• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

binoculars

  1. J

    Hello birders

    I'm a birder in the northeastern US. Lucky enough (or smart while I'm still able ;-) to have been able to travel the tropics for birds. Equipment? I've used many binoculars over the years and have some pretty strong opinions about what works. Same with scopes. For scope stability, I use the...
  2. ShlundoKyogre

    Best Binoculars for Star Gazing? - 11/18/24

    To the wonderful users of this forum, I have recently started to take up stargazing and enjoy looking at the many constellations in the night sky. I have been looking to get an upgrade of binoculars so I can finally the night sky in more detail. I've been having trouble concluding if I should...
  3. O

    Best build quality, aesthetic, & focus ring at $500 price range for 8x32 binoculars? Optics a close second priority.

    With a budget of around $500 which 8x30/32 binoculars would you consider to have beautiful aesthetics, build quality, and buttery focus ring? As long as the optics can somewhat "compete" near the best within the $500 price class then I actually would prefer a pair of binoculars where you...
  4. A

    Ask for purchase advice

    Hi everyone, I want to buy a pair of binoculars for Christmas but I can't afford much. I found this binocular from SVBONY, has anyone here used it? SA205 8x42 ED Flat-field Binoculars With BaK-4 Prism IP67 Waterproof For Birding Festival I would also like to know if this would be a good...
  5. N

    Hair inside objective lens - how does this happen?

    Last year I have bought two new binoculars, a Leica Ultravid 7x42 for myself and a Zeiss SF 8x32 for my wife. Looking down the barrels of both objective lenses on purchase they were perfect. A few months later a visible small white hair/thread appeared in one barrel of the SFs, not on the...
  6. J

    Hi and question

    Hello! I'm an ecologist from Australia wanting buy second hand binoculars... probably Olympus Tracker 8x25 (I haven't worked out how old that model is yet but I'd prefer to try it over Trinovids first, even though I'm a bit anti-porro). I've already got an 8x42 I'm happy with. Which sites would...
  7. M

    Viking Binos - prism alignment build quality.

    I have owned a pair of 8x36 ED RSPB (Viking) binoculars since 2018. In January, I accidentally bumped them very lightly against the car boot sill, which caused the left lens collimation to be knocked out of alignment. I sent them to Viking for repair and received them back in mid-March. Since...
  8. Eric_D

    Is curvature of field a good thing?

    Curvature of field is when you have to refocus if you move the binoculars such that the target is moved from the center to the edge of the field of view. If you don't try refocussing, it can be perceived as unsharpness towards the edges, or a small 'sweet spot'. In astronomy, everything is at...
  9. H

    Female chest friendly binocular harness recommendations?

    Perhaps a bit of a niche request but hoping someone can help! I bought a binocular harness on the recommendation of a friend, and while I do appreciate not having the weight around my neck, I'm finding the harness sits oddly and uncomfortably on my err... chest, if you catch my drift. It also...
  10. Ignatius

    CP+ 2024

    Here are some images of the Nikon booth at tzhis year's CP+ show, courtesy of Optyczne.pl
  11. A

    G'day from Oz with Honesty about a pair of Carl Zeiss Binoculars

    Hello to all from wonderful Australia! My name is Aaron and I'm more of a collector than a bird watcher however a search about a lovely pair of Carl Zeiss Jena Deltrintem 8×30's with the serial number 2926178 I came across recently lead me here. I'm just wondering if someone here might be able...
  12. M

    Places to try out bins in central MD?

    I'm looking to get my wife some binoculars to back-up her usual 8x42 Monarch HGs. Our search is for something lighter weight that doesn't comprise clarity and FOV significantly. I'd like to take her somewhere that she can handle several options in person and see what she likes best. We live in...
  13. Z

    Nippon Kogaku and Ednar binoculars

    Hello, I am trying to find out more information and the possible value of two pairs of binoculars that I have recently received. The first one is a Nippon Kogaku Mikron 6x30, 274609. It has a leather strap and a red felt-lined leather case. The second one is an Ednar 7x35, 0593, Japan HT. I...
  14. K

    Hi! I’m new here.

    Hello all. I’m new to the forum. Lifelong nature and animal lover plus avid gardener. I am a novice bird watcher and we just moved to Frenchtown NJ where there are many birds to see! Of course I’m looking for a good affordable pair of binoculars. I’m older, nearsighted, have a narrow face and...
  15. F

    buying advice needed: Opticron Traveller BGA ED vs Celestron Trailseeker ED 8x32 - or something else?

    I'm looking for a first pair of binoculars compact enough to pack when traveling and when hiking with camera gear. My primary use would be spotting wildlife to aid with photography/videography and secondary use would be occasional birding, attending sporting events, and casual astronomy. Based...
  16. hannibalscannibal

    Bino Suggestions for a Casual Birder?

    hey all, my father is a casual birder (once a week or so, usually) and needs new binoculars i'm thinking of getting him a new pair for father's day, and wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions! i'd like to get him something that fares pretty well but since he doesn't go out nearly as...
  17. L

    Help me choose binoculars for my son

    I have a 6 years old son and I'd like to buy one for him. I've narrowed down to two products. 1. Pentax Papilio ii 6.5x21 CAD130 2. Nikon Prostaff P7 8x30 CAD179 including a bonus of Binocular Harness II For observing birds and animals at the zoo and backyard (squirrels, bunnies, etc), the...
  18. A

    Looking to upgrade my Vanguard Endeavor ED IV 10x42

    Hello everyone, I'm thinking about upgrading my Vanguard Endeavor ED IV 10x42 binoculars with another 10x42 binos (maybe 10x32). My budget is around the 500-600€ range. I've been considering the Kowa BDII XD and Vortex Viper HD. I'm not sure if these two are worth the change. Maybe you guys...
  19. has530

    Sightron SV ED anyone?

    I found these on their Japanese website and cannot find any info about them anywhere but they sure look interesting. 1k+ price point, ED glass, MIJ, magnesium body, AK prisms, 8 deg FOV... seems to have the makings of a very nice offering so my question is: Does anyone have any experience or...
  20. T

    Non-birder seeks shelter

    Hello and Guten Tag, dear birders! A few weeks ago, on vacation by the sea, I discovered that my binoculars are crap. Since then, I have been cavorting among binocular enthusiasts to make better choices. Most of this special species are friends of birdwatching or astronomy, so here I am. I...
  21. O

    8x or 10x?

    I live in Romania, Banat region. Fields and hills are more dominant but forestry can be found. I use an old porro 8x42mm and really want to change to the roof binos. I am interested more in areas with fields/hills and water and I go there often. But I also go in forestry. So I dont know what...
  22. Will K

    Magnification Extension - Scoping through Binoculars?

    Hi all, To fill an idle moment, I tried looking through my spotting scope using a pair of binoculars as a makeshift magnification extender. I ended up with some very intriguing results. All the following images were captured on an iPhone through a Vortex Razor 85mm, at a distance of about 10m...
  23. Will K

    NL Pure - A close look, with pictures!

    Hi everyone, Well, I finally took the plunge and bought an NL Pure (12x42 - the big one!) Their optical qualities are well-known and widely debated, of course, but I thought that some people might be interested in taking a closer look at some of the physical details of the binos themselves...
  24. E

    Binoculars for bird watching

    Hello everyone! I am new to this website. Thank you for having me! I come with a question. I want to gift my boyfriend a pair of good binoculars; he is a biologist but only has a bootleg, extremely heavyweight set. However, I don't really understand what really makes good binoculars for...
  25. Will K

    Where/when to buy NL Pure? - the smart choice

    Hi everyone! I'm in the market to buy an NL Pure (10x42 or 12x42), and am looking for some advice concerning where and when to make the purchase. I live in West Sussex, and have visited a few local retailers, eyeing-up the best options: Brighton, Southampton, Chichester, Bournemouth, etc. I've...
Back
Top