Hi. I'm new to this forum and have found it in my search for my first pair of binoculars. Up front I must admit I'm not a birder but it's very obvious from all the fantastic advice here that no one knows more about binos than birders (hunters possibly second.)
I'm suffering information overload from all that I've read on these boards. In the days before the net it would have been much easier to just try half a dozen pairs of binos at the local shop and leave with whichever pair felt best. Now I'm crippled with indecision about all the pairs I haven't been able to compare side by side (not to mention the ones I can 'afford' but can't justify.)
So here's my situation. I'm after a pair of binos for a hiking trip to Nepal. In other words wildlife spotting, admiring details of the landscape etc. The criteria I've narrowed down are as follows:
- 32mm lens (42 are tempting but just a bit too big and heavy)
- Max $1500 Australian (so the big 3 are out - I can't justify the extra cost)
- Trying to buy from an Australian dealer for warranty and shipping reasons
- Must have excellent eye relief (thick glasses wearer)
- Magnification - still undecided between 8x and 10x
It's the magnification question that's bothering me most. (I've previously used my Dad's 10x52 Nikons (various models) and I'm reluctant to step down to 8x.) I've tested several 10x42 but none of the dealers I've seen so far had a 10x32 in stock. I'm not worried about shake but more so the trade off in field of view and brightness. (The fact I've only been able to test on city streets and in bright sunlight hasn't helped either.) I've also noticed that even at 42mm some 8x models are very comfortable but the same model 10x doesn't have enough eye relief for me. Intellectually I'm tending to think 8x would be more sensible but I think I'm a glutton for magnification power.
These are the binos I've short listed:
- Vortex Viper 8x32 or 10x32
(Pros: Light, relatively cheap. Cons: Can't find a stockist to test in person so it means taking a leap of faith.) Approx $800
- Leupold GR HD 8x32 or 10x32
(Pros: Really like the 42mm models. Cons: Discontinued so difficult to buy and impossible to test.) Approx $800
- Leupold GR 7/12x32 Switch
(Pros: Love the concept. Means I don't have to choose between 8x and 10x. Cons: Worried too much might be sacrificed in the execution. Haven't been able to test a pair yet but I wonder if the loss in FOV, crispness and brightness compared the single magnification models is worth it. That said I did test a pair of the 10/17x42 and was really impressed. At 10x I couldn't pick a significant difference from the single magnification 10x42s and at 17x the view was much steadier and clearer than I expected. Expensive.) Approx $1300
- Meopta 8x32
(Pros: The best 32s I've been able to test so far. Nice optics. Cons: Relatively expensive. Eye relief only barely good enough.) Approx $1100
- Steiner Ranger Pro 8x32
(Pros: Cheapest. Light. Cons: Optics not nearly as good as the others.) (Approx $600)
- Other suggestions? Leupold Katmai? Did find one pair of Nikon LX L 8x32 on sale interstate at just under the $1500 mark.
Apologies for the super long post. Would welcome any advice. As you may have noticed the Australian price estimates don't really correlate well with US prices.
Am I crazy for considering a 10x32?
One piece of advice I can offer: If you know you don't want to pay for (or can't afford) the Leica Ultravids then don't ask to test them!
(Just don't expect me to follow my own advice any time soon - it's way too tempting.)||
I'm suffering information overload from all that I've read on these boards. In the days before the net it would have been much easier to just try half a dozen pairs of binos at the local shop and leave with whichever pair felt best. Now I'm crippled with indecision about all the pairs I haven't been able to compare side by side (not to mention the ones I can 'afford' but can't justify.)
So here's my situation. I'm after a pair of binos for a hiking trip to Nepal. In other words wildlife spotting, admiring details of the landscape etc. The criteria I've narrowed down are as follows:
- 32mm lens (42 are tempting but just a bit too big and heavy)
- Max $1500 Australian (so the big 3 are out - I can't justify the extra cost)
- Trying to buy from an Australian dealer for warranty and shipping reasons
- Must have excellent eye relief (thick glasses wearer)
- Magnification - still undecided between 8x and 10x
It's the magnification question that's bothering me most. (I've previously used my Dad's 10x52 Nikons (various models) and I'm reluctant to step down to 8x.) I've tested several 10x42 but none of the dealers I've seen so far had a 10x32 in stock. I'm not worried about shake but more so the trade off in field of view and brightness. (The fact I've only been able to test on city streets and in bright sunlight hasn't helped either.) I've also noticed that even at 42mm some 8x models are very comfortable but the same model 10x doesn't have enough eye relief for me. Intellectually I'm tending to think 8x would be more sensible but I think I'm a glutton for magnification power.
These are the binos I've short listed:
- Vortex Viper 8x32 or 10x32
(Pros: Light, relatively cheap. Cons: Can't find a stockist to test in person so it means taking a leap of faith.) Approx $800
- Leupold GR HD 8x32 or 10x32
(Pros: Really like the 42mm models. Cons: Discontinued so difficult to buy and impossible to test.) Approx $800
- Leupold GR 7/12x32 Switch
(Pros: Love the concept. Means I don't have to choose between 8x and 10x. Cons: Worried too much might be sacrificed in the execution. Haven't been able to test a pair yet but I wonder if the loss in FOV, crispness and brightness compared the single magnification models is worth it. That said I did test a pair of the 10/17x42 and was really impressed. At 10x I couldn't pick a significant difference from the single magnification 10x42s and at 17x the view was much steadier and clearer than I expected. Expensive.) Approx $1300
- Meopta 8x32
(Pros: The best 32s I've been able to test so far. Nice optics. Cons: Relatively expensive. Eye relief only barely good enough.) Approx $1100
- Steiner Ranger Pro 8x32
(Pros: Cheapest. Light. Cons: Optics not nearly as good as the others.) (Approx $600)
- Other suggestions? Leupold Katmai? Did find one pair of Nikon LX L 8x32 on sale interstate at just under the $1500 mark.
Apologies for the super long post. Would welcome any advice. As you may have noticed the Australian price estimates don't really correlate well with US prices.
Am I crazy for considering a 10x32?
One piece of advice I can offer: If you know you don't want to pay for (or can't afford) the Leica Ultravids then don't ask to test them!
(Just don't expect me to follow my own advice any time soon - it's way too tempting.)||