Recommendation for IS for flying bird ID and viewing (1 Viewer)

[edwincjones]

For IDing flying birds I would like IS with fast engagement, wide FOV, high degree of IS and magnification and light weight;
but since all binoculars are compromises, which current options are better with swallows and other flying birds?
The newer fujinon 14x40 seems good except for the IF.

thanks,
edj

 

[edwincjones]

thank you Dennis for response on another thread re Kite APC 16x42
I wonder if this will be better with my lower mag higher 10degree FOV of Kowa 6.5x32 -harder to find but better image once located.

 

[edwincjones]

For my own followup

-tried with 6.5x32 10 degree FOV, easy to locate in FOV, 6x helps
-tried 15x50 with 4 degree FOV, harder to locate but better view once visualized
works with slower flying birds, not so well with faster/closer birds
-tried with 12x36 IS with 5 degree FOV, better view if located but need to get use to its ergonomics

Probably canon IS 10x42 6.5 degree FOV best option available now but never tried

edj

 

[etudiant]

For my own followup

-tried with 6.5x32 10 degree FOV, easy to locate in FOV, 6x helps
-tried 15x50 with 4 degree FOV, harder to locate but better view once visualized
works with slower flying birds, not so well with faster/closer birds
-tried with 12x36 IS with 5 degree FOV, better view if located but need to get use to its ergonomics

Probably canon IS 10x42 6.5 degree FOV best option available now but never tried

edj

The Canon 10x42 seems to tick most of your boxes other than the 'light weight'. It is bright, good FoV and waterproof. with good quick IS.
It serves me well for flying birds as well as for small passerines bouncing through the tree tops in the wind.
It only offers about 0.7 degrees of IS iirc, which takes out the normal jitter from hand holding. That is much less than the 5 degree compensation offered by Fuji, but imho the difference is immaterial unless one is on a moving platform such as a car or a boat.
I would note that the IS engagement is poorly positioned, so I'd not expect to get much benefit looking at birds only briefly seen unless your IS is already on.
It worked decently trying to track Pallid Swifts from the hillside, but a wider FoV would have been better.

 

[edwincjones]

thanks etudiant

edj