lilcrazy2
Well-known member
Dennis
It never ceases to amaze me that when someone states that they want a bino in a certain price range (in this case $70 max), that you recommend an alpha bino that costs 10 to 15 times what they want or can afford. I often wonder what part of the English language you don't understand. Not everyone wants an 8x30 EII, Canon IS, Zeiss 8x56 or whatever else your Baskin Robbins flavor of the month is. Contrary to your viewpoint, for many people cheap compacts have a place both optically and pricewise.
Cameraland has been selling the little 6.5 Papilio demos for $69.99 for the past 8 months on their site as well as ebay, but other than the close focus, I don't think the optics are as good as the 8x25 Olympus Tracker. In the past 10 months I have never read a negative review on the little Tracker for what it is - other than yours. As most have stated, they are not far behind the 7x26 Customs ( which you also don't like), and some of the 8x20 Alphas.
BrightIdea
For your original question about binos in the $70 and under range, you have some good recommendations. A single hinge roof such as the 8x25 Olympus Magellan will not fold up smaller than the 8x25 reverse porros. The only one of these small binos that will fit in your shirt breast pocket is a double hinge roof such as the Nikon Trailblazer/Sportstar EX. All of them will fit in a jacket pocket. Optically, the 8x25 Olympus Tracker reverse porro is the best, and beats the view from any of the small roofs mentioned - except the $1200 8x32 Zeiss FL mentioned by Dennis.
Find a few of the ones mentioned and try them.
tom
It never ceases to amaze me that when someone states that they want a bino in a certain price range (in this case $70 max), that you recommend an alpha bino that costs 10 to 15 times what they want or can afford. I often wonder what part of the English language you don't understand. Not everyone wants an 8x30 EII, Canon IS, Zeiss 8x56 or whatever else your Baskin Robbins flavor of the month is. Contrary to your viewpoint, for many people cheap compacts have a place both optically and pricewise.
Cameraland has been selling the little 6.5 Papilio demos for $69.99 for the past 8 months on their site as well as ebay, but other than the close focus, I don't think the optics are as good as the 8x25 Olympus Tracker. In the past 10 months I have never read a negative review on the little Tracker for what it is - other than yours. As most have stated, they are not far behind the 7x26 Customs ( which you also don't like), and some of the 8x20 Alphas.
BrightIdea
For your original question about binos in the $70 and under range, you have some good recommendations. A single hinge roof such as the 8x25 Olympus Magellan will not fold up smaller than the 8x25 reverse porros. The only one of these small binos that will fit in your shirt breast pocket is a double hinge roof such as the Nikon Trailblazer/Sportstar EX. All of them will fit in a jacket pocket. Optically, the 8x25 Olympus Tracker reverse porro is the best, and beats the view from any of the small roofs mentioned - except the $1200 8x32 Zeiss FL mentioned by Dennis.
Find a few of the ones mentioned and try them.
tom