The influx of these types, and their fool no-one leopards spots is prolly the reason I haven't posted much in the Bino forum of late ...... if I sound like a cranky bi*t,ch - then blame it on chocolate withdrawals ! :cat:
Rotfl...
Joachim
The influx of these types, and their fool no-one leopards spots is prolly the reason I haven't posted much in the Bino forum of late ...... if I sound like a cranky bi*t,ch - then blame it on chocolate withdrawals ! :cat:
** "I'm looking for the best binocular between $629.95 and $849.95 in a 10x42 format for "viewing" wildlife 'out west' - which is best out of the Vortex Grand Slam DXXD, the Remmington Predator Ultimate, the Weaver Euthanizer PRO, the Nosler HP, the Mil-Tac SureFind, the HuntaBin Stealth 4000FPS, the NevaHeardOfEm Rebranda Camo GTX, or the DedaNDoorNailz NevaMiss SP's ..... ?????"
[translation - the only "viewing" I'm going to be doing, is of some poor critter moments before I pull the trigger. I couldn't give less of a stuff about watching birds {unless they're the thong wearing greater booby kind! lol} and your community!]
The influx of these types, and their fool no-one leopards spots is prolly the reason I haven't posted much in the Bino forum of late ...... if I sound like a cranky bi*t,ch - then blame it on chocolate withdrawals ! :cat:
Chosun :gh:
I've thought about starting this thread a few times. Well, actually any time I see someone ask for some advice on choosing a new pair of binoculars. Not here, where good advice is pretty easy to come by, but listservs, facebook groups, etc. It seems I see the same mediocre advice over and over again. Here's a few of them.
1. You're wasting your money if you buy any binoculars under x amount. X is almost always a pretty darn high number. $500 or $1000. The implication being that anything under $500 is junk that is useless for birding. I always assume these people last bought new optics twenty years ago and assume that nothing has changed since then.
2. Nikon Monarch! I don't recall seeing an optics thread EVER outside of here that didn't have at least one person piping up and saying that you should buy a pair of Monarchs. Now, this is not terrible advice on its face. I don't believe I've ever heard about a specific junky model of Monarchs, but at this moment there are 14 models of monarch being sold from anywhere between $200 and $1000. My impression has always been that basically none of the Monarchs are the best value at their price point.
3. X brand are great! Kissing cousin to the monarch comment above. Most brands make multiple lines of bins and multiple models in each line. Not all of them are good, or at least provide good value for money.
4. I love my pair of 20 year old $30 10x50 porros! Perhaps they have a diamond in the rough, but having grown up on cheap porros I often wonder how these people see any birds at all.
Anyone else have any optics advice that gnaws at them?
Made an old boy chortle, thank you...
Rotfl...
Chosun Juan - made me laugh.
Wow, CJ, maybe chocolate in moderation is needed?
However I got a chuckle out of the post and the point is one I can see as well.
Chosun, post 19,
You did it again, I had to see a medical doctor, since you made me unstoppable laugh.
Gijs van Ginkel
... I really like the bino model names you mentioned :-O
The Sun's elevation in NSW is 80 degrees today at midday.
If one doesn't wear a hat and cuts down on the chocolate, then mirth happens.
..... LOL :-O
..... TakeDown Optics Swamp Hunter IV xTreme UHD DD 10x42
LOL ! :-O :t:
Haha - you should start that thread GiGi - it would be heaps of fun 3I read those bino names of yours like 5 times. They're already classics in my mind. Yesterday was a slow day finally at work and I was making up whacky bino names while trapped in my cube. There could be a whole fun new thread on these over-the-top models.
I got one more for ya! ...
Gargoyle Optics SuckerPunch HyperSonic-Focus UHD DD 10x42
I eat one (sometimes 2) small squares of Dove dark chocolate with almonds each morning after breakfast with my tea (green or black). I use the excuse that dark choc is supposed to be healthy (antioxidants and all that jazz), but really I just like a little chocolate to start my day. o
GiGi, Yes, the dreaded fanboi 'pump' and paralysis by analysis!
Conversely, sometimes there are gems of wisdom in there that we are just too naive (blinkered) to recognize.
I remember my initial enquiry about a good value/ budget 10x42.
Ronh suggested the Nikon SE 10x42 which I let go through to the keeper, due to a narrow Fov, and higher than desired price, and a bit more than desired CA. The value for money of such a quality instrument just didn't register amongst the noise and specs of lesser bins, and the thought (still unfulfilled) that surely someone would make the holy grail bin. Sorry Ronh !
Had I listened to that advice I would have had a high quality instrument (for a pretty reasonable price back then), which I would have kept, treasured, and likely hot rodded to end up with a fine (if narrow Fov) keeper instrument.
As it was I ended up in a somewhat different place with the 8x43 Zen-Ray ED3 , gaining quite a few good points in the process, but losing 1 or 2 others. Overall the 8x is much more versatile (as several advised), and I am pretty happy - besides, it's cheap enough to just be tossed in the car as a "Beater Bin" (a term I believe you coined ! :t:
Swings and Roundabouts ...... what's more important is the goodwill of the good folk here :t:
Chosun :gh:
Yeah, about ~7 years now, though, one of my favourite things about my Zens is that they're "Beater Bins" , and after all this time I'm fine with that. They haven't even had objective covers for a few years, and just leaving them in the car is super convenient. That's not something I would have picked at the start of the journey! Tbh, I find all other bins have their compromises too, which for ~10x the price doesn't compel me to change, or add.You've had your ZR ED3 for quite a while now, so it has served you very well :t:
Yeah there's definitely some gem advice that new people may gloss over due to perhaps getting caught up in 'latest and greatest' thinking. I'm sure I did that.
In retrospect, I should have kept using my cheap 6x30 Leupold porro and 8x32 Katmai roof until I saved up for a top tier 32mm binocular; then move to the 7x42 after getting eyeglasses keeping both the top 32 and 42. Instead, I went through many binoculars before getting the right fit for me. Part of that was just wanting to try a bunch of binos for fun and part OCD type behavior. I did waste money, but I shouldn't really feel too regretful. I like bins and got to try a bunch of good ones.
If you click on this link you may be an addict ...
www.whistleroptics.com
:-O
Yeah, about ~7 years now, though, one of my favourite things about my Zens is that they're "Beater Bins" , and after all this time I'm fine with that. They haven't even had objective covers for a few years, and just leaving them in the car is super convenient. That's not something I would have picked at the start of the journey! Tbh, I find all other bins have their compromises too, which for ~10x the price doesn't compel me to change, or add.
The Nikon MHG has come out and feels just about equally great in the hand, is very well put together, and has great specs - I will need to study the view a bit more - so there's an upgrade path available to most of what I was after. They would have to be treated a whole lot better though, as would any other 'alpha' .
If you add up any money 'lost' through flipping through bins, and divide by the number of days you had them for, then the small daily matter of cents it amounts to is a small pice to pay. Just think of it as very cheap rental. :t:
Well ...... I clicked on the link - but it wouldn't display --- so I guess I really am an addict !
Chosun :gh: