B]

Regarding diopter moving ,if you stretch a small elstic band over it to fill in space at body ,keeps it in place once adjustment has been made.I have to do this on my Optolyth alpins.it works for me....

[Colin M]

Has anyone any experience with the new Audubon 8 x 44 ED's? Or compared them with the non ED's. BVD review sstates that ordinary ones beat Nikon SE 8 x 32 at centre field. So ED's ought push them very close across the observable field because even if Audubons are not sharp to the edge they have a wider field anyway?

[Colin M]

I am very pleased with those Audubons, (u, not o). The only thing is that the diopter does not stay where you want it set. Like old binoculars, it's always moving and has to be reset. I bought mine about 5 years ago. Maybe Swift fixed that problem now.
It is a standard one. Not Ed's, and I don't know why I would need one, even though I have never looked through an Ed.
If you won't mind carrying a large porro binocular, then there is nothing wrong with these. Like they have been created for, they are perfect for birding. Of the six binoculars that I have, these are the clearest and brightest ones.

Thanks for replying. Have you seen the newer models yet ?

Colin

[marcus]

Thanks for replying. Have you seen the newer models yet ?

Colin
No, I haven't.
marcus

[marcus]

Thanks for replying. Have you seen the newer models yet ?

Colin
Hello Colin
No, I have never seen those newer models. Do you mean the Ed's or the Swift Audubon roofs? I've never seen either one.
Marcus

[marcus]

Thanks for replying. Have you seen the newer models yet ?

Colin
Hello Colin
No, I have never seen the newer models. Do you mean the Ed's or the Swift Audubon roofs?
marcus

[Colin M]

Hello Colin
No, I have never seen the newer models. Do you mean the Ed's or the Swift Audubon roofs?
marcus

Hi, I mean the new ED porros!

[marcus]

OK. No, I have never looked through an Swift Audubon ED porro.
marcus

[Doug Greenberg]

I have used the Swift Audubon ED's. The center image is TERRIFIC, and has just about the best, most accurate color rendition of an binos I've ever looked through. The only bad news is that the edge of the field is not sharp, particularly as compared with say, the Nikon SE binos, so you have to be happy concentrating on the center of the image. For the money, however, the Audubons are terrific optically.

[Colin M]

Thanks for posting a very helpful reply. My theoretical contention remains that because the Swift Audubons 8 x 44 ED have a wider field of view than the much acclaimed Nikon 8 x 32 so the clear image is just as wide and maybe even a shade brighter under most conditions?!?

The centre field is surely the most important for birdwatching.

Thanks for a great reply. Do you wear any type of harness? Or di you find the weight OK?

[Pinewood]

The centre field is surely the most important for birdwatching.

Thanks for a great reply. Do you wear any type of harness? Or di you find the weight OK?[/QUOTE]e

I tried the 8.5x44 EDS Swift Audubon inside a shop and found them slightly unstable, which could easily mean eye fatigue. I do not know if that extra half power more than eight increased the perception of my hand shaking or if the glass is ergonomically lacking. I often use an eight power glasses, without problems, like my old Binuxit or the Zeiss Victory.

Good viewing,
Arthur

[mayoayo]

hello,i am a new member ,just checking ,but i do have a pair of #820 swift Audubon ,and i really like them.the design has been improved and they look and feel quite modern;they are as well light enough for a 44mm size objectives,and the 8.5 X power gives you a great place to stand beetwen 8 and 10.Is basically like having 10 x power with a massive FOV (8.5 degree).Those Glasses are very acute in the center of the image and it is true that they get a minimum blurr towards the edge ,depending a bit in how perpendicular the exit pupil is held in relation to your own axis .Anyway, i love the grip and handling,not to mention the easy of view ,AH!! before i forget my 1 year old daughter accidentally crush the right eyepiece of my pair and SWIFT fixed and shipped them back free of charges.

[Pinewood]

Dear Mayoayo,

Welcome to the Forum. You are good to share your experiences.

Happy birdwatching,
Arthur Pinewood :scribe:

[Tero]

One store here carries only Swifts. I looked at them and they were all pretty good. They had some roofprisms, and they were pretty good too, 8x or 8.5. And they were waterproof. The porros were all quite good, bright.

I have the Sporters, also quite good. I have not compared these side by side. The comfort of the eyecups on the Swifts was slightly better for me.

[marcus]

That is so true about the eyecups.
marcus