[birdles]

Hi, everyone. I have just joined this forum. I have been trying to choose a pair of decent bins for bird watching. I had only got a cheap pair of Practika 10-40x21 compacts - OK for the tree in the garden! Quite dark if you zoom in. Rubbish really!

Anyway, I have just ordered the Minox 10x42 bl's. I have since read all kinds of views, good, bad, roof vs porros etc. 8x vs 10x etc. I am SO confused and worried now that I have bought the wrong thing and will be disappointed.

I just hope that they will be loads better than the silly Practika ones I have already, which were only around £30!!!

I guess I'm looking for reassurance that I haven't wasted my money! Thanks

[Kevin Purcell]

Originally Posted by birdles

I just hope that they will be loads better than the silly Practika ones I have already, which were only around £30!!!

I guess I'm looking for reassurance that I haven't wasted my money!

I've not used these bins but I've used plenty in the same price point and I think I can be confident saying they will be a lot better than the Practikas.

Just wait till they arrive. I suspect you will be quite happy with the quality of modern "low end" decent bins.

[Tero]

The standard choices are 10x42 and 8x42 and some 7x42. Time will tell if you prefer 8x or 10x. I had Nikon Monarch 10x42 and was able to get some 200 lifers with them, yours I will predict are a little better.

Actually, they are so good at this point, I would just go out and enjoy the birds with them. Forget all this shopping. I plan to do that once the weather improves.

[KorHaan]

Originally Posted by birdles

Hi, everyone. I have just joined this forum. I have been trying to choose a pair of decent bins for bird watching. I had only got a cheap pair of Practika 10-40x21 compacts - OK for the tree in the garden! Quite dark if you zoom in. Rubbish really!

Anyway, I have just ordered the Minox 10x42 bl's. I have since read all kinds of views, good, bad, roof vs porros etc. 8x vs 10x etc. I am SO confused and worried now that I have bought the wrong thing and will be disappointed.

I just hope that they will be loads better than the silly Practika ones I have already, which were only around £30!!!

I guess I'm looking for reassurance that I haven't wasted my money! Thanks

I have the 8x32 BL's from Minox and they are quite good. I wouldn't be too worried about the 10x42 BL's, they are certainly no waste of money.
Looking forward to read your opinions when you receive them.

Best regards,

Ronald

[birdles]

Hi everyone and thanks for the replies to my first post.
Postman just delivered them. The excitement was huge, and a lovely sunny day to test them out. Well, what was I worried out! They are fab. These are my first half-decent bins and they are perfect for me. I love the size of them and the material. What shocked me most was the amount of light flooding in, and how bright and clear the view was. Don't forget I have only had a tiny pair of compacts. The best thing though, was being able to find the subject so quickly. With the compacts the bird had usually flown off before I managed to find it in the view! But now, pick them up and there it is in a flash. I'm well happy. I paid £256 for them and definitely think I got my money's worth.

[h14nha]

Hi Birdles
Welcome to Minox World, I have the 8x42BL's and think they're fantastic, a year and a bit on and they still bring a smile to my face every time I use them.
For some reason they seem to be overlooked by Forum users when recommending bins to Posters asking for advice, not sure why maybe they're 'unfashionable' brand.
Minox used to be part of Leica, a first class pedigree in my mind, and I would recommend them to anyone.
Regards
Ian

[Veracocha]

Originally Posted by h14nha

Hi Birdles
Welcome to Minox World, I have the 8x42BL's and think they're fantastic, a year and a bit on and they still bring a smile to my face every time I use them.
For some reason they seem to be overlooked by Forum users when recommending bins to Posters asking for advice, not sure why maybe they're 'unfashionable' brand.
Minox used to be part of Leica, a first class pedigree in my mind, and I would recommend them to anyone.
Regards
Ian

Agree with all that, I have sat in many a hide with lots of birders and tried lots of Bino's. My Minox 8 X 32 BL are up there with the best, I can't recommend them highly enough.

[Veracocha]

Originally Posted by Veracocha

Agree with all that, I have sat in many a hide with lots of birders and tried lots of Bino's. My Minox 8 X 32 BL are up there with the best, I can't recommend them highly enough.

And now I have a pair of Hawke Frontier 10 x 43 and whilst I think these are absolutely fantastic I still believe the Minox are every bit as good. I will not let them go.

[chartwell99]

Originally Posted by h14nha

Hi Birdles
Welcome to Minox World, I have the 8x42BL's and think they're fantastic, a year and a bit on and they still bring a smile to my face every time I use them.
For some reason they seem to be overlooked by Forum users when recommending bins to Posters asking for advice, not sure why maybe they're 'unfashionable' brand.
Minox used to be part of Leica, a first class pedigree in my mind, and I would recommend them to anyone.
Regards
Ian

I agree as well, and cannot recommend the Minox 8 x 33HG more strongly.That said, I have also been mystified by the lack of enthusiasm for the brand, at least in the U.S. My best guess as to why that is the case is minimal advertising, although I suspect that there is also some dismay with Minox selling Asian made products presented as if manaufactured in Germany (German language instructions, Wetzlar address for the company but no indication on the binocular where actually made).

[Gramayr]

My partner has the 8x42 BL's and I prefer them to my Bushnell Natureview 10x42.
Her's are an excellent set of bins, I'd have them over mine anyday.