[Chugach]

Does anyone have Sheltered Wings' Audubon Equinox bino's? I'm a birding newbie and have ordered a pair of the 8x42's. I have tried them out, along with many other roof models under $500 US. To my untrained eye, the Equinox seem to stand up well in that price range. Plus Sheltered Wings owns Eagle Optics... makers of the [well reviewed] Ranger Platinum. Any thoughts?

[DavidP]

I too have been interested in this model. The specs seem very good
5ft close focus, lightweight, waterproof roof prism BAK4 prisms. All for under 230

I understand that the body is a plastic composite.
I seen a couple of more questions on this but no one seems to have a response. Hope someone replies. Let us know what you think when you've received your bins.

[Bill Atwood]

Here's a link to a review of mid-price bins (including the Audubons):

http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/op...st_binocs.html

I took a very brief look at a pair, was not impressed. For low price roofs I suggest you take a look at the Bushnell Legends. Like some others on here I too would like a gander at the Pentax SPs

[DavidP]

Thanks Bill for site, looks good.
I don't see the Audubon Equinox binoculars there. The audubons reviewed are the one of the cheaper models and i don't think are the audubon equinox's as proflied here
http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp...rch=1&pid=3748

They seem a little too good to be true and thats usually a clue but i don't have way of handling them so i've been looking for comment online and there seems to eb very little.

Have you handled these?

Thanks

Dave

[Bill Atwood]

Oops, you are right Dave the Equinox is not rated. I thought it was. Normally I'm using something snobbier (i.e. Leicas), but am looking for a pair for my Dad and to recommend to other birders just starting out.

I did take a very brief look at the Equinox the last time I was at Eagle Optics. If I had liked them I would of taken a longer look. I really don't remember anything specific. I do remember being impressed by the Bushnell Legend 8x32s.

If you can't get somewhere to try these out, you might want to contact EO about ordering 4-5 pairs (Equinoxs, EO Rangers, Pentax SPs, Nikon E II (porros), Leupold Wind Rivers) to evaluate. Just remember they need to be in perfect condition to send them back!

If you are an ABA member I think they have a pretty liberal evaluation policy, but they don't have EOs selection and might be somewhat more expensive.

[Chugach]

Thanks for your replies. I have since returned the pair for exchange and await the replacement. Here are my impressions. Optically they are on par with other binos that I had tested in the $300-400 US range. Images are very crisp in the center FOV and reasonably so towards the edges. There is some CA towards the top and bottom FOV (purple at top and green at bottom). Comparable to CA I had seen with the Nikon Monarch ATB's and many others in the mid-range prices. Ample eye relief and brightness. Close focus on my pair was better than the 5' advertised. Weight, balance, and body form felt good in the hand. For those who need it, the IPD is able to adjust quite close (maybe 55mm). Diopter adjustment was nice and stiff. Twist out eye cups were comfortable and had a very solid locking indent when extended. They shipped with non-attached objective caps, a good rain guard, wide, woven strap, and a cordura case with inside mesh pocket. I have only two complaints (the latter of which led me to exchange). First, It takes over two full turns to focus from close to infinity. Second, the focus wheel is covered with a soft-grip rubber boot. This boot was not molded snugly enough and showed signs of gaping when using the focus. Sheltered wings said they had not encountered this problem and mailed out a replacement pair. If the replacement pair takes care of the problem and shows no new ones, I feel that it?s a good value for the price. I tried the first pair for two days before sending them back and was able to test them in the field, albeit briefly.

I did happen to try the Legends (8x42). Liked the optics, but they were a bit large and heavy for me. I had not tried the smaller pair you mention. Also tried: Brunton Eterna 7x42 (avail for $199 on Brunton website - refurb but no warenty), Zeiss Diafun 8x30, Leupold Wind River Cascade, Minolta Activa D WP 8x42, Olympus EXWP I 8x42, Pentax DCF HR, and some others.

I'll let you know how the repl pair of Equinox goes.

[Bill Atwood]

Yeah, the 42mm Legends are a tad on the heavy side. And if I remember correctly, it WAS the focusing (number of turns and overall cheapness of the boot covering) of the Equinox that kept me from looking at it much.

[Chugach]

The replacement pair is in! The boot on this focus knob is nice and tight. After compairing this pair to the last, I think the collimation is better on this pair (my eyes seem to feel more relaxed with the new pair). And possibly less CA. Close though. As to new 'knit picks' with the replacement pair: There is a dust speck on one of the internal lenses. And some slight imperfections in the rubber armor molding. Small stuff. For now I am deciding not to sweat the dust speck. So long as the nitrogen purging does not seem to be compromised. There's plenty of wet weather in Anchorage, I think I will be able to test for fogging easily.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by Chugach

There is a dust speck on one of the internal lenses. And some slight imperfections in the rubber armor molding. Small stuff. For now I am deciding not to sweat the dust speck.

When I was cleaning my new sealed and nitrogen purged Leica APO Televid 77 scope, I happened to notice a couple of small dust specks 'inside' the air spaced triplet objective. I guess that your binoculars are in good company.

[Chugach]

Originally Posted by Leif

When I was cleaning my new sealed and nitrogen purged Leica APO Televid 77 scope, I happened to notice a couple of small dust specks 'inside' the air spaced triplet objective. I guess that your binoculars are in good company.

Thanks Leif. That makes me feel a bit better. I think that flaws can be found in any optics product if one intent on looking hard enough. That goes ten-fold for a cheap pair like mine! Still, you have to start somewhere.

[Chugach]

The end of the road for the Equinox...

After trying the replacement Equinox in the field for a couple of days, my eye strain started showing up again. So I tried testing for collimation by choosing a horizontal line and drawing the bino's away from my eyes while watching the separating images. The line was lower in the right ocular. I have waited for over a week after returning the first pair (focus wheel problem). I decided to just return this one for a refund.

Instead, I purchased a pair of Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 at a local store. I did have a chance to compair the two units side by side. If not for the collimation problem, the view through the Equinox is slightly better than the Nikons. The Equinox seem to be a bit brighter and have the CA under better control. Center sharpness is about the same. Maybe slightly better on the Equinox. Edge sharpness is better on the Nikons. That said, the Monarchs have a quicker focus wheel (1-1/4 turns vs over 2 turns). The Nikon's focus wheel has an easier, more fluid action and the dipt adjustment is very stiff. The supplied Nikon strap and rain guard are better, but the objective caps are garbage. I plan to fit the Nikon's with flip up caps desined for gun scopes. They come in a variety of sizes and just slip tightly over the objective end of the barrel.

[JohnT]

I just got a pair of the Equinox 8x42 and will post my results after a week in New Mexico.