What makes us, binocular users, collect?

[Renze de Vries]

While contemplating the thread ‘What makes us, binocular geeks, tick’ it occurred to me that the subject could be related to another common trait found among binoculars users, the urge to collect.
I say ‘could be’ because I’m not sure. Maybe the fascination with looking/watching is really something else than the drive to collect things?
Anyway, to avoid unnecessary complication I decided to present the issues separately.
So here it is: what makes us, binocular users, collect?
Is there something special about binoculars, or could we easily collect cigar bands, or birds or weapons as well?
Does collecting increase happiness?
Would you advise a person to collect binoculars too?
Or would you warn him/her? If so, for what?
Etc.
Etc.

Please share your thoughts and experiences with me. I like to learn things (collect facts?).

Renze

[ThoLa]

While contemplating the thread ‘What makes us, binocular geeks, tick’ it occurred to me that the subject could be related to another common trait found among binoculars users, the urge to collect.
I say ‘could be’ because I’m not sure. Maybe the fascination with looking/watching is really something else than the drive to collect things?
Anyway, to avoid unnecessary complication I decided to present the issues separately.
So here it is: what makes us, binocular users, collect?
Is there something special about binoculars, or could we easily collect cigar bands, or birds or weapons as well?
Does collecting increase happiness?
Would you advise a person to collect binoculars too?
Or would you warn him/her? If so, for what?
Etc.
Etc.

Please share your thoughts and experiences with me. I like to learn things (collect facts?).

Renze


It's clearly an atavistic behaviour.

[iveljay]

I have collected cameras to use most of my life, others collect for other reasons, I guess it is the same with binoculars. Personally I have not found one camera (or binocular) that will meet every need. It is great taking out an old favourite that feels right, even if it isn't as 'good' as a more recent design, other days only the best (whatever that is?) will do - just as well I don't collect sports cars!

[Tero]

The longer you spend with these things, the more you notice the differences. But they are subjective. So you continue comapring the ones you have to each other.

I do not keep broken ones.

[ceasar]

In my case I think it's because I have a hard time getting rid of any thing I aquire. Fly rods and Reels, Fountain Pens, Pocket Knives: I still have the 4 x 40 Galilean binocular my father gave me when I was 10 and most of the other ones I aquired while trying to find that elusive one that was perfect for me.
Bob

[Sancho]

I don´t collect ´cos it makes me feel guilty and wasteful. I sell off old bins and scopes...also to help fund new ones. Although I´ve bought about 10 pairs of bins, and 6 scopes in the last 10 years, I keep only one pair of 8x, one pair of 10x, one pair of compacts, one compact scope and one full-size scope. That´s still more than any normal person actually needs, but it´s my one area of self-indulgence. I do like to see old bins I´ve sold to friends in the field, just to see how they´re getting on. Recently a friend dropped and broke a pair of 8x Avians I´d sold her, I was devastated.

[elkcub]

I don´t collect ´cos it makes me feel guilty and wasteful. I sell off old bins and scopes...also to help fund new ones. Although I´ve bought about 10 pairs of bins, and 6 scopes in the last 10 years, I keep only one pair of 8x, one pair of 10x, one pair of compacts, one compact scope and one full-size scope. That´s still more than any normal person actually needs, but it´s my one area of self-indulgence. I do like to see old bins I´ve sold to friends in the field, just to see how they´re getting on. Recently a friend dropped and broke a pair of 8x Avians I´d sold her, I was devastated.

Which brings up a question: how many of us really build a "collection" of optics vs. "acquire" optics for particular purposes? In my case, although I do own many binoculars, they were each acquired for some specific purpose. In almost all cases those purposes were met, but I'm just too lazy to sell them.

I will say that the best way for me to quell the desire to buy yet another binocular is to look through my existing "collection." It's saved me thousands!

[KorHaan]

Count me out, I do not collect. I have one pair of binoculars ( a fine 7x ) and one scope (from the same manufacturer, very fine ).
The combination is all I'll ever need for birding, though I admit I browse in shops now and again, just to compare and feel happy with what I've got.

The only reason I can think of for not collecting is the fact that you can only use one pair at a time in the field. I chose an allround bin and it serves me well.

It also leaves me in blissful ignorance of what I am missing, plus the fact that I do not have to choose which one to take on outings.

But I'm very dedicated to the optics I own, I still have made no attempt to check out a pair of 12x of the same brand which I found interesting, and even posted on in a thread some two months ago. I guess I will have an opportunity soon to take a look through them, but they are not a subject of my desire right now.

Greetings, Ronald

[jjg213]

I used to collect cameras with the intention of eventually owning and example of every model of a particular brand. Eentually I had quite a number of the more common models, then the realization came that the next one on my list would cost $3000 plus, or so and the next even more, etc. I was only using 2 or 3 and the rest were gathering dust, were occasionally looked at and perhaps fondled, but in general were tending to gum up due to lack of use, necessitating costly servicing if they were to maintained in working order, I started to lose interest in collecting cameras. Binoculars, however, can be used more frequently, and if they are left without use, usually no harm results. At around this time my work entailed the use of binoculars, on occasion, and I started to really appreciate my 10x40 Trinovids I had traded some camera equipment for in 1967. Although, soon enough, I realized that they were not "best" for everything. Then came some good 8x20's, 7x50 for night use, and marine, a widefield for concerts, an interesting pair with built in filters from WWII. Many I still have, but as I have mentioned in BF before I have OOPS (Obsessional Optics Purchasing Syndrome) (not my invention, but most appropriate). I find it very difficult to resist a bargain Alpha bin, often secondhand, to add to mine. I do get rid of some of the less desirable or interesting ones by donating, giving to relatives or friends and occasionally selling, but I still have a large number.
I enjoy choosing one to go out with, sometimes becoming re-acquainted with an old friend, or taking a pair of peak performers (such as my most recent acquisition, 7x42 Ultravids).
The action of collecting has always suggested to me the somewhat specific acquiring of articles within a framework, such as WWII, German, British, bins, or ones from a specific time period, as opposed to what I have, as the only criteria for me now is that they are very high quality, and I enjoy using some rather obscure models, as well as ZLSN's.
I think I have rambled on too long, off the post, but it is a fascinating topic.
Thank you Renze!
Regards, John
Orthinologist = Word Botcher