Compact Bins Challenge

[Robert Ellis]

After discovering what I had done regarding the Swift EDs, and the bank account, my fiancee has issued me with this challenge; bird for an extended time with a pair of compacts and say honestly whether I am really missing anything. I intend to do this honestly. I will either use a pair of BL Custom 7x26s or, for the extreme example, I may get hold of a pair of Nikon or Zeiss 8x20 roofs.

Her point is this, I seem to spend almost as much time buying binoculars as using them the last few months. On top of that we are saving for the matrimonial ceremonics.

Any body care to add input?

[Dr Manjeet Singh]

After discovering what I had done regarding the Swift EDs, and the bank account, my fiancee has issued me with this challenge; bird for an extended time with a pair of compacts and say honestly whether I am really missing anything. I intend to do this honestly. I will either use a pair of BL Custom 7x26s or, for the extreme example, I may get hold of a pair of Nikon or Zeiss 8x20 roofs.

Her point is this, I seem to spend almost as much time buying binoculars as using them the last few months. On top of that we are saving for the matrimonial ceremonics.

Any body care to add input?
My friend -a bird in hand is worth two in the bush--get married 1st then look for the other BIRDS(ops) :D :D :D

[richt]

After discovering what I had done regarding the Swift EDs, and the bank account, my fiancee has issued me with this challenge; bird for an extended time with a pair of compacts and say honestly whether I am really missing anything. I intend to do this honestly. I will either use a pair of BL Custom 7x26s or, for the extreme example, I may get hold of a pair of Nikon or Zeiss 8x20 roofs.

Her point is this, I seem to spend almost as much time buying binoculars as using them the last few months. On top of that we are saving for the matrimonial ceremonics.

Any body care to add input?


Hi Robert
I too have suffered these questions from the wife ie why cant one small pair do the same job they're much easier to pack !!!
Am hoping to persuade her its a great buy due to dollar rate later this year when i pick up a pair of Swift 820 0r 804 (non ED's) in Florida whilst on holiday
I honestly think if Swift Audubons were a little less bulky they would be in top 4 or 5 of all models
Its very surprising for many people when they actually take an extended look through these and other top porro's (Se range and some early Zeiss)
Apart from the extreme edges (probably due to v wide fov) i have found these as high resoloution as my Nikon 10 x 42 SE's
Anyway my advice is buy buy buy !! before the happy event oh and make sure you get a pair or two down as joint wedding gifts (well you never know) !!!

[Atomic Chicken]

After discovering what I had done regarding the Swift EDs, and the bank account, my fiancee has issued me with this challenge; bird for an extended time with a pair of compacts and say honestly whether I am really missing anything. I intend to do this honestly. I will either use a pair of BL Custom 7x26s or, for the extreme example, I may get hold of a pair of Nikon or Zeiss 8x20 roofs.

Her point is this, I seem to spend almost as much time buying binoculars as using them the last few months. On top of that we are saving for the matrimonial ceremonics.

Any body care to add input?

Robert,

Take her out birding one evening just before it gets dark, her with a pair of compacts and you with your Swift ED's, and ask her if SHE is "missing anything". ;)

Best wishes,
Bawko

[Robert Ellis]

I spent a morning birding a good riverbottom spot with some borrowed EO 8X25s and here is the performance report.

Light was good, even under the leafing canopy. The only time I had trouble with an ID and wished I had my Swifts was on a BlueGray gnatcatcher high in the canopy. Eventually I could pick out the tail feathers and get a look at the blueish color but it took time to separate it from the kinglets that are all over this time of year. A group of sparrows gave me trouble at first, but I moved to a better vantage and, with the help of their behavior, was able to distinguish them easily. As an experienced birder familiar with the park I did not feel handicapped on this occasion. In a new place or in worse conditions I would still feel the need to hedge my chances with the big Swifts.

[Robert Ellis]

I just grabbed a pair of Pentax UCF mini 7x21s on eBay, now I am going to attempt to bird the warbler and waterfowl migration this year with them and see what happens.

[Robert Ellis]

Twenty one warbler species, one for each milimeter of objective, not bad for a single morning. The morning/early afternoon trip to a total of three spots yielded 60+ identified species. The more I do this the more my larger bins become relegated to astronomy. My back is telling me that 8oz is an easy tote.

The downside (yes, unfortunatley I've found a downside) is that resolution at a distance is weak with the little objectives. I am spoiled somewhat by the Swift Audubon and Nikon 10x EII regarding resolution, but in the open it does get soft at a distance, which limits the usefulness to larger birds.