NDhunter
Experienced observer
Yesterday, I had the good fortune to spend about a half hour trying out a variety of binoculars.
I have not had any experience with the Zeiss models, but here are first impressions. First off these are only indoors only impressions that I have had,
so it is very hard to gain a perspective. I do find the Zeiss Victory and Conquest
do have a plastic type feel to the armor, and I do prefer the more textured and
grippy feel of the Swarovski and the Nikons, even the Action all the way up. And in a premium bin like this, any Swaro. or Nikon really offer the feel I desire.
I have read good reviews on the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, and this was my first chance to look through one, and found them very compact and a good view. It seems not every sporting goods outlet has them in stock, as the recent visit to Cabelas, they were not there. As far as Bushnell goes, they must have over a dozen choices in the lineup, and so some retailers, probably don't know what to carry.
I am thinking most of the binoculars are priced fairly, as in some of the cheaper
Chinese roofs, as I guess most of them are, the quality, the armor, the focuser slack and touch, you wonder how it will perform the next day, and the eyecup adjustments are sometimes a free for all.
I am a conservative type, and so, I do come back to the entry level Nikon porros, both Action and Action EX, nice armor, and very dependable, from what I have seen, day to day, you just know how they will perform.
I was able to visit with the college aged man in charge of the optics counter, and they had some of them all, including some of the Alphas, I tried to give him a short lesson on porro vs. roof, also 8x vs 10x and especially, that under $100 the porro may give the best value. It seems for many the Nikon Monarch has been a great seller, and so that is common knowledge as one of the birders best choices.
Here are a couple of things I will recommend, on the lower end, the Bushnell Legacy 8x40, and the Nikon Action 8x40, both porros, seemed both quite good to me, now these are for the under $100 value area.
Jerry
I have not had any experience with the Zeiss models, but here are first impressions. First off these are only indoors only impressions that I have had,
so it is very hard to gain a perspective. I do find the Zeiss Victory and Conquest
do have a plastic type feel to the armor, and I do prefer the more textured and
grippy feel of the Swarovski and the Nikons, even the Action all the way up. And in a premium bin like this, any Swaro. or Nikon really offer the feel I desire.
I have read good reviews on the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, and this was my first chance to look through one, and found them very compact and a good view. It seems not every sporting goods outlet has them in stock, as the recent visit to Cabelas, they were not there. As far as Bushnell goes, they must have over a dozen choices in the lineup, and so some retailers, probably don't know what to carry.
I am thinking most of the binoculars are priced fairly, as in some of the cheaper
Chinese roofs, as I guess most of them are, the quality, the armor, the focuser slack and touch, you wonder how it will perform the next day, and the eyecup adjustments are sometimes a free for all.
I am a conservative type, and so, I do come back to the entry level Nikon porros, both Action and Action EX, nice armor, and very dependable, from what I have seen, day to day, you just know how they will perform.
I was able to visit with the college aged man in charge of the optics counter, and they had some of them all, including some of the Alphas, I tried to give him a short lesson on porro vs. roof, also 8x vs 10x and especially, that under $100 the porro may give the best value. It seems for many the Nikon Monarch has been a great seller, and so that is common knowledge as one of the birders best choices.
Here are a couple of things I will recommend, on the lower end, the Bushnell Legacy 8x40, and the Nikon Action 8x40, both porros, seemed both quite good to me, now these are for the under $100 value area.
Jerry
Last edited: