Leica Swarozski Etc Etc Etc Et Etc Etc (1 Viewer)

[UK Nature Lover]

It always makes me smile when people are focussed on which optics are the best.

Agreed, there are several price ranges, with associated benefits.

I was once in a hide and overheard a group at one end of the hide trying to identify a bird in a tree about 150 metres away.
Between them, they had all the top optics you could buy. They thought it was a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

I asked if I could ascertain the species they were looking at with my Leica 10 x 42 BA (1997) and quickly identified the bird was indeed a plastic bag stuck against the tree.

I suppose the moral is to get the basics right before spending a fortune on optics.
The number of posts arguing which optic is better than another seems to outweigh the object of our hobby.

I looked at 'upgrading' my 1997 Trinovids recently and after assessing every binocular on the market I decided on a pair of Leica Ultrvid 8 x 42's.
Normally I'm not brand loyal, but Leica was my choice as they are superb in most categories.

Anyway, whether you have a Leica/Swarovski/Leitz/ Nikon?etc/etc/etc/etc/etc/etc/etc a rare event/bird isn't guaranteed.

As mentioned in my background info, my other main passion is archaeology.
My main machine in this process is a French machine, an XP Déus.
I use this analogy as even this hobby has the 'best' machine to use syndrome.
Just to give you a little perspective, this link shows what my machine has recovered, each square is a day out!

Priscan Archaeology’s albums | Flickr

All I'm trying to say is experience (and luck) is paramount.

Whatever bino's you use, they're the best

 

[Rotherbirder]

As with many pastimes, there's more than a smidgen of snobbery involved and it seems many would rather look at their binoculars than through them! You must have heard the maxim 'all the best gear and no idea' by now?

RB

 

[Pinewood]

Whatever bino's you use, they're the best

Hello Priscan,

I am reminded of an incident, almost twenty years, ago. I had brought a 1951 Leitz binocular to work, when sunset was early, when I learned that there was a boreal owl in Central Park, a rare occurrence. I could just manage to see it before I needed to be home. A fifty year old 8x30 Binuxit was far from ideal, but I got a good look at it.

I gather that you use a metal detector.

Stay safe,
Arthur Pinewood

 

[CharleyBird]

Metal detector? For birds like goldcrest or goldfinch?

 

[Ratal]

It always makes me smile when people are focussed on which optics are the best.

Agreed, there are several price ranges, with associated benefits.

I was once in a hide and overheard a group at one end of the hide trying to identify a bird in a tree about 150 metres away.
Between them, they had all the top optics you could buy. They thought it was a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

I asked if I could ascertain the species they were looking at with my Leica 10 x 42 BA (1997) and quickly identified the bird was indeed a plastic bag stuck against the tree.

I suppose the moral is to get the basics right before spending a fortune on optics.
The number of posts arguing which optic is better than another seems to outweigh the object of our hobby.

I looked at 'upgrading' my 1997 Trinovids recently and after assessing every binocular on the market I decided on a pair of Leica Ultrvid 8 x 42's.
Normally I'm not brand loyal, but Leica was my choice as they are superb in most categories.

Anyway, whether you have a Leica/Swarovski/Leitz/ Nikon?etc/etc/etc/etc/etc/etc/etc a rare event/bird isn't guaranteed.

As mentioned in my background info, my other main passion is archaeology.
My main machine in this process is a French machine, an XP Déus.
I use this analogy as even this hobby has the 'best' machine to use syndrome.
Just to give you a little perspective, this link shows what my machine has recovered, each square is a day out!

Priscan Archaeology’s albums | Flickr

All I'm trying to say is experience (and luck) is paramount.

Whatever bino's you use, they're the best

Edited because my post fell far short of Bird Forum's standards. My apologise all round for my late night snarkiness.

 

[Rotherbirder]

Come on Ratal, new member or not, he/she has just as much right to hold an opinion as anyone else here, like- or agree with it or not! Ignore buttons can stifle discussion.

RB

 

[lilcrazy2]

2 messages on bird forum and we get preachy **** like this? yeah, glad there is an ignore button - the absolute stratospheric arrogance is utterly jaw dropping. Waltz in, tell everyone we are birding wrong, and ...

Nah . You are straight to blocked.

It's not that he is preachy, rather it is the absolute absurdity and ridiculousness of his claim of the plastic bag that only he could identify with his 25 year old binos.

 

[dries1]

Not everyone on here is a die hard birder either.

 

[tenex]

I asked if I could ascertain the species they were looking at with my Leica 10 x 42 BA (1997) and quickly identified the bird was indeed a plastic bag stuck against the tree.

I suppose the moral is to get the basics right before spending a fortune on optics.
The number of posts arguing which optic is better than another seems to outweigh the object of our hobby.

This post does present certain difficulties:

People are free to spend money however they like, and birding is only one use of binoculars. Moralizing about this is just egotistical posturing.

The plastic-bag story does need some work in order to seem more plausible, and not make those people out to be complete idiots (or seem to relish doing so). Was it at least black and white, or seen silhouetted so as to remotely resemble a woodpecker clinging to a limb?

Finally one can't help wondering why you would come to the Binoculars section to declare comparative discussion of optics a waste of time.

 

[UK Nature Lover]

Hello Priscan,

I am reminded of an incident, almost twenty years, ago. I had brought a 1951 Leitz binocular to work, when sunset was early, when I learned that there was a boreal owl in Central Park, a rare occurrence. I could just manage to see it before I needed to be home. A fifty year old 8x30 Binuxit was far from ideal, but I got a good look at it.

I gather that you use a metal detector.

Stay safe,
Arthur Pinewood

Hello Arthur,

Nice spot with the Boreal Owl.

Yes, I'm part of a small team of three that field walk and metal detect at many places in England.
We are all recorders with the Portable Antiquities Scheme (British Museum) uploading our finds data to their database.
It's also a great way of getting out to see nature!

Best wishes
Paul

This post does present certain difficulties:

People are free to spend money however they like, and birding is only one use of binoculars. Moralizing about this is just egotistical posturing.

The plastic-bag story does need some work in order to seem more plausible, and not make those people out to be complete idiots (or seem to relish doing so). Was it at least black and white, or seen silhouetted so as to remotely resemble a woodpecker clinging to a limb?

Finally one can't help wondering why you would come to the Binoculars section to declare comparative discussion of optics a waste of time.

Hi tenex,

Of course, people are free to spend their money how they wish.
I've had my Trivovids for 25 years and this is the very first time I've ever mentioned the plastic bag example in all that time.
The plastic bag was indeed small and white and was moving in a similar way to woodpeckers 'dancing' around a trunk.

The reason I posted in the binocular section was that I was using this area to research a new pair of bino's.
It was having read some comments that appeared to me to be subjective.
It's never a waste of time reading discussions debating differences on any subject.

Not everyone on here is a die hard birder either.

Absolutely!

2 messages on bird forum and we get preachy **** like this? yeah, glad there is an ignore button - the absolute stratospheric arrogance is utterly jaw dropping. Waltz in, tell everyone we are birding wrong, and ...

Nah . You are straight to blocked.

Hi Ratal,

What's "preachy" about "whichever bino's you use, they're the best"?

Have a great day!

 

[wllmspd]

The number of “kingfisher” I see in local rivers that turn out to be bits of plastic when I get my binoculars out (any old pair suffice).

Peter

 

[Paultricounty]

Hello Arthur,

Nice spot with the Boreal Owl.

Yes, I'm part of a small team of three that field walk and metal detect at many places in England.
We are all recorders with the Portable Antiquities Scheme (British Museum) uploading our finds data to their database.
It's also a great way of getting out to see nature!

Best wishes
Paul

Hi tenex,

Of course, people are free to spend their money how they wish.
I've had my Trivovids for 25 years and this is the very first time I've ever mentioned the plastic bag example in all that time.
The plastic bag was indeed small and white and was moving in a similar way to woodpeckers 'dancing' around a trunk.

The reason I posted in the binocular section was that I was using this area to research a new pair of bino's.
It was having read some comments that appeared to me to be subjective.
It's never a waste of time reading discussions debating differences on any subject.

Absolutely!

Hi Ratal,

What's "preachy" about "whichever bino's you use, they're the best"?

Have a great day!

I’m not sure why you needed another pair of binoculars when you already had one of the best plastic bag observational optics around in the BA. 😜

But I do understand where your coming from, it’s like the person who buys a 500-1000 hp car an never runs a quarter mile or drives over 60mph (96.56KPH for our euro friends). Same for the guy with the boat that does over 80MPH and never leaves the bay or the guy with the $6000+ AR, bolt action etc. set up and never shoots it out side of the 25 yard shooting range.

To each his own and it’s so wonderful that we are so blessed with all these things that we have at our disposal and the choice to be able to use them however we want. Our life and abundance ( for the lucky ones) is truly a gift.


Paul

 

[UK Nature Lover]

The number of “kingfisher” I see in local rivers that turn out to be bits of plastic when I get my binoculars out (any old pair suffice).

Peter

Hi Peter,

Thank heck for bino's (any brand!). Hopefully, you do get to see them lol!

Paul

I’m not sure why you needed another pair of binoculars when you already had one of the best plastic bag observational optics around in the BA. 😜

But I do understand where your coming from, it’s like the person who buys a 500-1000 hp car an never runs a quarter mile or drives over 60mph (96.56KPH for our euro friends). Same for the guy with the boat that does over 80MPH and never leaves the bay or the guy with the $6000+ AR, bolt action etc. set up and never shoots it out side of the 25 yard shooting range.

To each his own and it’s so wonderful that we are so blessed with all these things that we have at our disposal and the choice to be able to use them however we want. Our life and abundance ( for the lucky ones) is truly a gift.


Paul

Hi Paul,

I bought the latest pair for my wife as I broke her Hawke bino's.

I'm so glad that you (and others) completely understood what I was trying to say.
Sometimes it's hard to relate your feelings/thoughts/opinions on a web page/email etc. without someone taking it the wrong way.

I totally agree with your last paragraph.

Best wishes
Paul