[kristoffer]

Ok, this is the scenario.

You are going to live on a huge deserted tropical island, full of exciting birds and wildlife. The bad news is that you are staying there, alone, for good.

You will get food and other stuff to keep you alive and healthy.

Obviously you want a binocular there and you get to chose one, only one, and you cant Fed-Ex it back for repairs so it better be of good quality. The sea surrounding the island is full of exotic sea birds, quite far away so some extra magnification might be good, but on the other hand the rainforests are lush and full of birds and will take long time to explore so maybe it´s better to stick with lower magnification. Being quite humid maybe you want a gas filled bin, but the gas will probably not stay forever so it´s up to you how important it is.

No scope and no future untried bins. Pick one you can buy in stores or on ebay today, and tell us what your last and only choice will be

[Alexis Powell]

I'd go with a Swarovski 8.5x42 EL.

--AP

[Kevin Conville]

This was talked about in another thread recently. With the idea of ultimate reliability being the most important single issue along with being a generally great optic, I'd take one of the Fujinon IF porros, probably FMT-SX 7x50s or 10x50s. For a center focus bin I'd probably pick a Leica Trinovid 7 or 8 x42.

Same choices apply to the question of best post-apocalyptic bin.

[blizdas]

7x42 Zeiss FL (with Lotutec).
Ben

Ben Lizdas
Sales Manager
Eagle Optics

www.eagleoptics.com

[Steve C]

Well, in this scenario, I would go with the Steiner Peregrine XP in 8x44. I would however, expend considerable effort to avert this particular isolationist outcome. Do we only get one Field Guide too? What other accessories can we have?

[Fireform]

Zeiss 8x42 FL w/lotutec

[kristoffer]

Zeiss in the lead!

Originally Posted by Steve C

Well, in this scenario, I would go with the Steiner Peregrine XP in 8x44. I would however, expend considerable effort to avert this particular isolationist outcome. Do we only get one Field Guide too? What other accessories can we have?

Hehe, you cant get away, you just have to accept it and pass the time with birding and lots of global ticks

Yeah, actually we could make this thread bigger with only one guide, only one scope etc but we can start with the bin. And the field guide would be tricky considering the islands location is a bit unsure, like Lost. Can move if you upset the gods. Would probably need an encyclopaedia to be sure.

[longbow]

Zeiss 10x40 Classic.

[falcondude]

Can I catch a ride with that Fedex plane that is supposed to deliver the super-duper binoculars for me? I cannot wait to get out of that island. :)

[blizdas]

If I had 2 Leica 82mm APO scopes lashed together and mounted on a single tripod, could that count as a "binocular"?
If so, you can put me down for that combo instead!
Ben

Ben Lizdas
Sales Manager
Eagle Optics
www.eagleoptics.com

[kristoffer]

Originally Posted by blizdas

If I had 2 Leica 82mm APO scopes lashed together and mounted on a single tripod, could that count as a "binocular"?
If so, you can put me down for that combo instead!
Ben

Ben Lizdas
Sales Manager
Eagle Optics
www.eagleoptics.com

Hehe, so you like the new apo? That would be quite an binocular for sea watching, perhaps a bit cumbersome to use in the forest though.

[Kevin Conville]

Originally Posted by longbow

Zeiss 10x40 Classic.

You might want to reconsider. Those classics have been known to have their prisms become tarnished, especially in a salt air environment.

[blizdas]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

Hehe, so you like the new apo? That would be quite an binocular for sea watching, perhaps a bit cumbersome to use in the forest though.

Depending on the size of the island, I would think the diversity to be a bit better on the water. That way I could keep an eye out for those rescue ships too!

Ben

[FrankD]

With durability being equally as important as optical quality in this scenario I would opt for the Meopta Meostar 8x42. They are built as well as the Leica Trinovids with a wider field of view and overall comparable image quality. The 8x42 in particular because of its extremely wide field of view, large sweet spot and excellent low light performance.

[joannec]

Originally Posted by Steve C

Well, in this scenario, I would go with the Steiner Peregrine XP in 8x44. I would however, expend considerable effort to avert this particular isolationist outcome. Do we only get one Field Guide too? What other accessories can we have?

This is beginning to sound like a birders version of 'Desert Island Discs'. Without a decent scope and an appropriate field guide we're gonna be really frustrated.

[Kevin Conville]

Originally Posted by joannec

Without a decent scope and an appropriate field guide we're gonna be really frustrated.

Your alone, no chance to share your findings, does it really matter to ID a bird as per some guide? Create your own taxonomy based on groupings, behavior, and physical similarities. Make up your own names. That's what someone else did before you that you're reading in that book.

[Swedpat]

I would likely choose my Leupold 6x32 Katmai.

Regards, Patric

[Sancho]

A similar thread to this ran some time ago, but it´s still a relevant question, and goes to the heart of what is on every binaholic´s mind....what is the Platonic binocular?

The top-end binos I´ve owned (not counting compacts) in the last few years are:

Nikon HGL (LXL) 8x32
Swarovski EL 8x32
Nikon EII 8x30 and 10x35
Nikon SE 8x32
Swarovski EL 8.5x42
Canon IS 12x36 and 8x25

(I´m stupid, but not rich, so I´ve sold most of them....)

The one and only "perfect" model for me is the EL 8.5x42. It´s the only one where the light, the glass, the housing, my hands, my eyes and my brain all meld into one unique sublime system and my consciousness expands to go beyond all this "thinking-about-binoculars" stuff. In fact I´ll think I´ll go and fondle them now and tell them how much I love them.

[kristoffer]

When I said "You will get food and other stuff to keep you alive and healthy" I was actually meaning that you would get a fieldguide, pen and paper and other important stuff, a birder wont stay healthy without that for long

Originally Posted by joannec

This is beginning to sound like a birders version of 'Desert Island Discs'. Without a decent scope and an appropriate field guide we're gonna be really frustrated.

And regarding the question about this really is about picking the bin who has best durability, yes at some extent but at least to me it is about picking the one you would be able to get along with for a very long time without regretting it.

We can change and try different ones but at the island we don't have that luxury, stick with the one you picked. You think anyone will swap and pick the Zen ed2 7x36 when we get them in two weeks?

I for one hope I will but it is a lot to ask for.

Before that I probably agree with the swaro el 8.5x42 (but I have not tried the 7x42 fl).

[HoosierGuy]

If I had to pick betwen my 10x zen ed's, 10x Pentax, or 8x Monarchs - I would pick the 8x because of field of view and steady image.

[Kevin Purcell]

Originally Posted by Kevin Conville

Your alone, no chance to share your findings, does it really matter to ID a bird as per some guide? Create your own taxonomy based on groupings, behavior, and physical similarities. Make up your own names. That's what someone else did before you that you're reading in that book.

In that case your chosen bin might be a shotgun ... after all that's what those guys did

For a bin probably the Zeiss 7x42 or 8x42 FL.

[postcardcv]

Originally Posted by Alexis Powell

I'd go with a Swarovski 8.5x42 EL.

me too - I've been through more than my fair share of bins over the last few years and have really enjoyed using them all. However the 8.5x42 ELs have stuck, they are a pleasure to use - they feel great in the hand, the focus is nice and smooth and the image is outstanding. I've had my pair for a few years now and they've seen a lot of use they have performed flawlessly the whole time (unlike other bins which I have had many problems with).

[Kevin Conville]

Originally Posted by Kevin Purcell

In that case your chosen bin might be a shotgun ... after all that's what those guys did .

True enough. I like to hunt with binoculars though. I'd be far more interested in making friends

My lists might suffer for it though...

[ceasar]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

When I said "You will get food and other stuff to keep you alive and healthy" I was actually meaning that you would get a fieldguide, pen and paper and other important stuff, a birder wont stay healthy without that for long




And regarding the question about this really is about picking the bin who has best durability, yes at some extent but at least to me it is about picking the one you would be able to get along with for a very long time without regretting it.

We can change and try different ones but at the island we don't have that luxury, stick with the one you picked. You think anyone will swap and pick the Zen ed2 7x36 when we get them in two weeks?

I for one hope I will but it is a lot to ask for.

Before that I probably agree with the swaro el 8.5x42 (but I have not tried the 7x42 fl).

Optics being what they are and survival being what it is, your best bet here seems to be a versatile scope for your rifle!
Bob

[CLRobles]

Originally Posted by ceasar

Optics being what they are and survival being what it is, your best bet here seems to be a versatile scope for your rifle!
Bob

Bob, hahaha you kill me!