windycleaner
New member
hi just starting out birding and need a pair of bins I have about £100 to spend, I know it's not a fortune.Any ideas please
Thanks for your help
Thanks for your help
-
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binoculars (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter windycleaner
- Start date
Torview
Well-known member
Sherwoods have a demo sale, scroll down the page and you will see an 8x42 Opticron trailfinder t3 for £90, a pretty decent bin and a good all rounder.
http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/ex_demo/ex_demo_optics.htm
http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/ex_demo/ex_demo_optics.htm
Recently bought Nikon 7 Prostaff 10x42.
Although they cost £200 they are excellent.
Close and distant vision are brilliant.
Waterproof,tinted glass,roof prisms and lightweight.
There was an initial problem with the focus wheel which Nikon sorted out.
Bought them through Wilkinsons the northern based Camera and optics retailers.
They provide excellent customer service.
To be honest I think it would be better putting the £100 towards a more expensive pair.
I met a couple recently who wasted that sort of figure on two pairs of Bressler.
They rued the day they bought them!
Although they cost £200 they are excellent.
Close and distant vision are brilliant.
Waterproof,tinted glass,roof prisms and lightweight.
There was an initial problem with the focus wheel which Nikon sorted out.
Bought them through Wilkinsons the northern based Camera and optics retailers.
They provide excellent customer service.
To be honest I think it would be better putting the £100 towards a more expensive pair.
I met a couple recently who wasted that sort of figure on two pairs of Bressler.
They rued the day they bought them!
Torview
Well-known member
I`ll stand by the Trailfinder, its normally £140 and with a £100 budget I fail to see how it could be improved on.
http://www.birdwatching.co.uk/Birding-gear/Birdwatching-Binoculars/Opticron-Trailfinder-3-WP-8x42
http://www.birdwatching.co.uk/Birding-gear/Birdwatching-Binoculars/Opticron-Trailfinder-3-WP-8x42
windycleaner
New member
thanks for your advice, they seem to tick all the box's for me at this time.
cassowary
Well-known member
You should be able to get a decent pair if you look around - In my experience:
1) Porro prism binoculars tend to be a lot better than roofs at comparable prices but the gap seems to be closing, 2) Waterproof binoculars sound good but I can't remember having an issue with water with any of my non- waterproof ones over the years
3) I would go with 8x for general birding. 10x is fine also for the UK - (you generally want lower mag in jungle etc)
4) I like a large field of view (FOV)
5) Close focus can be handy as well
I have never used them but something like the Nikon Action EX 7x35 CF or something with similar specs would be what I would be looking for with your budget
1) Porro prism binoculars tend to be a lot better than roofs at comparable prices but the gap seems to be closing, 2) Waterproof binoculars sound good but I can't remember having an issue with water with any of my non- waterproof ones over the years
3) I would go with 8x for general birding. 10x is fine also for the UK - (you generally want lower mag in jungle etc)
4) I like a large field of view (FOV)
5) Close focus can be handy as well
I have never used them but something like the Nikon Action EX 7x35 CF or something with similar specs would be what I would be looking for with your budget
Torview
Well-known member
If you get them let us know what you think. I`m a big Porro fan, but at £100 there`s not many I like, the Opticron tga` are ok but a bit flimsy, and below that not particularly special, the T3 is pretty well built and offers all we expect in a modern optic, close focus, wp etc.
John.
dannybgoode
Well-known member
I have a pair of Nikon Aculon 10x50's which I bought for astronomy but have recently tried them birding and like them a lot. Nice crisp imaging and the focus is very precise. Can be had for £100 from Amazon and they do an 8x42 set as well.
My only criticism would be there is noticeable chromatic aberration (purple fringing) at times which seems to me to be most noticeable in the periphery vision - something catches your eye, you see it, lok toward it and its gone. Very soon get used to it though and the build quality is up to what you would expect from Nikon.
They are quite large though and I am looking for something in the 8x33 range for general carrying around and to have on me at all times...
My only criticism would be there is noticeable chromatic aberration (purple fringing) at times which seems to me to be most noticeable in the periphery vision - something catches your eye, you see it, lok toward it and its gone. Very soon get used to it though and the build quality is up to what you would expect from Nikon.
They are quite large though and I am looking for something in the 8x33 range for general carrying around and to have on me at all times...
dannybgoode
Well-known member
Also check out the Visionary Freebird 8x42 on Amazon for £130. I am blown away by mine - excellent for the price. Check out my mini review in the Other section in the Binoculars forum.
Waterproof, phase coated prisms, good field of view and really nice clear bright images. I tested them against some in the £3-400 range and nothing was close. I have also put them up against the RSPB 8x42 BG PC's (a very highly rated binocular) and I couldn't discern any difference in the RSPB's that would make me want to spend another £220 on them...
Waterproof, phase coated prisms, good field of view and really nice clear bright images. I tested them against some in the £3-400 range and nothing was close. I have also put them up against the RSPB 8x42 BG PC's (a very highly rated binocular) and I couldn't discern any difference in the RSPB's that would make me want to spend another £220 on them...
Mark Moore
Member
Just got these for £115 and you have got it spot on, lovely binoculars. Thanks for the info.
Fromebridge
Well-known member
I got the B & S Sahara 10x42, well, because they came with a free bird ID book |:$|
Very good bins.
richard866945
Bino repair man
Mike Crawley
Emeritus President at Burnage Rugby Club
If you can, get along to a shop.
Reputable optic shops will be delighted to let you try as many as it takes to get you into a pair of binoculars.
Example - a good friend has just bought his first pair of birding bins.
He has watching boat bins as well as a few vintage pairs.
However, I took him to Cley a few weeks ago to the NWT reserve.
There happens to be a Cley Spy "shop" there, which I didn't know about.
The guy on duty spent nearly an hour getting him into a pair of Hawke 8 x 42 at about £80, despite the fact he could have sold him something more expensive.
I'm sure in a city the size of Hull, you'll find somewhere
Reputable optic shops will be delighted to let you try as many as it takes to get you into a pair of binoculars.
Example - a good friend has just bought his first pair of birding bins.
He has watching boat bins as well as a few vintage pairs.
However, I took him to Cley a few weeks ago to the NWT reserve.
There happens to be a Cley Spy "shop" there, which I didn't know about.
The guy on duty spent nearly an hour getting him into a pair of Hawke 8 x 42 at about £80, despite the fact he could have sold him something more expensive.
I'm sure in a city the size of Hull, you'll find somewhere