Are two binoculars better than one? (1 Viewer)

[GrampaTom]

On this day, at this time...I would narrow it down to:

1. Swarovski NL 10X42
2. Swarovski NL 8X32(or SV 8X32)
3. Zeiss SFL 8X40(spare) or Monarch HG 8X42
4. Zeiss Victory Pocket 8X25 OR Swarovski CL Pocket 8X25

Sad thing is...I currently have ALL of those! 😐
I'm trying!

My only, not selecting from a collection. Interesting how close...
1. EL 10x42 (tho Im thinking about your council on the NL)
2. NL 8x32 (never tried an SVEL)
3. Zeiss Conquest HD 8x32
4. Zeiss VP 825

 

[chill6x6]

My only, not selecting from a collection. Interesting how close...
1. EL 10x42 (tho Im thinking about your council on the NL)
2. NL 8x32 (never tried an SVEL)
3. Zeiss Conquest HD 8x32
4. Zeiss VP 825

Wow! We are very close! I could certainly work with your list!

 

[Dennis Mau]

Yes 2.. I have a SLC 8 x 56 and a NL 8 x 32 both have their specific time and place

The NL 8x32 for general birding and hiking and the SLC 8x56 for low light?

 

[Dennis Mau]

My only, not selecting from a collection. Interesting how close...
1. EL 10x42 (tho Im thinking about your council on the NL)
2. NL 8x32 (never tried an SVEL)
3. Zeiss Conquest HD 8x32
4. Zeiss VP 825

Good choices. I am surprised you don't have the NL 10x42, or have you not tried one? The EL 10x42 does have the advantage of size and weight over the NL 10x42. No 7x's either.

 

[hopster]

Currently when I'm going out properly birding I'll have the Noctivid 8x around my neck and the Meopta 12x50 in the backpack, until I settle somewhere. These handle all the situations that I experience very nicely, though I am considering going to a 7x42 around my neck instead for a better DOF and hand-held image, and especially for closer and in-the-woods usage. This would be either the EDG or UVHD+. Having not yet looked through either, I'm not sure if they will replace my NV adequately (it's not going to be easy to match it) but I really must try to be disciplined and not just add another binocular to the collection - it's getting expensive!

For times when I am travelling light or binoculars are a secondary part of a day doing something else, the Zeiss VP 8x25 does perfectly as many others here have already said.

 

[kkokkolis]

One may have a generic 8-10x30-42 binocular for every use, but inevitably, every use might require different characteristics. That's why I chose not to buy an Alpha segment binocular and follow the Pareto principle, choosing binoculars that give more or less the 80% of Alpha performance and cost around 20% (or no more than 50%). All of you are experts in birding and optics, and I'm not, so excuse me for intruding your Alpha world with humble (I like to say, "Epicurian", though not "Spartan") choices, but this way I can do much more. I currently use (you can imagine the Alpha versions of these if you have the budget):
1. Canon 18x50 IS UD AW 3.7° Porro II: I dislike binoculars on tripods (although I have adaptors for both roofs and porros), so I use them for looking at distant objects, usually ships on the horizon, and also for stargazing, usually star clusters and the Galaxy.
2. Canon 12x36 II IS 5° Porro II: This is a portable option instead of the 18x50.
3. Leica Trinovid 10x42 BA 6.6°: All around binocular at 10x.
4. Zeiss Conquest HD 8x42 7.4° Schmidt Pechan DCF: All around binocular at 8x, my go to.
5. Zeiss Terra 8x42 ED 7.1°: I gave that to my daughter as a beater.
6. Nikon Monarch 7 ED 8x30 8.3°: My portable for years. I used it as an EDC, a tourist bino, for concerts and opera, etc.
7. Zeiss Terra 8x25 ED Pocket 6.5°: My "more portable". I now use it as the above, most of the time.
8. Pentax Papilio 6,5x21 7.5° UCF: My Makroscope, for nature observation (plants, flowers, insects) but also Museums and exhibitions.
9. БГШ 2.3x40 28° CCCP Galilean Binocular: That's my Opera glass and for sky widefields.
10. Docter 8x21 C Porro Monocular 6.3°: That was my EDC monocular and then became a portable microscope with +01, +02, +05 and +10 diopters and stand, when I bought the next one
11. Zeiss Conquest Mono 6x18 T*: My EDC. When there are no binoculars around, I use this. For close-ups also.
12. Seibert Emoskop: Just for fun and mainly as an EDC microscope for my hobbies.
There are also some vintage Pentax and Soviet optics and 4 dioptric telescopes 50-100mm for balcony use (I don't own a field scope).

Altogether, they cost about the same as a 3,000+ euros 8x42 pair that can do less than 25% of what they do (different magnifications, weights, image stabilization, stereomacroscope, microscope, ultraportabilty, widefield, etc).
If I had to buy only one binocular, I would choose a Zeiss SFL (or equal) 8x32, but how much better is it from the Nikon Monarch (or the Zeiss Conquest) to justify this?

 

[GrampaTom]

One may have a generic 8-10x30-42 binocular for every use, but inevitably, every use might require different characteristics. That's why I chose not to buy an Alpha segment binocular and follow the Pareto principle, choosing binoculars that give more or less the 80% of Alpha performance and cost around 20% (or no more than 50%). All of you are experts in birding and optics, and I'm not, so excuse me for intruding your Alpha world with humble (I like to say, "Epicurian", though not "Spartan") choices, but this way I can do much more. I currently use (you can imagine the Alpha versions of these if you have the budget):
1. Canon 18x50 IS UD AW 3.7° Porro II: I dislike binoculars on tripods (although I have adaptors for both roofs and porros), so I use them for looking at distant objects, usually ships on the horizon, and also for stargazing, usually star clusters and the Galaxy.
2. Canon 12x36 II IS 5° Porro II: This is a portable option instead of the 18x50.
3. Leica Trinovid 10x42 BA 6.6°: All around binocular at 10x.
4. Zeiss Conquest HD 8x42 7.4° Schmidt Pechan DCF: All around binocular at 8x, my go to.
5. Zeiss Terra 8x42 ED 7.1°: I gave that to my daughter as a beater.
6. Nikon Monarch 7 ED 8x30 8.3°: My portable for years. I used it as an EDC, a tourist bino, for concerts and opera, etc.
7. Zeiss Terra 8x25 ED Pocket 6.5°: My "more portable". I now use it as the above, most of the time.
8. Pentax Papilio 6,5x21 7.5° UCF: My Makroscope, for nature observation (plants, flowers, insects) but also Museums and exhibitions.
9. БГШ 2.3x40 28° CCCP Galilean Binocular: That's my Opera glass and for sky widefields.
10. Docter 8x21 C Porro Monocular 6.3°: That was my EDC monocular and then became a portable microscope with +01, +02, +05 and +10 diopters and stand, when I bought the next one
11. Zeiss Conquest Mono 6x18 T*: My EDC. When there are no binoculars around, I use this. For close-ups also.
12. Seibert Emoskop: Just for fun and mainly as an EDC microscope for my hobbies.
There are also some vintage Pentax and Soviet optics and 4 dioptric telescopes 50-100mm for balcony use (I don't own a field scope).

Altogether, they cost about the same as a 3,000+ euros 8x42 pair that can do less than 25% of what they do (different magnifications, weights, image stabilization, stereomacroscope, microscope, ultraportabilty, widefield, etc).
If I had to buy only one binocular, I would choose a Zeiss SFL (or equal) 8x32, but how much better is it from the Nikon Monarch (or the Zeiss Conquest) to justify this?

I get it. But... if you sold all this and bought 1... or 2 Alpha-like binos, the 80/20 rule would be more apropos. While on paper these seem to cover the water of all possible scenarios, good luck if you have to carry them all, all the time, in order to have the correct one for the task at hand.

In quality management circles we use Pareto to think of what 20% of parts we're making cause 80% of in process quality issues. Then go after those. A "bang for the buck " idea. Same with binos what 1 or 2 would cover 80% of the situations you'll prolly encounter while out and about.

 

[Maljunulo]

“Justify” is an interesting word.

It always brings two questions to my mind;
1. how?
2. to whom?

I personally, would chose the word “rationalize”.

 

[Northman]

I have two birding binoculars for walking/mountain trips:

Swarovski 7x42 Habicht
Swarovski 8x56 SLC

I also use a Sirui P-424FL monopod with Swarovski tripod adaptor for the 8x56. Its a gift from the heavens!!

I can sit or stand and the binocular is perfectly steady in front of me. Adjust height or angle to suit nearly any concivable situation. With no Strain on my shoulders or arms. Rock solid image!!

But I dont use binoculars to identfy bird species, I find I like to sit and observe within 50m. Looking at flocks of smal birds in a tree ‘’arguing’’ with each other and jumping up and down branches, or ducks diving for food in a lake.

 

[hopster]

I have two birding binoculars for walking/mountain trips:

Swarovski 7x42 Habicht
Swarovski 8x56 SLC

I also use a Sirui P-424FL monopod with Swarovski tripod adaptor for the 8x56. Its a gift from the heavens!!

I can sit or stand and the binocular is perfectly steady in front of me. Adjust height or angle to suit nearly any concivable situation. With no Strain on my shoulders or arms. Rock solid image!!

But I dont use binoculars to identfy bird species, I find I like to sit and observe within 50m. Looking at flocks of smal birds in a tree ‘’arguing’’ with each other and jumping up and down branches, or ducks diving for food in a lake.

I also really like monopods for larger binoculars, though in my case it's just an adapted walking pole.