BirdForum

Home · Search · Member List · Register

» Number of reviews : 629 - viewing 10 Per Page

Last Review Posted by PeteTheBloke - posted: Wed November 25, 2009 5:42am

[ Post a Review ]

Views: 29

I've marked it 6 out of 10 because it's really very good for the money. It's not going to stand up against scopes at 5 or 6 times the price and will fail miserably against the multi-thousand pound scopes, but for a touch over a hundred quid you get a very reasonable product. You don't need to buy any extras because the eyepiece and the bag come with the scope. (You will need a tripod unless your hands are very steady!) Put it this way: buy cheap, buy twice can be a good policy at times because not everyone knows whether carrying a scope and tripod is going to be too much hassle. Ebay is full of scopes that have hardly seen any use - I'd rather have a £100 scope in the attic than a £2000 one! When I move to a better scope, I'll try to find an enthusiastic youngster to give this one to. Note that the Bresser brand has now finished/faded/gone/disappeared but the range is available under the Barr and Stroud brand. Rating: 6

Product Details: "Safari" by PeteTheBloke - posted: Wed November 25, 2009 - Rating: 6.00

Last Review Posted by spyglass - posted: Sun November 22, 2009 9:07am

[ Post a Review ]

Views: 10282

I have the straight version (don't like angled scopes....too hard to find & track moving objects), used in conjunction with 3 XL ep's, for 18.5, 28 & 37x....couldn't ask for more. Got the scope for $450 from Adorama....unbeatable. Except for use in really lo-light circumstances, is every bit as capable and pleasurable to use as the PF80 (which is saying something). I sold my 80 after 6yrs of great use & rplcd with the 65 due to the physical size....can now fit scope, 3 ep's, 2 binos, bird guide and misc items (cleaning cloth, lens brush, pens, compass) into one hard case, tho' I still hafta carry the tripod on a shoulder sling. Rating: 10

Product Details: "PF 65EDA" by stuprice68 - posted: Thu April 7, 2005 - Rating: 9.50

Last Review Posted by tonyc4793 - posted: Sat November 14, 2009 2:56pm

[ Post a Review ]

Views: 9330

After many months of consideration I bought the HD 10x42 binoculars having decided to upgrade my binoculars to the high end and Leica is the brand that I like the most. The other German and Austrian binoculars are excellent and in the end it all came down to personal preference. They do become better the more you use them and I believe a pair of Leicas will serve you for life and although expensive will last a life time with no need to upgrade. Rating: 10

Product Details: "Ultravid 10x42" by Yeti Man - posted: Fri April 14, 2006 - Rating: 9.60

Last Review Posted by dandihen - posted: Fri November 13, 2009 6:31pm

[ Post a Review ]

Views: 1245

I have one and use it to digiscope. It is compact and light. With a light weight monopod it is very transportable. I just bought an Optricon G52 ED and although it is a little heavier and bulkier than the Nikon I prefer it. I also use the Optircon with the CMOS telecam so have not tried digiscoping with it. Rating: 8

Product Details: "ED50" by tonyc4793 - posted: Tue October 13, 2009 - Rating: 9.00

Last Review Posted by CactusD - posted: Wed November 4, 2009 4:33am

[ Post a Review ]

Views: 8908

I've just bought this well-known product as an upgrade for my Manfrotto 393 to go with a Nikon 600mm. Having set it up out of the box, it is very impressive indeed. I have three specific remarks, to compare both heads, and some final comments: 1. To second Andy's comments, the gimbal has both vertical and horizontal adjustment for perfect balance (unlike the Manfrotto, with just horizontal adjustment along the lens plate) and this makes it balance at any angle even when the knobs are not tightened – the Manfrotto cannot do this. It works perfectly if you take the time to read the instructions and set it up correctly - though it's recommended you mark the positions of the horizontal and the vertical adjustments with a pen so that you can easily relocate the balance point each time you set up the lens on the head. The reason this is important is that the balanced Wimberley setup puts less stress on the tightening knob to hold the lens in place; on the Manfrotto this is fine if your lens is relatively lightweight (I used it very happily with my original Tamron 200-500mm), but if you move to a supertele prime, and therefore multiply the weight supported considerably (the Tamron weighs just over 1kg; Nikon 600VR is just over 5kg), the Manfrotto begins to struggle to hold the weight, meaning that there is some play even if the knobs are tightly locked down, resulting in some movement in the viewfinder. 2. The Wimberley also has a panning control knob, which the Manfrotto lacks. This prevents sideways panning play when you want the head to be locked down. It also means that you can lock down the head when you are carrying it over the shoulder (though if you’re using a Gitzo tripod, make sure the top-plate bolt is tight!), so that the lens won’t move on the tripod on its own. 3. Modular add-ons: the head comes with a product catalogue listing a full range of accessories you can add to the head. Most useful are likely to be flash brackets, which attach neatly to the top of the vertical arm, to raise the flash gun away from the lens axis. These are pricey, but unless you fabricate something yourself, there’s no support for this with the Manfrotto 393. Final comments. An excellent piece of kit. Anyone contemplating buying this will probably already have a decent tripod, which is a must. The Wimberley head is 4x more expensive than the Manfrotto, which is a bit of an issue, but if you’ve shelled out for a 500-600mm prime (or indeed a 300-800 Sigma), then you’ll need a solid leg and head set. The advantages over the Manfrotto 393 might seem subtle - they weigh about the same, and are about the same size - but if you have the opportunity to play around with both, the advantages of the Wimberley are clear. The head uses the Arca-Swiss style quick release plate system; if you’re with Nikon you’ll need the replacement Wimberley foot (AP-452 for the 600VR, AP-553 for 500VR), though you’ll probably want this anyway since the stock Nikon 600mm foot, at least, is lousy. If you’ve got serious about your birding lens, and have gone for a 500mm or 600mm prime, or the Sigma 300-500mm, this works great. The lower the lens weight, the more the Manfrotto comes back into the equation; however, if your lens is a 300f2.8, or perhaps Nikon’s 200-400VR, the full Wimberley will probably still be for you. Rating: 9

Product Details: "WH-200 Wimberley MKII" by Andy Bright - posted: Mon August 14, 2006 - Rating: 9.50

Last Review Posted by PeteTheBloke - posted: Fri October 30, 2009 5:43am

[ Post a Review ]

Views: 601

I've been seriously delighted with these bins. They are available for £175 now and I reckon that's a complete bargain. I owned 3 pairs of lesser binoculars before these and finally had the sense to try out some options in a shop. I was very pleased with the service in the Viking shop in Edinburgh and have never been disappointed about buying these. The diopter adjustment locks, which is good because I've had Pentax ones that constantly need adjusting, but on my pair the dial zeroes at +1 i.e. I have to move it to +1 even though I know my eyes are the same. The shop offered to replace them on this basis, but it didn't seem important so I kept them. The eyecups are twist-up and will stay in place in two positions. Mine came with a strap and a semi-rigid case that has a zip pocket inside, but once the case is shut there's no room for anything but the binoculars, so there's not much point - I can barely fit the strap inside unless I fold it very neatly. Rating: 8

Product Details: "WPG 8.5 x 42" by PeteTheBloke - posted: Fri October 30, 2009 - Rating: 8.00

Last Review Posted by Westmidstraveller - posted: Wed October 21, 2009 3:48pm

[ Post a Review ]

Views: 16431

I have had mine for three years now and always use it without a tripod to photograph birds. I have taken it on dusty safaris in Namibia, Kenya and India. Also in cold very wet conditions in Alaska and Canada with no problems. I wouldn't consider going on a Wildlife holiday without it! Rating: 9

Product Details: "EF 100-400mm L IS USM" by Andy Bright - posted: Sun October 26, 2003 - Rating: 8.93

Last Review Posted by Musoman - posted: Tue October 20, 2009 7:24pm

[ Post a Review ]

Views: 9334

I cant really add much to the reviews above. When i bought mine, i was in half a mind to get the big Tamron 200-500, but there were more negative views on that lens. I took a chance and bought the Sig. I must say i love it, but with the small Max Aps, its not at its best on dull days. Stick to bright sunny days with this lens, stop down to F8 or further, live with its foibles, and enjoy. Rating: 9

Product Details: "APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM" by Fowl Mouth - posted: Wed February 18, 2009 - Rating: 7.75

Last Review Posted by mayoayo - posted: Fri October 16, 2009 6:39pm

[ Post a Review ]

Views: 15223

An instant favorite...The lightweight,and perfect size makes the binocular very comfortable to hold,..despite the light weight materials,the binocular feels solid,and high-tech...perfect eyecups,Ocular design,diopter adjustment,focus weel..All this plus the accessories makes the binocular very attractive and second to none in overal package..Now ,weight the fact that the view is SUPER sharp,Super wide ,relaxed,bright,free of distortion or color aberration, and that pops into focus without a hint of a second thought,And this Binocular has a lot of appeal..Glare control is one of the aspects of binoculars that i pay more attention...The Victory FL does an excellent Job..This binocular is probably the "Alpha " by consensus..Some other glasses,including new Chinese ED,can offer some aspects of its performance and get close,But it is its compendium of ALL those qualities,that sets this glass apart... Rating: 10

Product Details: "8x32 FL Victory" by Andy Bright - posted: Mon October 24, 2005 - Rating: 10.00

Last Review Posted by tonyc4793 - posted: Fri October 16, 2009 3:48pm

[ Post a Review ]

Views: 12912

After many months of consideration I bought the HD 10x42 binoculars having decided to upgrade my binoculars to the high end and Leica is the brand that I like the most. The other German and Austrian binoculars are excellent and in the end it all came down to personal preference. They do become better the more you use them and like the previous reviewers comments, I believe a pair of Leicas will serve you for life and although expensive will last a life time with no need to upgrade. Rating: 10

Product Details: "Ultravid 10x32 HD" by MD11 - posted: Sat March 15, 2008 - Rating: 8.75

Next Page »