[Tarsiger]

Originally Posted by black crow

I find this kind of honesty refreshing.

In the UK one pair is the norm and if you're a birder one telescope!!

[black crow]

Among most of my friends no pair is the norm. So I have to make up for them.

[iveljay]

25 ish and reducing

Zeiss 8x20 Victory, 7x42 & 8x32 FLs, 8x30 Jenoptem
Nikon 8x30 & 10x35 EIIs, 10x50 EX + two reverse porros
Minox 8x44 & 10x44 BP porros + 4 others
Pentax Papilio 6x, + one other
Opticron 8x32 SRGA
Olympus 5 various
Rspb 8x30 waterproof porro
Celestron 20x

Most are used regularly, those that aren't go.

OK - pick one pair for when I'm a birder - the rest will do for everything else I do.

[David Swain]

I get by with:

8x30 EII (my everyday bin, all year)
Yosemite 6x30 (my first bin, now used for traveling or bad weather)

Saving my pennies for a full-sized roof.

David

[WiscTJK]

8x20 zeiss victory for games concerts light carrying
7x28 dakota for son
6.5x32 vortex raptor for other son
6x32 vortex viper main birding for tight wooded areas
8x32 sightron sII for allpurpose open areas
8x28 excursion car bin 1
8x25 vixen atrek car bin 2
6.5x32 vortex fury backyard bin/back-up all purpose/ wife's favorite
6x30 leupold yosemite backyard bin 2

Next desired purchases mid/premium 7x42/43, 10x42/43 but will have to sell some first.

[denco@comcast.n]

Originally Posted by WiscTJK

8x20 zeiss victory for games concerts light carrying
7x28 dakota for son
6.5x32 vortex raptor for other son
6x32 vortex viper main birding for tight wooded areas
8x32 sightron sII for allpurpose open areas
8x28 excursion car bin 1
8x25 vixen atrek car bin 2
6.5x32 vortex fury backyard bin/back-up all purpose/ wife's favorite
6x30 leupold yosemite backyard bin 2

Next desired purchases mid/premium 7x42/43, 10x42/43 but will have to sell some first.

Two:

Nikon 8x32 EDG II
Because I think an 8x32 is the best all around birding size and the EDG is the best one I have found in that size. Prefer the EDG II over the EDG I, SV, Zeiss FL, Nikon SE or EII.

Sightron SII Blue Sky 8x32
Because it was cheap and it is a good, light, compact, waterproof knockaround binocular for places I don't want to take my EDG's. In the car and traveling to foreign countries.

[FrankD]

Originally Posted by WiscTJK

8x20 zeiss victory for games concerts light carrying
7x28 dakota for son
6.5x32 vortex raptor for other son
6x32 vortex viper main birding for tight wooded areas
8x32 sightron sII for allpurpose open areas
8x28 excursion car bin 1
8x25 vixen atrek car bin 2
6.5x32 vortex fury backyard bin/back-up all purpose/ wife's favorite
6x30 leupold yosemite backyard bin 2

Next desired purchases mid/premium 7x42/43, 10x42/43 but will have to sell some first.

For some reason I thought "I like that list" when I got done reading it. I think it is partly because of the fact that I have several of those models and have chosen them as "keepers" because they represent excellent values in terms of price versus performance. Some intrigue me as I have never tried them though if you are keeping them, and are happy with the others, then I would probably like them as well. Will have to try to check them out.

I like the fact that they are all fairly compact in the grand scheme of things plus they are all relatively low to mid power as well.

[Kammerdiner]

Six for me, plus a couple junkers. Eventually maybe 4-5: compact for backpacking, mid-size for day hikes/travel, full-size for dedicated birding, and a spare or two for wife and friends.

For now:
*8.5 SV. The one true lifer. Pry it from my cold dead hands as Charlton Heston said--in a rather different context.
*8x43 Zen ED2. I could part with this but the resale value isn't much. Might as well keep it. Great loaner.
*8x32 FL. Got a feeling this might be replaced by the 32mm SV.
*8x20 Leica UV. Fussy exit pupil, needs good light, but too cute to part with?
*7x26 Bushnell Elite. Truly relaxed view for a compact, but worst hang angle I've ever seen, nearly horizontal.
*8x25 Olympus Tracker reverse porro. Overachiever and dirt cheap.

I'd be tempted to try one of those Sightrons everybody raves about, but so far I can't get past the godawful look of it.

Mark

[FrankD]

Originally Posted by Kammerdiner

I'd be tempted to try one of those Sightrons everybody raves about, but so far I can't get past the godawful look of it.

Mark

Just close your eyes until you feel the eyecups hit your brow....

[Sancho]

'Been weaning myself off bino-purchasing, and getting rid of some. Down to the following:

Swaro SV-EL 8.5x42: Perfect all-round glass. Heavy for casual use.
Zeiss FL 8x32: These are growing on me. Very cute and light. They could easily be my all-round bin, so one day I may have to decide between these and the SV 42mm.
Leica Ultravid 8x20: For cycling on my road bike. Small and light, fits in cycling shirt.
Canon IS 15x50: For non-scope days or long-range scanning. I really, really like these. Great for resting the eyes when seawatching, or walking by the sea when not "officially" birding.
Vortex Vanquish 8x26: Now technically belong to my son. I really, really like these. Most comfortable, wide-FOV reverse porros I've seen. Slight yellow cast, but sharp across most of field and very user-friendly.
Canon IS 8x25: These aren't my favourite by a long shot, but they're handy garden binos.

I'd only consider the SV-EL 8x32 if I decided to give up 42mm glass altogether. Meanwhile I like the extra half-degree of mag of the bigger version, and I assume the 32mm version won't be as bright.

[marinemaster]

About 5 at any given time, one Nikon porro in 7x (everyone needs one porro at least) and roof 6x and 7x and the venerable 8x32 Nikon HGF Lead Glass.

[winwinbino]

I am just a ordinary user owning ordinary bins which I think they are very good VFM.
And, they are not of any duplication, I guess.
1) Vortex Fury 6.5x32 - not owning now but will get it shortly for sure,
2) Bushnell Excursion 8x28 - not owning now but will get it shortly for sure,
3) Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8x36 - on the way,
4) Bosma Thunder 8x40 porro - Top class Chinese made porro compariable to Fujinon,
5) Netural Truglo 10x42 - Cripy and bright. Very good VFM
6) Visionking 12x50 - acceptabe quality & optics. Just in case I need that power
Two bins below already gave to my children, so not really mine now:
1) Asika 8x25 - gave to my youngest kid. More than enough for a young kid,
2) Asika 10x42 Phase coated - Gave to my eldest son. Very good roof. Actually same as ZR Vista.

Andy

[14Goudvink]

Small pack:

1. Access to my son's Pentax 6.5x21
Very nice, beautiful stereo close up, very steady views.

2. Zeiss 6x18 mono
For bugs close up, brilliant and very sharp, excellent ergonomics, a joy to use.

3. Leica Ultravid 8x32 BR
Great allrounder and travel bin. Very sharp, very fast for forest biriding, performs well in all cirumstances, from dawn to dusk.

4. Leica Ultravid 7x42 BR
My main full size bin. Very relaxed view, easy on the eyes.

5. Zeiss 3x12 booster
For making distant ID's with the seven. Nice 'zoom' from 2,5 to about 3X, fits well on the Ultravid eyecup.

6. Nikon 10x42 SE
For long range viewing and beautiful details closer in. Extremely sharp and wonderful addictive colour representation.

George

[FrankD]

It would be difficult for me to list all of my present bins. However, I thought of a simpler way to comment. At any given time I have a variety of bins sitting on the front or backseat of my car (covered of course when I am not there). Right now I have the following on hand...

1. Unidentified Bushnnell 7x50 IF vintage porro
2. Vixen Foresta 7x50 porro
3. Sightron SII BS 8x32
4. Zen Ray ED3 7x43
5. Bushnell Excursion 8x28
6. Nikon 7x35 WideField Action

These get changed around quite a bit but those are my current "regular usage" models.

[black crow]

Of those, which do you most often pick up?

[FrankD]

At the moment the Vixen Foresta porro but only because it is the most recent acquisition.

Seriously, I actually make a specific effort to rotate through my bins on a regular basis. I feel it continues to give me a fresh perspective on binoculars in general as they all have their own optical "flavor".

[black crow]

I do that myself although I can't seem to leave my Zen 7x36 alone for long. If I could only keep one that would be the one.

[BruceH]

I use binoculars more for spotting rather than panning so the quality of the center view is somewhat more important to me than edge sharpness and field of view. I primarily view wildlife, which includes any birds that happen to come by.

Rather than thinking of these as a collection, I view each as a tool that is best suited for a particular purpose.

Bushnell Elite 10X43: My primary binocular for the last several years.

Bausch & Lomb Elite 8X42: My prior primary binocular for several years, but I felt the need for more Power!

Zen-Ray ED2 7X36 (Updated): General purpose, sporting events, air shows, and twilight viewing.

Alpen Apex 12X50: Secondary glass for spotting when you need just a little more.

Bushnell Custom 9X36: My first binocular purchase (new) years ago and primary glass for many years.

Theron Wapiti LT 8X32: Evaluating for a hiking binocular.

Canon 15X50 IS: Anybody want to see the moon?

Bushnell Custom Compact: For when it would be nice to have a binocular but you do not want to mess with bringing one.


On Order: Sightron SII Blue Sky 8X32 to be evaluated against the Theron. Will only keep one.

On the Radar: Zen-Ray Prime HD 10X42 as a candidate to replace the Bushnell 10X43 as my primary binocular.


As requested by FrankD ...... a Family Photo!

(The little Custom Campact is actually not mine because I can not find mine right at the moment ... Argh!)

[black crow]

Nice looking family you got there.

I've just added a pair of 8x28 Excursions to my pack today.

[BruceH]

Thanks.

Congratulations on the "family" addition. I am looking forward to your comments after you have had a chance to evaluate the Excursion.

[looksharp65]

Originally Posted by looksharp65

Seven, like the mortal sins...

Eight, after aquiring another Nikon. Current list:

Nikon Mikron 6x15 CF Anniversary MC
Pentax Papilio 6.5x21
Bushnell Excursion 8x28
Vortex Fury 6.5x32 (2 pcs)
Zeiss Victory FL 10x32
Zeiss Classic/Dialyt 10x40 BGAT*
Nikon 7x50IF HP? WP Tropical

[BrightIdea]

Originally Posted by BruceH

On Order: Sightron SII Blue Sky 8X32 to be evaluated against the Theron. Will only keep one.

Oh good heavens, best of luck on that!

I gave up trying to sell one. I decided to call it a draw and keep both, fearing sellers remorse and endless postings on the "one that got away" thread.

That said, I find myself grabbing the LT more often.