I’ve been thinking about using IS binoculars for quite a while, by most accounts they produce some great views, even at low power (as per Pinac’s very interesting account on the amazing performance of the strangely quirky 8x20 Canon). But then I always encounter two barriers.
The first one is my admiration for binoculars as non-electronic devices, as perfect tools of simple durable parts put together without the need of anything but your eyesight, with the reassurance that a 20 year old device like the Nikon E2 still provides great performance, and its parts are in great shape. The beauty of that idea is just trounced by the notion of needing to change batteries once in a while, and also by the fact that binoculars enter the world of small electronic appliances (with its shorter lifespan than non-electronic optics). Add to this the fear of running out of juice in the crucial moment (I just know it will happen to me) and also the idea of having to constantly buy batteries makes IS binoculars seem a steep change (I hardly use batteries for anything, I use a dynamo-powered torch on my bike, I don’t even know what batteries cost anymore). In fact, can you use rechargeable batteries on an IS binocular? I'm not sure about this, and I don't think I've seen USB-rechargeable IS binoculars, the same way we get USB-rechargeable lights.
Well, then I think for a second I can live with all the above and still keep a desire to try some IS binoculars...
... But then there's a second barrier I encounter, one which is probably a bit more subtle: the sustainability of IS binoculars. Without wanting to pester or patronize IS binocular users, I have very simple questions about this (no offense intended whatsoever, just pure curiosity). How long do the batteries last? How many glassing hours can you get from a single charge? In a regular day I can easily put 5 hours on a pair of binoculars. How many days will I get from a single charge?
What do you do with the spent batteries? (I mean, I know there are places where you dispose of them, but since you can end up having quite a large amount of used batteries at home, I find this concerning/intriguing). How many batteries can you end up using in a regular year?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen any comment about the environmental side of using battery-powered IS binoculars, and given the fact that most forum members are birders (and I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them were also members of environmental institutions), I guess I’m not the first one to wonder/worry about this. So, any comment, idea, suggestion, link of interest is really very welcome.
I’d be grateful for any insight into this unknown world
Thanks!
The first one is my admiration for binoculars as non-electronic devices, as perfect tools of simple durable parts put together without the need of anything but your eyesight, with the reassurance that a 20 year old device like the Nikon E2 still provides great performance, and its parts are in great shape. The beauty of that idea is just trounced by the notion of needing to change batteries once in a while, and also by the fact that binoculars enter the world of small electronic appliances (with its shorter lifespan than non-electronic optics). Add to this the fear of running out of juice in the crucial moment (I just know it will happen to me) and also the idea of having to constantly buy batteries makes IS binoculars seem a steep change (I hardly use batteries for anything, I use a dynamo-powered torch on my bike, I don’t even know what batteries cost anymore). In fact, can you use rechargeable batteries on an IS binocular? I'm not sure about this, and I don't think I've seen USB-rechargeable IS binoculars, the same way we get USB-rechargeable lights.
Well, then I think for a second I can live with all the above and still keep a desire to try some IS binoculars...
... But then there's a second barrier I encounter, one which is probably a bit more subtle: the sustainability of IS binoculars. Without wanting to pester or patronize IS binocular users, I have very simple questions about this (no offense intended whatsoever, just pure curiosity). How long do the batteries last? How many glassing hours can you get from a single charge? In a regular day I can easily put 5 hours on a pair of binoculars. How many days will I get from a single charge?
What do you do with the spent batteries? (I mean, I know there are places where you dispose of them, but since you can end up having quite a large amount of used batteries at home, I find this concerning/intriguing). How many batteries can you end up using in a regular year?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen any comment about the environmental side of using battery-powered IS binoculars, and given the fact that most forum members are birders (and I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them were also members of environmental institutions), I guess I’m not the first one to wonder/worry about this. So, any comment, idea, suggestion, link of interest is really very welcome.
I’d be grateful for any insight into this unknown world
Thanks!
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