The Most Beautiful Binoculars in the World (1 Viewer)

[chirundu]

With great interest and for sometime now, I have been reading this thread on which binoculars have the most WOW factor when you lift them up to your eyes.

It also got me thinking rather than the wow factor as I look through a bin, I sometimes just look at a binocular and go WOW!

So I decided to start putting together a gallery of what I think are the most beautiful binoculars in the world here.

The selection has nothing to do with price, performance or quality of components used. Just ones that really look beautiful.

At the moment it only contains a few that I have found, but I would love to get your guys comments and input on what you think and which ones I should be adding to the gallery. If you have a great image of your choice that I can use, that would also be great.

What is also interesting to me is just how important are looks to you when choosing a pair?

Thanks for your time

 

[edwincjones]

yes-the are beautiful

I would also include the Kowa Highlanders, those blue Doctors(?), Miyauchi Galaxies.

edj

 

[FrankD]

I realize beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I know everybody has different tastes.

For me? I prefer simple, elegant, classy. Solid black with nice accents in a contrasting color defines beauty in a binocular to my eyes. Suggestions? Let me think on it. I always liked the colors/styling of Bushnell Elite Open Bridge.

 

[chirundu]

... I always liked the colors/styling of Bushnell Elite Open Bridge.

Ogh yes, thanks very much for this one Frank, I had completely forgotten about the Bushnell Elite's and will definitely add them to the gallery.

...I would also include the Kowa Highlanders, those blue Doctors(?), Miyauchi Galaxies.

Edj, Thanks for these suggestions, I have never really thought of Giant bins as being beautiful, but I do like the look of the Kowa's.

 

[steve@37n84w]

I own a lot of binos but the only one that wows me when looking at it is the Habicht 8x30.....and it really wows me when looking through at also.

Steve

 

[steve@37n84w]

yes-the are beautiful

I would also include the Kowa Highlanders, those blue Doctors(?), Miyauchi Galaxies.

edj

I also like the looks of the Docter Navidocs. I certainly don't need another pair of 7x50s but if I get another pair it would be the Docter center focus or the Navidocs.

Steve

 

[ronh]

Here's a beaut from Garymh's large collection. Hope he won't mind me ripping this off. http://www.pbase.com/g_hawkins/image/77671486
Ron

 

[vop]

In my opinion this is where Leica Ultravids rules completely, followed by the old Swarovski ELs. The Habichts are probably the best looking porro.

 

[looksharp65]

Nikon 7x15M CF Black

Absolutely ultra-cool!

 

[Kevin Conville]

These two aren't bad

 

[stephen b]

I own a lot of binos but the only one that wows me when looking at it is the Habicht 8x30.....and it really wows me when looking through at also.

Steve

Agree ^

I know that I think mine is both beautiful to look at and to look through!

 

[dwatsonbirder]

I don't own one yet, but how about this? A triumph of design and way ahead of its time, AND its a 7x42! If I win the lottery I may well treat myself one day. I'll also vote for the EL, pure class. I like the Ultravid BL as well, such a shame that Jeremy Clarkson owns one.

 

[Robert Wallace]

I am repeating what I wrote in "Wow" thread, the Habicht 8x30 looks very ordinary whereas the now discontinued West German Zeiss 8x30B porro just oozes elegance.
I also agree with Kevin regarding the Leica roof prisms with the leather covering, again displaying a degree of elegance compared to rubber armouring.
Please note I am talking about "style over function".

 

[Kevin Conville]

I like the Ultravid BL as well, such a shame that Jeremy Clarkson owns one.

That does lower it's stock a bit. Isn't Clarkson's public persona just schtick?

 

[bearclawthedonut]

I've enjoyed looking at all of your "runners up". But the most beautiful binoculars; unquestionably: Minox HG's - say the old 8.5x43 or any of its newer MIJ or MIG versions. Simple, clean & elegant design. Uncluttered by silly badges. I don't have a photo of them, each time I tried to purchase them - they were sold out. Of course beauty in binoculars is only armor deep.

bearclawthedonut

 

[james holdsworth]

Agree ^

I know that I think mine is both beautiful to look at and to look through!

I wonder why the love for the look of this model? - to me it looks very like a cheap Zeiss Jena Jenoptem, with too much exterior bling.

 

[Pinewood]

I wonder why the love for the look of this model? - to me it looks very like a cheap Zeiss Jena Jenoptem, with too much exterior bling.

Hello James,

I see what you mean: that big brand name is really truly lacking in good taste, what the British used to call "naff." The falcon is just more branding, but without the name on the axle, it would probably been fine. Of course, any 8x30 Porro is going to resemble a Zeiss Jena 8x30, although I think the finish may be a step up, on the Austrian glass.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur Pinewood :hi:

 

[steve@37n84w]

I wonder why the love for the look of this model? - to me it looks very like a cheap Zeiss Jena Jenoptem, with too much exterior bling.

The aesthetics of a binocular are as subjective as the ergonomics but I would use the Habicht even if I didn't like its appearance. I have yet to look through a 8x binocular that can equal it on axis resolution.

Steve

 

[james holdsworth]

Bausch and Lomb ''Classic'' and early [leatherette] Elite roof prisms

Leatherette Zeiss Classic 10x40B

Zeiss 8x30 Oberkocken

Any non-armoured Leitz Trinovid

 

[brocknroller]

Indeed, as Frank said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, because those faux ostrich Leica look butt ugly to me, like it's covered with warts! But the Leitz is nice. I'm a sucker for "pebbly armor".

Here are my "Seven Beauties" (great movie, too). Well, five beauties, maximum upload, continued on second post.

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