Gift bino advice, please

[laservet]

A neighbor will be house and dog sitting for me for a week, and I'd like to give him a gift as a thank you. His home has a beautiful deck on the second floor, surrounded by trees, and more bird feeders than I can count. He has some really crummy binoculars that he never uses.

I would like to give him some basic, useful birding binoculars. He recognized my Leicas and Zeiss from across the room, but anything I give him worth more than $20 USD will be out of our normal gift range as neighbors, and the more expensive it is the more likely he would flatly refuse it. I figure something in the $200 USD range might sneak by.

What do you recommend? Close focus would be helpful. They don't need to be waterproof, but it would be nice if they were. Neither he nor his wife wear glasses. I've browsed the forum for similar requests, but couldn't derive a short list of candidates.

Thanks in advance!

[GaryS]

Hi Paul

I can vouch for the Bushnell Natureview 8 x 42 which were my first pair of binocs and are great value for money - current price circa £119 (sterling). Bushnell have also brought out a new range of waterproof bins the H2o range which have had good reviews in the UK - 8 x 42 price circa £70 (sterling). These models would be way beyond your neighbour's crummy bins and would be a revelation in terms of image quality for him and a great present. The build quality is also very good for the price and I guarantee once looked through by him they will not go unused thereafter!

I'm not sure though whether you have this brand in the States.

Best wishes and good luck.

[Atomic Chicken]

Greetings!

One word (OK... 2 words!). Brunton Echo 8x32. Typical street price is only $219, for the EXACT SAME OPTICS as the Celestron Noble 8x32 that has received many rave reviews on this site as a truly excellent mid-size and low cost binocular. I purchased a pair 2 weeks ago, and they compare favorably with binoculars I own that cost 3 times as much. They are very light weight too - just a little over 1 lb. with the case!

Best wishes,
Bawko

P.S. The Bushnell H2O models are garbage - I've evaluated all of them and they are DIM and lacking in detail - they're cheap and it shows!

[GaryS]

Hi Bawko

Just shows you cannot always believe what you read in reviews.

Notwithstanding your opinion on the H2O series which I haven't personnally used, the Bushnell Natureview (not in the H20 series) is a good binocular - my review and humble opinion!

Cheers

[Robert Ellis]

For mostly backyard use I would recommend the Bushnell Custom 7x26.

[SimonC]

Sorry to bring up an old chestnut but what about the Nikon sporter I 8x36? I'm not sure what these are retailing for in the US generally but I've seen at least one website that has them for under $175.

Plenty of reviews on this forum (mostly glowing I have to add! ;) )

[Tero]

Sorry to bring up an old chestnut but what about the Nikon sporter I 8x36? I'm not sure what these are retailing for in the US generally but I've seen at least one website that has them for under $175.


They sell for $180-200.

If you have an REI store nearby, they had some nice pairs, just Nikon and one other brand. Also, Wild Birds stores carry a few nice Swift Audubon pairs, not sure if under $100.

Abd what Bawko said about Brunton.

[FrankD]

I would tend to agree about the Sporters or possibly the Bushnell Legend 8x32. I have seen them at a few places for around $225.

[Robert Ellis]

Sporter 8x36s can be had for about $130 or less these days.

[laservet]

Thanks to all for the replies.