yes, I've found a general rule of birding is, you see the best birds when the binoculars are in the case. By the time the binos are out, the birds are gone.
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Monocular recommendations (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter William Lewis
- Start date
You’ve got one too! Mine just showed up recently and the close focus was completely unexpected. No need to screw on an extra lens, just pull the tube all the way out.
William Lewis
Wishing birdwatching paid the bills.
I picked this up, cheap, the view through is ok, very yellow cast but sharp, stable with a 5mm exit pupil and a just about useful magnification for my needs. This particular one is broken sadly so will be imminently returned (visible shards of glass rattling round inside!). If this one didn't have the errant shards I'd keep it and get a better case - It's a surprisingly useful format of optic and oh so neat.
I know Zeiss (turmon) and then docter made a similar product, Steiner still do and there is some information of an essenbach one but I suspect that 8x mag is a bit much for this type of thing, 6x would be good, 5x seems a little low. Does anyone know of such a thing of decent quality in current production? Did anyone continue to produce the docter one?
Also as an addendum it's interesting to view through it as it's moved from it's storage to usage position and see the porro prisms work their magic.
Thanks in advance.
Will
I know Zeiss (turmon) and then docter made a similar product, Steiner still do and there is some information of an essenbach one but I suspect that 8x mag is a bit much for this type of thing, 6x would be good, 5x seems a little low. Does anyone know of such a thing of decent quality in current production? Did anyone continue to produce the docter one?
Also as an addendum it's interesting to view through it as it's moved from it's storage to usage position and see the porro prisms work their magic.
Thanks in advance.
Will
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Docter was bought out by Noblex and they continued making the Turmon for a while, but it seems it has been finally discontinued. I had the Steiner version and it was a piece of junk I promptly got rid of.
Before completely dismissing 5x try to get your hands on the little Nikon 5x15. Between it and my Zeiss 6x18, my two favorite monoculars, so far.
The improved steadiness of these two lower magnification options actually had me wanting to try out the ultra shorty Zeiss 4x12, even though the 3x12 was absolutely on the low side for me.
The best thing about trying them yourself is that it takes everyone else’s opinion out of the equation, as we sometimes each have differing needs and preferences.
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William Lewis
Wishing birdwatching paid the bills.
Thanks for the tip- it could have been an option.
William Lewis
Wishing birdwatching paid the bills.
Yes I may well have to give the mini Nikon a go, at closer ranger where I'll primarily be using it it's not too bad. Correct about the trial and error method, it's my usual mo but it's good to have suggestions, greatly appreciated - a 3mm exit pupils still useable too.
Thanks again.
Will
I have both the Nikon HG 5x15 and 7x15. The 5x15 is much easier to position your eye correctly in, at least with glasses. And yes, monoculars are harder to stabilize than binoculars so the lower magnification helps, while remaining useful.
I think it was one of your posts that gave me a push to go ahead and try out the little Nikon 5x15 and it's proved to be my most compact, but also workable option yet.
I have also had a bad experience with a Steiner product.
Binocollector
Well-known member
I have the 8x25 "Safari Ultrasharp" and while the optical quality and the glass is pretty decent -- I never saw a bino with worse glare control and ghosting. Horrible. I think it's a sad thing -- they have been making binos for so long, couldn't they figure out how to prevent ghosting and glare in all that time? The company exists since 1947 after all.
How about a Zeiss 4x12 BINOCULAR! You don't see these that often. Very cool!
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Thanks for the tip on the Nikon 5x15 HG Monocular. I have had a lot of different binoculars and the Nikon 5x15 is the best and most usable one I have ever had, and I had the Leica Trinovid 8x20 monocular. The Nikon is tiny but really comfortable in the hand with the hexagon shape versus the round ones. The optics are very sharp on-axis all the way to the edge, and it has a big FOV and is very bright in lowlight with the 3 mm EP.
The 5x is advantageous in a monocular because of the big DOF you don't have to focus as much, and it is steadier than the higher magnifications, especially when trying to hold it in the wind. I put a wrist lanyard on it and carried it in my left hand while walking the dog, and it was very useful spotting birds and ducks around the lake. I also got a good deal on it, picking it up for $120 new on eBay.
Here is a review on the Nikon HG 5x15 Monocular. It is interesting that there is a controversy over what the body is made out of. It seems it could be titanium or stainless steel. I think it is stainless steel.
Nikon Monocular - Potent Optics in a Tiny Package!
The Nikon monocular we bought and tested wowed us with its outstanding performance. See what our tests revealed about it.
www.opticsreviewer.com
Nikon 5x15 HG Titanium Monocular - Binoculars - Cloudy Nights
Nikon 5x15 HG Titanium Monocular - posted in Binoculars: Just acquired one of these tiny optics. The specs were pretty amazing, including full multicoatings (practically invisible), silvered reflective coatings and phase coatings on roof prisms, and a 9° true field. While I did have an...
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William Lewis
Wishing birdwatching paid the bills.
Yes it seems 5x is a really nice magnification, I'm quite enjoying the red Russian pictured above, still nice and small but with a 5mm exit pupil so it's an easy walk in view in a very small package.
I just need to find a tiny case with a belt loop for it now - suggestions more than welcome!
I'm out wild camping tonight on the way to the Norfolk coast on the bike- birdforum in the tent in the middle of nowhere feels very civilized. Opticron 10x42 mono's my only optic for the next few days but it's more about the sounds to be honest, I look forward to the change of track when we get near the sea.
Will
I just need to find a tiny case with a belt loop for it now - suggestions more than welcome!
I'm out wild camping tonight on the way to the Norfolk coast on the bike- birdforum in the tent in the middle of nowhere feels very civilized. Opticron 10x42 mono's my only optic for the next few days but it's more about the sounds to be honest, I look forward to the change of track when we get near the sea.
Will
Just carry it in your pocket. That is what I do. That way, it is protected until you use it. I don't believe it is waterproof, either.
Or wear it a a necklace. It’s really light.
I regret I sold Zeiss 6x20B monocular many years ago. Since several years I have Vixen 6x21 ED monocular. Outstanding quality but significantly bulkier than Zeiss 6x20. The design also makes it easy to accidently refocus just by holding it in the hand.
I have thought about Nikon 5x15. Much smaller than Vixen 6x21, and smaller than Zeiss 6x20 as well. 15,8mm eye relief means it may be sufficient for eyeglasses. And even if not completely satisfying it's still interesting.
If I don't see entire TFOV of 9deg with eyeglasses I maybe see 7deg. Which is still very usable.
I mean: a small monocular is a compromise. It's not about having an awesome viewing experience but just about seeing details not possible with naked eye and you can carry it in even a small jacket pocket. And it's so small no one notice you hold a magnification device in your hand when you are walking around.
I have thought about Nikon 5x15. Much smaller than Vixen 6x21, and smaller than Zeiss 6x20 as well. 15,8mm eye relief means it may be sufficient for eyeglasses. And even if not completely satisfying it's still interesting.
If I don't see entire TFOV of 9deg with eyeglasses I maybe see 7deg. Which is still very usable.
I mean: a small monocular is a compromise. It's not about having an awesome viewing experience but just about seeing details not possible with naked eye and you can carry it in even a small jacket pocket. And it's so small no one notice you hold a magnification device in your hand when you are walking around.
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Gijs van Ginkel
Well-known member
William Lewis, post 23,
We have investigated the foldable monocular you show in your post in comparison with a number of other foldablel monoculars from Zeiss, Docter, Steiner etc. etc. The results are published on the WB-site of House of Outdoor.
Gijs van Ginkel
We have investigated the foldable monocular you show in your post in comparison with a number of other foldablel monoculars from Zeiss, Docter, Steiner etc. etc. The results are published on the WB-site of House of Outdoor.
Gijs van Ginkel
I use Leica Monovid 8x20 as monocular and sometimes with the close-up lens provided.
It is well protected in the provided case.
Excellent optics if you ask me.
In the beginning I do not knew how to handle it and was not easy to use. I learned how it is done (grasped in the palm) and now I have it with me every time I go out.
The cap (for the eyepiece) is loose but I do not care.
It is well protected in the provided case.
Excellent optics if you ask me.
In the beginning I do not knew how to handle it and was not easy to use. I learned how it is done (grasped in the palm) and now I have it with me every time I go out.
The cap (for the eyepiece) is loose but I do not care.
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