apgoncalves
Member
Hi. This is the continuation of a previous thread (https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=367935).
I'm a total rookie in the binocular world. I want to buy a pair of binoculars that I can use on my outdoor activities - that includes visiting national or state parks, forests, camping, etc. I will soon go on a backpacking trip to India and Southeast Asia and I intend to use the binoculars there. Thus, I need something that is compact and lightweight (I thought 500g would be my threshold). I wear glasses, so the eye relief component is important. I intend to mostly use them with good light conditions, but would like to have something that could also work in dimmer light. I was thinking to get something like 8x25 or 8x32. My budget is approx $150 and I'm fine with used items. I understand that for $150 or less I'm still in the "not-so-really-good-quality" level, but I would like, of course, to buy something that is of good build quality for the price. I might be able to find an used pair for $150 that new costs more than that and hence could potentially be in a higher quality level. Or I could spend $150 or less for a pair of new binoculars that suit well my needs. I compiled a list of choices that I have been gathering from here and there and I'm posting it below.
I was initially thinking about vintage (or vintage-looking; idk how to exactly define it) binoculars but comments from other users made me think that probably a more modern pair could be better.
I appreciate your help narrowing down this list. Thanks.
<$100
Kowa YF30 YF30-8 8x30
Leupold BX-1 Yosemite 8x30mm
Wingspan Optics Spectator 8X32
Celestron 71330 Nature DX 8x32
Celestron 71328 Nature DX 8x25
$100-$200
Pentax 9x28 A-Series AD WP
NIKON 8x30 Prostaff 7s
Vortex 8x28 Diamondback
Opticron Aspheric LE WP 8x25
MEOPTA Binoculars meosport 8 x 25
Sightron Blue Sky SII 8x32
>$200
Zeiss 8x25 Terra ED
MINOX BV II 62030 8 x 25 BR
Vintage
Steiner Safari II 8x30
Steiner 8X30 Military Marine
I'm a total rookie in the binocular world. I want to buy a pair of binoculars that I can use on my outdoor activities - that includes visiting national or state parks, forests, camping, etc. I will soon go on a backpacking trip to India and Southeast Asia and I intend to use the binoculars there. Thus, I need something that is compact and lightweight (I thought 500g would be my threshold). I wear glasses, so the eye relief component is important. I intend to mostly use them with good light conditions, but would like to have something that could also work in dimmer light. I was thinking to get something like 8x25 or 8x32. My budget is approx $150 and I'm fine with used items. I understand that for $150 or less I'm still in the "not-so-really-good-quality" level, but I would like, of course, to buy something that is of good build quality for the price. I might be able to find an used pair for $150 that new costs more than that and hence could potentially be in a higher quality level. Or I could spend $150 or less for a pair of new binoculars that suit well my needs. I compiled a list of choices that I have been gathering from here and there and I'm posting it below.
I was initially thinking about vintage (or vintage-looking; idk how to exactly define it) binoculars but comments from other users made me think that probably a more modern pair could be better.
I appreciate your help narrowing down this list. Thanks.
<$100
Kowa YF30 YF30-8 8x30
Leupold BX-1 Yosemite 8x30mm
Wingspan Optics Spectator 8X32
Celestron 71330 Nature DX 8x32
Celestron 71328 Nature DX 8x25
$100-$200
Pentax 9x28 A-Series AD WP
NIKON 8x30 Prostaff 7s
Vortex 8x28 Diamondback
Opticron Aspheric LE WP 8x25
MEOPTA Binoculars meosport 8 x 25
Sightron Blue Sky SII 8x32
>$200
Zeiss 8x25 Terra ED
MINOX BV II 62030 8 x 25 BR
Vintage
Steiner Safari II 8x30
Steiner 8X30 Military Marine
Last edited: