$100 to $200 (USD) binoculars vs. $1000+ (USD) binoculars
Sorry if the thread title is unclear. I'm not talking about US made binoculars but the price range in US dollars.
The largest difference, IMHO, between modestly priced binoculars and the exensive models is ruggedness of construction and not image quality. With reasonable care you don't need to have a waterproof binocular or one that will take hard bumps.
There are differences in image quality between different modestly priced binoculars but some come surprisingly close to the images seen through the most expenisve binoculars.
You want to find a binocular that is well aligned, comfortable to look through, has enough eye relief to see most of the field of view and not too heavy for your neck. If you find a binocular you like in every way but weight, a binocular harness will let you enjoy your heavy binocular.
Can I see a difference in image quality between my Zeiss 10x42 FL and my "old" (made in Japan) Orion 8x42 Ultraview? Yes, but not so big a difference that I hate the veiw of a bird through the Ultraview. The view through the Ultraview is really very good. So, why did I get the Zeiss? Because I'm a binocular and optics nut.
Rich
Sorry if the thread title is unclear. I'm not talking about US made binoculars but the price range in US dollars.
The largest difference, IMHO, between modestly priced binoculars and the exensive models is ruggedness of construction and not image quality. With reasonable care you don't need to have a waterproof binocular or one that will take hard bumps.
There are differences in image quality between different modestly priced binoculars but some come surprisingly close to the images seen through the most expenisve binoculars.
You want to find a binocular that is well aligned, comfortable to look through, has enough eye relief to see most of the field of view and not too heavy for your neck. If you find a binocular you like in every way but weight, a binocular harness will let you enjoy your heavy binocular.
Can I see a difference in image quality between my Zeiss 10x42 FL and my "old" (made in Japan) Orion 8x42 Ultraview? Yes, but not so big a difference that I hate the veiw of a bird through the Ultraview. The view through the Ultraview is really very good. So, why did I get the Zeiss? Because I'm a binocular and optics nut.
Rich
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