[Kevin Purcell]

An excellent beginner orientated article which summarizes very accurately all the stuff we rabbit on about: porros are still good; lower magnification is better at the cheap end;

I'd point any new birder/optics buyer to this article.

Discipline yourself to never even look at binoculars that cost more than the maximum amount you can comfortably spend. [...] Never buy binoculars that you can’t afford to replace if they’re lost or stolen, and never buy from a company that doesn’t have an excellent return policy and warranty.

http://www.livingbird.org/NetCommuni....aspx?pid=1218

And worth viewing for a picture of the most battered porros at the top of the article.

The glass looks fine but perhaps not the most modern coating (if any!). Is that a home made leather armor sewn in place? I get the feeling this my be somewhere in the developing world where battered bins are better than no bins at all.

[ceasar]

Are the binoculars covered by a "passport warranty?"
Bob

[Kevin Purcell]

Originally Posted by ceasar

Are the binoculars covered by a "passport warranty?"

It could be that those bins are post repair

[Fugolmann]

Originally Posted by Kevin Purcell

. . .
And worth viewing for a picture of the most battered porros at the top of the article.

The glass looks fine but perhaps not the most modern coating (if any!). Is that a home made leather armor sewn in place? I get the feeling this my be somewhere in the developing world where battered bins are better than no bins at all.

Actually those bins belong to the notable birder Chandler Robbins and are supposedly still in use. Methinks I would have retired them but who knows. . .they could be his lucky bins.

http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/whatsnew/ev..._IMG069_lg.jpg

I think in the above pic those may be the same bins with the leather wrapping intact.

This all may prove that it is the person and their experience that makes them the good birder and not the equipment.

[Kevin Purcell]

Originally Posted by Fugolmann

This all may prove that it is the person and their experience that makes them the good birder and not the equipment.

Though good equipment helps especially the beginner looking for field marks.

Of course when you are banding (as Chandler did 150,000+ birds) you don't need bins to see the birds. But there's not doubt he was (is?) a great birder

See the other thread I started about these Chandler's bins ...

[FrankD]

Nice catch Kevin. Excellent article!

[falcondude]

Originally Posted by Fugolmann

Actually those bins belong to the notable birder Chandler Robbins and are supposedly still in use. Methinks I would have retired them but who knows. . .they could be his lucky bins.

http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/whatsnew/ev..._IMG069_lg.jpg

I think in the above pic those may be the same bins with the leather wrapping intact.

This all may prove that it is the person and their experience that makes them the good birder and not the equipment.

That's a nice umbrella he has in his hand.