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binoculars (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter kempo71
- Start date
HighNorth
Well-known member
Hi Kemp and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.
I've moved your post to the Binocular forum and subscribed you to the thread so you can keep track of it.
I hope you enjoy your time here with us.
I've moved your post to the Binocular forum and subscribed you to the thread so you can keep track of it.
I hope you enjoy your time here with us.
You'll need to give budget etc. as well
Rich
Rich
Torview
Well-known member
brocknroller
porromaniac
There's treatment for that condition now. Too bad he had to suffer since he was a kid.
tic-disorders-and_twitches
<B>
brocknroller
porromaniac
Welcome, Kempo. Even if you have deep pockets, you should start "twitching" with a lower priced bin so you get to find out what you like best before you jump in with both feet and your credit card.
Lots of choices out there in the $200-$300 price range, but not all of them are good, in fact, most of them aren't. I would highly recommend the Zeiss 8x32 Terra ED as a great starter bin.
You can go cheaper, but it reminds me of how off-put I was with guitar playing when my parents bought me a cheapo Sears guitar whose "action" was so bad (height of the strings from the fingerboard) that the strings started separating the ridges of my fingerprints! I dropped playing guitar for a few years until I tried a better guitar that was easy to play and then started playing again and got into a garage band called Chocolate Fudge Independence. We started playing gigs and were about to cut our first record when our vocalist, Vince, moved to Florida with his family and formed another band he named Vanilla Fudge (coincidence?), and that was the end of our band.
My point is you want to start with something affordable but good enough that you don't become discouraged.
Is there an optics/camera shop near you where you can try out a Zeiss 8x32 Terra ED? I also recommend the Nikon 8x30 Monarch 7, but I don't think the warranty is as good as the Zeiss in Europe. Check on that.
If you do a search on BF binoculars forum, you will find reviews of both these binoculars.
Brock
Last edited:
Corvus cornix
Well-known member
Hi,
My advice would be:
Set yourself a budget and try as many different pairs as possible as your choice of optcs is highly personal. The shape of your face, size of hands etc can all affect how you get on with a particular model. When I bought my last pair, I discounted one pair straight away because I just couldn't get on with them, even thought they were of identical spec and similar price to the ones I bought.
Try them out in field conditions, if possible. This will give you a much better overview of the instrument. If you try them under artificial light in a shop, for instance, it will give you a false impression. There are often optics field days held by optics retailers around the country or regional Bird Fairs (including the national Bird Fair at Rutland Water in August). Also, In Focus have stores at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserves. If possible, try them out on a cloudy day. Many binoculars can appear the same in bright sunshine, but good one really come into their own in low light conditions.
Don't rule out second-hand equipment. You may pick up a pair of top quality used binoculars for the same price as a new pair of mid-range ones.
Take your time when choosing. Don't rush or be pressured into buying one particular pair if you're not sure. Many good specialist optics retailers are also birders, they'll understand it's potentially a big investment and will allow you time to browse.
Good luck and happy browsing.
Cheers
My advice would be:
Set yourself a budget and try as many different pairs as possible as your choice of optcs is highly personal. The shape of your face, size of hands etc can all affect how you get on with a particular model. When I bought my last pair, I discounted one pair straight away because I just couldn't get on with them, even thought they were of identical spec and similar price to the ones I bought.
Try them out in field conditions, if possible. This will give you a much better overview of the instrument. If you try them under artificial light in a shop, for instance, it will give you a false impression. There are often optics field days held by optics retailers around the country or regional Bird Fairs (including the national Bird Fair at Rutland Water in August). Also, In Focus have stores at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserves. If possible, try them out on a cloudy day. Many binoculars can appear the same in bright sunshine, but good one really come into their own in low light conditions.
Don't rule out second-hand equipment. You may pick up a pair of top quality used binoculars for the same price as a new pair of mid-range ones.
Take your time when choosing. Don't rush or be pressured into buying one particular pair if you're not sure. Many good specialist optics retailers are also birders, they'll understand it's potentially a big investment and will allow you time to browse.
Good luck and happy browsing.
Cheers
Unfortunately the term twitching in the UK has become synonymous with birdwatching in the media and hence the general public. Hence every birdwatcher is a twitcher to the general public.
This means I often have to explain to people that I am not a twitcher in the sense of the youtube video linked in this thread but a birdwatcher who sometimes twitches/birds a bit further afield from home.
A term I only learned a few years ago:
In New England, one definition of "Twitching"
is sliding in boots in the snow behind a truck.
You have a tow-rope, so you get whipped or 'twitched'
going around corners. Very dangerous rural fun.
It maybe related to 'hitching'. Around Portland Maine,
kids would use a belt to steal a ride behind a mail truck
or a delivery van,with their belt (in the snow). Leather-sole
Oxford shoes used to be common...they slip on snow.
No birds were hurt ;-)
In New England, one definition of "Twitching"
is sliding in boots in the snow behind a truck.
You have a tow-rope, so you get whipped or 'twitched'
going around corners. Very dangerous rural fun.
It maybe related to 'hitching'. Around Portland Maine,
kids would use a belt to steal a ride behind a mail truck
or a delivery van,with their belt (in the snow). Leather-sole
Oxford shoes used to be common...they slip on snow.
No birds were hurt ;-)
Hi Delia! I'm having issues learning how to start a thread or reply in thread format... other than using Quote. Also how to subscribe to a thread. I would like to subscribe to the above binocular thread. I have been using Quote with SteveC regarding Zen and Maven Optics… and he's been very helpful. Thanks in advance for any guidance.-SusanW
justabirdwatcher
Well-known member
Since there are so many options, and even more opinions, it always helps to identify your budget first.
As soon as you do, you'll get 100 recommendations for binoculars that are above that number, so keep that in mind. But you should get some very solid recommendations for binocs that fit your budget. This is a great place to ask.
As soon as you do, you'll get 100 recommendations for binoculars that are above that number, so keep that in mind. But you should get some very solid recommendations for binocs that fit your budget. This is a great place to ask.
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