[jakobs]

Greetings,
I am looking for some binos. The price range I am thinking of is 300-400$.
Has anyone here used binuculars from Eagle Optics?
The ones I am considering are:
http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp...urch=1&pid=750

http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp...rch=1&pid=2993

Any recomendations for other binos or pointers to reviews greatly appreciated.

[Steve Gross]

Jakob:

There are a lot of bins in the price range you've chosen. In the States, I'm seeing more and more Pentaxes all the time. I have the DCF WP 8x42 model, a phase-corrected roof prism binocular. Swift makes several models in this price range as well. The Eagle Optics Platinum series is very popular among many serious birders as well.

A question: are you choosing 10x binoculars for any specific reason (e.g. hawkwatching, seawatching, long distance viewing in general)? I ask because many birders find an 8x bin to be a very good all-purpose piece, as it tends to balance weight, minimum focus, and field of view into the best of all worlds.

Others will disagree with parts of what I've written here, but you're always best off knowing why you're choosing what you're choosing.

betterviewdesired.com is a great site for bin and scope reviews, including the Best Buys, a designation that considers price in its criteria. Good luck in your search.

Steve Gross
Houston, TX

P.S. Eagle Optics is known for very good customer service and a good understanding of the needs of birders. I have no association with Eagle Optics (necessary disclaimer), other than as a contented purchaser of several items from them.

[cspratt]

I use the Swift 8.5 x 44 roof prisms. Just under $400.00 (U.S.). As I wear glasses all the time these have been a perfect fit with their long eye relief. I recommend them highly.

PS: I agree about the comments about Eagle Optics. My Kowa 823M scope came from them. Great people!

[op59no1]

I have the Eagle Platinum 8x42s and find them to be excellent. I'm an eyeglass wearer, which was a major consideration when I was buying, and these have all the eye relief I need. Eagle Optics do offer wonderful service and a good selection. You might also consider their newer "Audubon" series - the 8x42 "Equinox" is only $219 and is supposedly a phase-corrected roof (I haven't tried it myself).


-Molly
Ithaca, NY
USA

[ps11aj]

Doe's anyone know anything about Steiner safari. They cost about 4700 sek in Sweden =ca 400£. I think they are cheaper in UK. They are waterproof and have 30 years warranty. My Kowa have of some reason get a dubble picture and I need new binoculars.
look here http://www.naturbokhandeln.com/artik...asp?artnr=1690
Pierre

[mak]

Originally Posted by ps11aj

My Kowa have of some reason get a dubble picture and I need new binoculars.

It sounds that your binoculars need collimating. Have you knocked them?, the prisms may have moved resulting in double images. Contact your local Kowa agent, and ask about re-collimating your bins, should be cheaper than buying new.

[bcurrie]

Jakob,

Have you looked at Brunton Binoculars? I do not have a pair for myself yet, but have used them and as soon as I have the money I plan on buying the 4008 model number. That is a 10X42 size. They sell for $385-$400 (U.S.). The 8X are a little less.

[stefanbj]

Hi Jakob,

I use the Swift 8,5x44 Audubon porro prisms. I think they are great with a large field of view and bright image with good colour.
My wife has the Swift 8,5x44 Audobon roof prisms and they are also very nice, but I think the optics in the porros is better and the cost for these two version is almost identical. The porros are a bit larger and heavier than the roofs, but I think the better optics more than make up for this.

Stefan

[fordwillman]

Hello,
I have a pair of the Eagle Optics you wanted info on. The binos are excellent optically, bright, very rugged, not too heavy, super warranty from EO. I bought mine last summer when EO had a $100 off sale on all the Platinums--at that price I had to get a pair.
Some niggling negatives. My wife sees color around bright objects, I really dont. She is very sensitive to chromatic abberation. Field of view is fairly narrow-but you would expect this from a 10x50.
Overall a very good bino. They are not in the same class as Swaro EL, but you are only paying a fraction of the price for 80-90% of the view!
My two cents, hope it helps.
Ford

[marcus]

I have the Swift Optic Warblers. They cost $314. The view and eye relief is perfect. They are definately a pair which makes me wonder why someone would need or want anything more expensive. They are waterproof, aren't too heavy and come with a wide neckband. Just perfect.

[Beverlybaynes]

I've carried the Swift Ultralite 8x42 for several years and just love them, in spite of the well-known 'loose' diopter. Every person I know who has this model has had the same problem -- the right diopter has a tendency to 'unfocus' (move?) just the slightest bit, so refocusing it happens fairly often.

However, I've never found it to be so much of a problem that I'll give them up.

They are very lightweight, but are made even lighter by the fact that I carry them with a harness, not a neckstrap (something I would strongly recommend to anyone and everyone who has ever complained about bino-neck.)

They have the distinct advantage of being very affordable -- my second pair (after my first were stolen) were less than $200 on sale at EO.

And EO is a superb company to deal with. Fast, courteous service, good prices, extraordinary range of products.

Plus they have the harness I mentioned for about $20.