Binocular Help for a Burgeoning Birder

[onemanswarm]

Greetings.

I am brand new to birding, and require a halfway decent budget binocular. By budget, I mean budget. We're talking somewhere in the $75 range. Ultimately, I would like to graduate to nicer glass and reserve this binocular for kayaking. For that reason, I would give preference to something waterproof.

Based on customer reviews, the Bushnell H2O 8x42 is an appealing option at around $70. I don't suppose it will offer especially fine optics, but with no basis for comparison, I also don't suppose that I will recognize the difference.

Questions:

1. Am I overlooking an obvious alternative to the H2O's?

2. Would I be well-served spending an additional $20 for the roof prism model, or do we file this one under "You Can't Polish a Turd?"

Thanks for considering my questions.

[Tero]

I think all you can find is used. See eBay.

[onemanswarm]

I think all you can find is used. See eBay.

Really? The H2O's are so bad that I'd be better off buying something on eBay? User reviews are very positive among those as ignorant as I.

[ceasar]

Call Eagle Optics. www.eagleoptics.com. Tell them to pick you out a nice Leupold 6 x 30 Yosemite. It will cost you $99.00 and that should include the shipping. Ask them about their 30 day no fault return policy. It's the best budget binocular made today and it is water proof as you requested and built like a small tank. Only weighs 17 oz. too. Very bright and sharp. You will like it.
Cheers
Bob

[Tero]

I would look for Nikon Sporter 8x36 anywhere or eBay even. It is alos sold in sports stores as some hunting type of name, but Nikon. I have had them in lots of rain. The H2Os I saw were 8x25, did not like them. There really is not a 8x25 roof prism low price that I like anymore.

Sports stores sometimes carry a store brand 8x32. Some of those are OK, around 100-120. Warranties are poor on those. You have no idea who makes them either. They just put the store name on it, that is all.

Good luck.

Yosemite 6x30 sounds good. I have never seen the 8x30. It may be OK.

[MacGee]

Bob's Yosemite suggestion is something to consider, but if you do want to stick with the H2O, I would expect the roof version to be hugely inferior to the porro. the porro has good field of view, rotten close focus and is on the heavy side.

I think when makers claim their bins are waterproof, they're thinking in terms of the odd heavy shower or inadvertent dip in a pond. I don't know if any of the bins mentioned could survive shooting the rapids.

Michael.

[Wuchak]

I'll second the 6x30 Yosemite recommendation. This will be especially good for Kayaking where the lower magnification will allow you have a steadier image on the water.

[Tero]

There are some demos etc here
http://www.samplelist.com/
I looked for the 8x36 Buckmaster, same as 8x36 Sporter, but they only had the 10x36. You don't want that, fov is smallish. But you can browse the list. It is mostly hunter stuff, scopes and 10x bins.
The new Buckmasters are 140
http://peepersoptics.stores.yahoo.net/7415.html
The 8x36 Sporters are hard to find in the US.They go for 170.

I googled for 8x32 for under 100 and only found one worth a look
http://www.epinions.com/Celestron_Outland_LX_8x32_Roof/display_~reviews
be sure they are returnable if you like that.

The 8x32s in this price class should be brighter than 8x25 H2Os.

[NWBirder]

I agree with several others on this thread. Definitely avoid H2O... If you are interested in Bushnell only, starts at least from Trophy, which is marginal for serious birding..

[onemanswarm]

Thank you for all of the helpful guidance. Based upon your responses, I immediately decided against the Bushnell H2O. The Leupold Yosemite provided an especially tempting suggestion, but ultimately I was somewhat dubious about 6x magnification.

Near my house, a Gander Mountain retail store happened to be advertising a camping and hunting sale. To my surprise, their binocular selection was quite good. They even had a Swarovski Optik 8.5x42 EL, which the associate allowed me to take outside. Wow. For a split second, I considered running off and eloping with it.

The knowledgeable and patient associate allowed me to try several binoculars outside of the store. He offered useful insight and did not seem to mind that I wanted to compare online prices and consumer reviews before deciding.

Ultimately, after comparing prices and consumer reviews, I selected a Bushnell Legend 8x42, on sale for $89. This seemed to be a good deal for a waterproof binocular with BAK-4 prisms and fully multi-coated optics. Consumer criticisms were mainly focused on the lens caps and the rubber coating rather than the optics. For $89, I can live with a loose lens cap and a cheesy facade.

For that price, I can certainly live with the optics, which I found to be comparable with two other models I test drove: Nikon Sporter 8x36 ($149.99) and Leupold Wind River Mesa 8x42 ($179.99).

The Leupold was awfully nice and did offer crisp viewing all the way to the edges. It was also built like a tank and felt notably lighter than the Legend. That said, I simply could not justify the extra $100 when the Legend performed nearly as well. Admittedly, it was quite a sunny day and the true contrast between the two models might have been more apparent in low light, but I was nevertheless swayed by the favorable combination of cost and optics provided by the Legend.

I took my new glass with me the next morning and had quite a successful outing. The view was a tiny bit fuzzy right next to the edges, but otherwise clear, crisp, and bright. Even under the leafy canopy of dense woods, the Legend performed admirably. The wide field of view made it easy to catch birds in flight, while the close focus (around 8’) provided me with vibrant, colorful glimpses of woodpeckers, warblers, and tanagers.

As an initial impression, I am quite pleased with the Bushnell Legend 8x42 Porro prism binocular. As my optical palate matures and my pockets deepen, I may find it necessary to upgrade. If and when I do, I will be pleased to have this as a backup. In the meantime, I will continue to rock this ‘noc with pride as I become more closely acquainted with the flora and fauna of the American midwest.

[MacGee]

Ultimately, after comparing prices and consumer reviews, I selected a Bushnell Legend 8x42, on sale for $89.Sounds as if you made a good choice and got a good deal. I'm sure you'll get lots of pleasure out of them.

Michael.