Any binocular recommendations for a beginner? (1 Viewer)

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OPTIC_NUT

Well-known member

• Apr 4, 2014

• #21

ronh: True enough: if someone is going to have one pair, larger brings more performance.
The Yosemite/Kowa 8x30 size is less bulky than a 7x35/wide-fov ACculon.
I can do a lot with the 8x21s, but looking from bight into shade can be disappointing.

I think we got carried away with the minis because of the price as well.
Back in December you could have snagged the Roamers and the Acculons for
less than $100 together. Things have ticked up a bit since the pre-holiday sales.

 

Last edited: Apr 4, 2014

B

binoc

Member

• Apr 9, 2014

• #22

This one? http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-8244-AC...=1397018704&sr=1-1&keywords=Nikon+Aculon+7x35

Is it much better than this Nikon? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DG6VJDW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

There's a 10x42 Nikon that is only a little more expensive than the 7x35 Nikon. Is the 10x42 Nikon better?

What about this waterproof one with 4.5 rating? I was looking at waterproof just in case...

 

Last edited: Apr 9, 2014

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binoc

Member

• Apr 9, 2014

• #23

What about this. Is it too cheap to be of any use? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00111UWIC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

perterra

Well-known member

• Apr 9, 2014

• #24

binoc said:

This one? http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-8244-AC...=1397018704&sr=1-1&keywords=Nikon+Aculon+7x35

Is it much better than this Nikon? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DG6VJDW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

There's a 10x42 Nikon that is only a little more expensive than the 7x35 Nikon. Is the 10x42 Nikon better?

What about this waterproof one with 4.5 rating? I was looking at waterproof just in case...

Click to expand...

You show NYC as home, there are a lot of good brick and mortar stores there selling optics. You really need to go shopping and look thru some to decide.

 

O

OPTIC_NUT

Well-known member

• Apr 9, 2014

• #25

binoc said:

What about this. Is it too cheap to be of any use? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00111UWIC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Click to expand...

I would guess...horrible.
I actually got the 10x21 Tasco variant, for giggles, at Wally World. cheap..
That was horrendous. Pushing already-cheap optics for more power can
leave you with a fuzzy tunnel-vision view...most unpleasant.
12x25 is even more scary to imagine. I suspect it would be 'poor' as well.
The usable field width would likely be very small.

The Bushnell 8x21 roof would be cheaper and better. I got a recent one
at auction. Surprisingly sharp and did OK when it got daylight.
Much, much better. Not 'very good' or 'excellent', but it was a solid 'good'
and way past the Tasco.

At a price of under $20, 12x is a bad idea.

If you want something useful cheap, the Bushnell 7x35 Falcon is $25.
Not up to the 7x35 Nikon's performance, but far better than anything below $20.

 

Last edited: Apr 9, 2014

O

OPTIC_NUT

Well-known member

• Apr 9, 2014

• #26

binoc said:

This one? http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-8244-AC...=1397018704&sr=1-1&keywords=Nikon+Aculon+7x35

Is it much better than this Nikon? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DG6VJDW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

There's a 10x42 Nikon that is only a little more expensive than the 7x35 Nikon. Is the 10x42 Nikon better?

What about this waterproof one with 4.5 rating? I was looking at waterproof just in case...

Click to expand...

A very application-based answer.
If you know just what you're looking for,
have steady hands, and know right where a thing is, 10x42 is handy.
Or...if you are always far away.

If you are new to looking around, that particular 7x35 gives you a much
wider and deeper field to find things in. I'd go for the 7x35 at first, and the
10x42 would wait for a more exact obsession for a target and higher
grade optics. It's easier to engineer a fine 7x than a fine 10x.

 

B

binoc

Member

• Apr 19, 2014

• #27

if you don't have steady hands, is there a mount that you could buy?

 

B

binoc

Member

• Apr 19, 2014

• #28

What about this one, Monarch 8x42?
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-7576-MO...&qid=1397888072&sr=1-1&keywords=monarch+nikon

Also, can you also just buy a camcorder and zoom in and record what you see, to boot?

What about this one? Vanguard Endeavor. It's $270 and has a 5 star rating on Amazon. Is this much better than the Nikon 7x35?
http://www.amazon.com/Vanguard-Ende...UTF8&qid=1397888602&sr=1-1&keywords=binocular

 

Last edited: Apr 19, 2014

B

binoc

Member

• Apr 19, 2014

• #29

BTW I actually don't live in NYC. I wish I did, so that I could go into molar and brick buildings to try out different products....

 

O

OPTIC_NUT

Well-known member

• Apr 19, 2014

• #30

binoc said:

What about this one, Monarch 8x42?
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-7576-MO...&qid=1397888072&sr=1-1&keywords=monarch+nikon

Also, can you also just buy a camcorder and zoom in and record what you see, to boot?

What about this one? Vanguard Endeavor. It's $270 and has a 5 star rating on Amazon. Is this much better than the Nikon 7x35?
http://www.amazon.com/Vanguard-Ende...UTF8&qid=1397888602&sr=1-1&keywords=binocular

Click to expand...

Ah.....you are thinking, more to spend?
Well, if you have that kind of money to spend, the Vanguard Endeavor
is a spectacular choice. The Monarch-5 was super a few years ago
but it looks a bit "long in the tooth" now that newer models like
the Endeavor have raised the bar.

For the long run, the Endeavor would be sharper, richer (more contrast),
and a bit brighter, and a bit more compact than the 7x35 Acculon.
But, for 3-4 times the price, you expect more.