[pix]

I'm an advanced beginner birdwatcher, senior in age, slight in stature and blind as a bat. After lurking in the Birdforum for a while I realize that you all know a lot more than me about binoculars and I could use some help.
For the last few years I've used some Pentax 8 x 32 DCF WPs but would like to go to a 10 in something. Considered the Nikon Monarch 10 x 42 but didn't like them. Also tried the Minox 10 x 42 BD ALT BR which seemed ok.
I'm curious about the Conquest 10 x 30s as they are available at a great price.
They are brighter and sharper than the Pentax and they feel good in my hands. I realize there are twilight and field of view issues. My husband points out that with my vision, I wouldn't see anything at twilight no matter the quality of the bins - he's also an accountant and the thought of $1000+ binoculars might make me a widow (I'd rather keep him alive). I looked at the 10 x 40s but they are close to that $1000 mark while the 30s are under $400.

So, if not the Conquest 10 x 30s, what else should I look at?

[Otto McDiesel]

Originally Posted by pix

I'm an advanced beginner birdwatcher, senior in age, slight in stature and blind as a bat. After lurking in the Birdforum for a while I realize that you all know a lot more than me about binoculars and I could use some help.
For the last few years I've used some Pentax 8 x 32 DCF WPs but would like to go to a 10 in something. Considered the Nikon Monarch 10 x 42 but didn't like them. Also tried the Minox 10 x 42 BD ALT BR which seemed ok.
I'm curious about the Conquest 10 x 30s as they are available at a great price.
They are brighter and sharper than the Pentax and they feel good in my hands. I realize there are twilight and field of view issues. My husband points out that with my vision, I wouldn't see anything at twilight no matter the quality of the bins - he's also an accountant and the thought of $1000+ binoculars might make me a widow (I'd rather keep him alive). I looked at the 10 x 40s but they are close to that $1000 mark while the 30s are under $400.

So, if not the Conquest 10 x 30s, what else should I look at?

Tough one. I don't think that the Conquest 10x30 is much better than Nikon Monarch 10 x 42. Have you looked through the Conquests? Do you like them?

If Minox 10 x 42 BD ALT BR seemed ok, get them.

[lucznik]

Do you like your Pentax? If so, you might want to look at the Pentax DCF XP. Their 10X33 is available from Cabela's for $429

Leupold WindRiver Katmais are available in a 10X32 for $399 also from Cabela's.

[ceasar]

Just a quick thought here, but you sound like you might be a candidate for Canon's 10 x 30 IS binocular. Their anti shake technology might be just the ticket for you. You could probably handle their 12 x 36 also. Worth a thought, I think.

Cordially,
Bob

[xenophobe]

I've viewed a number of the Conquests, and I thought they were really nice and definitely had one of the better views for a upper-mid-priced binocular... Their field of view is a little limited compared to the high end lines of comparable magnification + objective size, but they are really clear and bright, with a tad of noticable chromatic aberration, which wasn't really disturbing unless you looked for it specifically.

[FrankD]

I tend to agree with just about all of the previous statements. Though they offer a somewhat sharper image I did not think the Conquests were that much better than the Monarchs optically overall. Possibly a slightly wider field of view when compared 8x versions of both bins..and probably 10x as well though I do not have the specs handy. Since you are aware of the low light issue with a 10x30 bin (as compared to an 8x30 or 8x42) I will not touch on it.

I believe the Conquests are one of the better $400-$600 bins out there right now though must agree that the Canon 10x30 IS, the Pentax XPs or the Leupold WindRiver Katmais would also fit the bill. I do believe though that the Conquests offer, IMHO, the best image quality of the bunch.