Have I Found the Perfect Bins? (1 Viewer)

[joannec]

Yesterday I went to an optics field day with a friend. She was after a new scope and I was along for moral support and to help her decide. While she was testing the various scope options I had a play with the high end bins and was absolutely bowled over by the Zeiss 8x32s. What fantastic bins!!! :t: very light weight and it was a really dull foggy day and I struggled to get any colour on a green woodpecker that was lurking in a tree with most of the others but the Zeiss was fabulous, bright and clear and soooo light. Seems to have everything a girl could want:gh:....only trouble is........ they cost over £900. :C

Joanne

 

[Guizotia]

Yesterday I went to an optics field day with a friend. She was after a new scope and I was along for moral support and to help her decide. While she was testing the various scope options I had a play with the high end bins and was absolutely bowled over by the Zeiss 8x32s. What fantastic bins!!!..:t:very light weight and it was a really dull foggy day and I struggled to get any colour on a green woodpecker that was lurking in a tree with most of the others but the Zeiss was fabulous, bright and clear and soooo light. Seems to have everything a girl could want:gh:....only trouble is........ they cost over £900. :C

Joanne

Were they Zeiss FLs?

 

[Pinewood]

Hello Joanne,

If you are writing of the 8x32 FL, you may have found the perfect binocular for you. The best 8x32 binoculars are very popular. Try a few others but if the Zeiss works for you on a cloudy day, you may have found your perfect binocular. Remember that high price should be spread over a decade or more of use.
If I were to have just one binocular, it would be a hard choice between the 8x32 FL and the 7x42.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :brains:

 

[matt green]

only trouble is........ they cost over £900. :C

Joanne

If you possibly can...go for them!!!

I haven't tried that particular model but they're among the best 8x32's available, once you've owned a top end bino you won't ever want to use anything else...just don't hand over £900 in cash, writing out a check will appear much less painfull!!

Matt

 

[joannec]

Were they Zeiss FLs?

Yes.

 

[joannec]

Hello Joanne,

If you are writing of the 8x32 FL, you may have found the perfect binocular for you. The best 8x32 binoculars are very popular. Try a few others but if the Zeiss works for you on a cloudy day, you may have found your perfect binocular. Remember that high price should be spread over a decade or more of use.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :brains:

Good advice Arthur; thanks. I will try other 8x32s.

If you possibly can...go for them!!!
...just don't hand over £900 in cash, writing out a check will appear much less painfull!!

Matt

LOL Matt; insightful advice, as ever.

Joanne

 

[paulwfromtheden]

Hi Joanne,
Knowing how keen you are, you are going to spend many more years birdwatching. If you can find the money, it really makes sense to spend that sort of bunce on a good pair of bins, as you will look after them and they will last you for the rest of your life.
I shuddered when I bought my Leica 8x42 Ultravids, but I have to say that if anything happened to them, I would replace them tomorrow.
They make such a difference.
If you do take the plunge, make sure you tell your contents insurer as you will probably have to record them as a separate item.
Paul

 

[NoSpringChicken]

Hi Joanne. Only you know whether £900 is affordable within your budget. However binoculars are the single most important piece of equipment for your chosen hobby (much more important than a scope.) I am sure golfers, anglers, cyclists etc. all spend much more than that on their hobby. With a good pair of bins you don't actually need anything else to go birdwatching.

I have 8x32 Leica bins and really like them for their feel and lightness. The Zeiss FLs have an extremely good reputation and, if you like them, they are the ones to go for.

Finally, don't underestimate the sheer joy of holding a perfect little piece of precision engineering. I still get a tiny thrill every time I use mine (but perhaps that is just a man thing!)

Ron

 

[mooreorless]

Hi Joanne, I really loved both the 8x32FL and 8x42FL when I tried them at the Amish Shoe Shop.
Regards,Steve

 

[Kevin Conville]

If you value your time birding, and having premium bins gives you a bit more pleasure whilst in the field, then they're worth every penny. If Zeiss FLs press your buttons (and why wouldn't they?), then by all means buy them.

I would suggest trying Swaro ELs and Leica Uvids before buying the FLs, just to make sure you're getting the best "fit" for you. As others have said, the initial outlay will soon become a distant memory.

Have fun treating yourself!

 

[MacGee]

Joanne, I'd like to buy a pair of Zeiss 8x32 too, but I can't find a pair anywhere in Scotland to try. So you're better off than me. Just don't deliberate too long; with the pound's fall in value, they probably won't be available for £900 for much longer.

Michael

 

[Alan227]

I had a play with the high end bins and was absolutely bowled over by the Zeiss 8x32s...

Ah, you picked them up then Joanne? I made that mistake too..|=)|

The 'Owners Club' at BB favour the 10x's, so worth considering too, esp. as you have that mag. currently. I can't testify to their colour performance as my built-in capabilities are not up to that, but they are outstanding for monochrome (birch bark, white-horses on reservoirs etc). Good time of the year for looking at bins though, as light levels are frequently less than ideal. Next month is a good time to buy them...that's when I got mine.

Al

 

[joannec]

Hi Joanne,
Knowing how keen you are, you are going to spend many more years birdwatching. ....... it really makes sense to spend that sort of bunce on a good pair of bins, as you will look after them and they will last you for the rest of your life.
I shuddered when I bought my Leica 8x42 Ultravids, but I have to say that if anything happened to them, I would replace them tomorrow.
They make such a difference.

Paul

However binoculars are the single most important piece of equipment for your chosen hobby (much more important than a scope.) I am sure golfers, anglers, cyclists etc. all spend much more than that on their hobby. With a good pair of bins you don't actually need anything else to go birdwatching.

Ron

If you value your time birding, and having premium bins gives you a bit more pleasure whilst in the field, then they're worth every penny. If Zeiss FLs press your buttons (and why wouldn't they?), then by all means buy them.


Have fun treating yourself!

Hi guys....should have know I would get a lot of encouragement to go for them on the bins forum......now....just have to convince the other half it's a good idea.

Joanne

 

[joannec]

Ah, you picked them up then Joanne? I made that mistake too..|=)|

The 'Owners Club' at BB favour the 10x's, so worth considering too, esp. ........ Good time of the year for looking at bins though, as light levels are frequently less than ideal. Next month is a good time to buy them...that's when I got mine.

Al

Hi Alan

I knew you had Zeiss bins; are they the 8x32s as well? Or are you the BB 'owners club' with the 10's? Do you really think they'll be having a sale next month?

Joanne

 

[ColonelBlimp]

However binoculars are the single most important piece of equipment for your chosen hobby (much more important than a scope.)

I would disagree at least in terms of cost: I have a pair of Opticron £350 bins and I think they are more than enough in terms of optical quality, plus they wouldn't give me a heart attack if they got damaged.

However, I looked at a roughly equivalent Opticron scope and was very disappointed. Hence being about to spend £££s on a Zeiss 85, I just feel that a binocular at 8x or 10x is much less demanding in sheer optical quality for a passable image than a scope that goes all the way to 60x or thereabouts, even accounting for the larger objective.

Just don't deliberate too long; with the pound's fall in value, they probably won't be available for £900 for much longer.

Bloody well hope not-I can't afford more than that Zeiss is now!!!

 

[paulwfromtheden]

Hi guys....should have know I would get a lot of encouragement to go for them on the bins forum......now....just have to convince the other half it's a good idea.

Joanne

It's a tough call isn't it....one way to look at it is that birding is a relatively 'cheap' hobby (provided you dont drive all round the country, twitching everything that moves)....So one big outlay on a hobby that will give you so much pleasure spread over the years that you will use them makes it fairly 'cheap'.
Alternatively, threaten him with divorce!!|=)||=)||=)|

 

[Geoff Brown]

I am afraid that once you look through Zeiss everything else is secondbest no matter what others may try to kid you.

 

[Graham Osborne]

Hi Joanne

I have a pair of the the 8x32 FLs. They are excellent binoculars in my view. I have not tried the 10x32s but I am fairly sure that I would not like them as much as the 8x32s. This is based on my experience of comparing 8x32s and 10x32s Nikon HGs. In use the 8x32 HGs seem to give a nicer view than the 10x32s. I think that the advantages of a larger exit pupil and greater depth of field of 8x magnification are particularly significant in 32mm binoculars. I am now in the process of selling my 10x32 HGs.

I have noticed that Warehouse Express are advertising Zeiss 8x32 FLs in green at £879.85, substantially cheaper than the price of the same model in black.

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1010081

Strangely, the accompanying picture shows a 42mm model! If you are interested I would suggest giving WE a call, particularly to make sure the model thay are offering is not pre-Lotutec.

Graham

 

[joannec]

Hi Joanne


I have noticed that Warehouse Express are advertising Zeiss 8x32 FLs in green at £879.85, substantially cheaper than the price of the same model in black.


Strangely, the accompanying picture shows a 42mm model! If you are interested I would suggest giving WE a call, particularly to make sure the model thay are offering is not pre-Lotutec.

Graham

Hi Graham

I had looked at the WE site and noticed the green were cheaper too.....also noticed they looked different in shape. Anyone know why the green are cheaper? (I don't have a problem with green, unlike a pink scope.) What is 'Loututec'?

Joanne

 

[Swissboy]

Hi Joanne

....
Finally, don't underestimate the sheer joy of holding a perfect little piece of precision engineering. I still get a tiny thrill every time I use mine (but perhaps that is just a man thing!)

Ron

Oh well, I'm a man too, but I'm sure you will feel the same way in this case. Just like with a fine piece of jewellery.

I tried a whole bunch of the top end bins about three years ago, including Swaro and Leica Ultravids. And I concluded for myself, if I could only have one , it would most likely be the 8x32 FL. It also has, to me, all those ingredients you mentioned, and a fine close focus as well. I was looking for a more compact model at the time, as I already had the 8x42 FL (which replaced a 8x32 Trinovid mostly for low light conditions), so I fell in love with the 10x25 Ultravid. But as I said, going for just one high-grade model, it would most likely be the 8x32 FL. It will also be the one I'll recommend to my wife if she should want a lighter model. But it's clear that she would also have to try it first. Binocular ergonomics have a rather important individual component to them.

Oh, by the way, Lotutec is that new kind of water repellent coating. It should help in rain and drizzle, but I don't have any experience with it. Certainly good to have it though. But if you could get an earlier version without Lotutec, I would take it if it would result in considerable savings.