Girafenaine
Member
Hello,
I am a newbie in binoculars, and have read a lot on this forum to learn. I would like to use some compact binoculars to look at birds, nature, and sometimes sky. I could spend about 400 € if it is for more than 10 years. I am rather a contemplative guy and like to look at stars with naked eye, and to recognize birds during a forest walk. I have got no binoculars yet. Actually, I tried to buy some a long time ago, they were 8*42 Perl, and I brought them back to the store when I realized that I didn't use them, being too big, stored at the bottom of my backpack.
To make sure I will bring them during walks (and travels and car trips) and use them, I need them small... and appealing. I don't hike with the main goal to look with my binoculars, I just would like to have binoculars when I encounter some birds or landscapes or unexpected thing to see. Something like an efficient tool to enlarge my vision and dream a little more. I don't aim at looking through binoculars for hours, it is rather a matter of minutes (but many times).
Here in France, I can reach an outdoors store with a few binoculars from Nikon, Zeiss, Swarowsky, Perl, Bushnell. I was thinking of the Nikon Monarch 7 8*30 and its nice wide FOV, but in the store I realize that they were not as compact as I figured out (even if they are really compact compared to 8*32 and 8*42). I fear I won't have them in the reach of my hands when I need them, being rather in a bag (under some water bottle, food items and maps). On the other hand, 8*25 could lack of light in cloudy days, according to what I read here (ep 3,1 mm should be smaller than my pupil rather often, I am 34) and look less "serious". Here are my questions :
Thank you for your help,
Girafenaine
I am a newbie in binoculars, and have read a lot on this forum to learn. I would like to use some compact binoculars to look at birds, nature, and sometimes sky. I could spend about 400 € if it is for more than 10 years. I am rather a contemplative guy and like to look at stars with naked eye, and to recognize birds during a forest walk. I have got no binoculars yet. Actually, I tried to buy some a long time ago, they were 8*42 Perl, and I brought them back to the store when I realized that I didn't use them, being too big, stored at the bottom of my backpack.
To make sure I will bring them during walks (and travels and car trips) and use them, I need them small... and appealing. I don't hike with the main goal to look with my binoculars, I just would like to have binoculars when I encounter some birds or landscapes or unexpected thing to see. Something like an efficient tool to enlarge my vision and dream a little more. I don't aim at looking through binoculars for hours, it is rather a matter of minutes (but many times).
Here in France, I can reach an outdoors store with a few binoculars from Nikon, Zeiss, Swarowsky, Perl, Bushnell. I was thinking of the Nikon Monarch 7 8*30 and its nice wide FOV, but in the store I realize that they were not as compact as I figured out (even if they are really compact compared to 8*32 and 8*42). I fear I won't have them in the reach of my hands when I need them, being rather in a bag (under some water bottle, food items and maps). On the other hand, 8*25 could lack of light in cloudy days, according to what I read here (ep 3,1 mm should be smaller than my pupil rather often, I am 34) and look less "serious". Here are my questions :
- Zeiss Terra Pocket 8*25 (290 €) could be a good deal for me. In what kind of situations will they do less than the Nikon Monarch 7 8*30 (340 €) ? Does the optic quality of the Terra Pocket offset the smaller exit pupil, or are the Monarch 7 optically better and brighter ? For a walk in the woods by overcasted weather, I wonder whether there is a visible difference.
- Same question with the Zeiss Victory Pocket 8*25 (680 €). Are there situations these Victory Pocket will offer less than the Nikon Monarch 7 8*30 ? If the Victory Pocket has more to offer in each situation, It could be tempting for me, even if it is far from being in my initial budget. By the way, I have not decided yet if it is silly for a beginner to put so much money in tiny binoculars that were not suited for "real observations"...
- I would be pleased with other solutions you may put forward for what I would like to do !
Thank you for your help,
Girafenaine