Binocular choice (1 Viewer)

You really should try out a range of binoculars.

You must ask yourself, in what conditions do I want to use my binoculars.

If you only want them for daylight use, then binoculars with a 20mm objective upwards would be sufficient.

If however you use binoculars in low light conditions, then you should look at binoculars with a larger objective (min 40mm).

Twilight factor and exit pupil are mathematical measurements, but the minimum factors for low light binoculars are: Twilight Factor 17. Geometric light gathering factor 16 (exit pupil of 4 has a geometric light gathering factor of 16). This however does not say anything about the prism system or quality of the lens.

There are also a number of other factors, but you should contact the manufacturers or specialised dealers for further assistance

There is only one binocular I would reccomend & that is Leica. Very robust & good eye relief. Not cheap I know but worth it if birding is your main hobby.

Don't worry MarK, he's a sad victim to the red spot/Steve Dudley syndrome.
I'll try to get Colin's address for you to send the boys around.... beat him around the head with Diascopes until he see's stars or sense, what-ever comes sooner 3
Andy

I'm quite happy with my Leicas - and my B&L Elites.

Tony

Leica binnies are good optically but the engineering of the focussing wheel with the 'slack' in it make them awful. Many £99.00 binnies have smoother focussing mechanisms

Click to expand...

That is what I posted in the 'Equipment' thread in this forum and I see in the current Birdwatching test of the new Leica binnies that although the optical quality is excellent the slackness in the focussing wheel leaves a lot to be desired. I rest my case.


Colin - Nikon and Kowa fan

Colin,
I've seen this stated several times, but I have no probs with mine at all. Do you mean there is an appreciable amount of movement in the focussing wheel prior to any change in the focus of the bins ? I had this with my first pair of bins (E. German Zeiss Notarem 10x40), but never since.

Tony

Tony,
Yes, there is a fraction of a turn where nothing happens as far as focussing goes. I noticed this immediately when looking at a demo pair of Leicas at the Bird Fair at Rutland some years ago. Optically they were fine but I just thought the the pair I had tried were heavily used with lots of moving the focussing wheel while people had a 'good go' with them. However, I have noticed this with friends pairs of Leicas as well. I prefer the exact feel and smoothness.


Colin

Colin,
As I said, mine are fine. However, they were second-hand and refurbished (by a firm in Morden), so maybe they'd been adjusted then.

Tony

I forgot to add about magnification, exit pupil size etc, but I got distracted at work. How many of you have binoculars with a transmission figure of 90% and above (I bet most of you have a binocular light transmission of between 83% - 86%. (makes no difference in clear day light conditions).

I must admit, it is very interesting to see comments on equipment, from people who use the equipment on a regular basis.

I also find some reviews interesting (not always correct in some statements) but most of them are subjective and informative.

They offer a good guide.

I see a number of birders who have purchased binoculars, and have obviously been given poor advise especially if they want to use them in certain conditions. Their binoculars would not give that little bit extra when they require them, after all, we do not always go out in brilliant sunshine.

But at the end the 'best' binoculars for a person are the ones that suit them, we are after all, all different.