Birdforum provides those of us with an interest in the relevant gear for birding with this combined group heading. Im not sure the history of it, how the separation of scopes from binos came to be. By dividing binoculars and scopes into two different subgroups the conversations become sort of siloed. There’s something like 21 “brands” and a larger general category in the bino sub section, while the scope folks have 9 brands and a tripod sub heading. The activity in “Binoculars" exceeds the activity in “spotting scopes" by a lot.
Curiously this mirrors what I see when out and about. Maybe that was what was behind the original decision to separate? It's easy to discern hikers from birders as the latter invariably have a binocular dangling from their neck. By far, where I bird, the second most popular piece of kit is a camera. The scope is a distant 3rd in popularity. So much so that folks occasionally ask about my “camera,” which is a scope. The combination of scope/tripod is a drag to haul around. I often refer to mine as “the blasted scope thing.” With the longish viewing distances here, the scope though, earns its' keep. Birding 5 - 6 days a week during our winter migration (Sept to April), the scope and bino were last year and will be this year always together. I see them as essential parts of a system, each complimenting the other.
While this is Birdforum, where we, (one would think), discuss binoculars and scopes for that purpose, it's clear enough we are also well attended by folks with differing motives, priorities. Bino collectors chase some fairly esoteric differences between brands/models. Some scope folks seem to enjoy night skies and viewing the heavens, maybe more? Sometimes I wonder. With all, the batting around of technical details, do we lose sight of the important relevant attributes of binos and scopes for looking at birds?
What if, the “wall” between the 2 groups no longer existed? What if the conversation linking scopes and binos as integral complimentary tools was encouraged? If you're a back yard birder, a 7X bino may be all you need. If you're out and about in wide open spaces, around water, in mountain country, I bet most will want more. The package of a scope and binocular seem arguably better. For me, for where I bird, in winter with the migration on, its an 8x32 bino and 18-54x77 scope. When the migration is gone, the scope stays home. My 1042 becomes the preferred tool.
So, why don't we discuss the set, the pairing, the way these two tools compliment… birding?
Curiously this mirrors what I see when out and about. Maybe that was what was behind the original decision to separate? It's easy to discern hikers from birders as the latter invariably have a binocular dangling from their neck. By far, where I bird, the second most popular piece of kit is a camera. The scope is a distant 3rd in popularity. So much so that folks occasionally ask about my “camera,” which is a scope. The combination of scope/tripod is a drag to haul around. I often refer to mine as “the blasted scope thing.” With the longish viewing distances here, the scope though, earns its' keep. Birding 5 - 6 days a week during our winter migration (Sept to April), the scope and bino were last year and will be this year always together. I see them as essential parts of a system, each complimenting the other.
While this is Birdforum, where we, (one would think), discuss binoculars and scopes for that purpose, it's clear enough we are also well attended by folks with differing motives, priorities. Bino collectors chase some fairly esoteric differences between brands/models. Some scope folks seem to enjoy night skies and viewing the heavens, maybe more? Sometimes I wonder. With all, the batting around of technical details, do we lose sight of the important relevant attributes of binos and scopes for looking at birds?
What if, the “wall” between the 2 groups no longer existed? What if the conversation linking scopes and binos as integral complimentary tools was encouraged? If you're a back yard birder, a 7X bino may be all you need. If you're out and about in wide open spaces, around water, in mountain country, I bet most will want more. The package of a scope and binocular seem arguably better. For me, for where I bird, in winter with the migration on, its an 8x32 bino and 18-54x77 scope. When the migration is gone, the scope stays home. My 1042 becomes the preferred tool.
So, why don't we discuss the set, the pairing, the way these two tools compliment… birding?
