Porro or Roof (1 Viewer)

[barnetbirds]

Hi All
Well!! I've been googling most of the afternoon and have got it down to
PORRO
Opticron Imagic tga wp 8 x 42 (£135) -- 7 x 42 (£129)

Bushnell Legend 8 x 42 (116.48)

ROOF
Opticron Explorer BGA (£155).

I am only starting out and do not know anything. I chose those three through reading about them and advice.

Would appreciate your advice/help. Obviously I will try them at a shop before buying.
Terry

 

[Dave H]

Hi Terry,

In your price range the porro bins will seriously outperform the roofs optically. It's a trade off between ergonomics and view quality.

I'm biased but I'd start off with a porro at this price range. See also the Leupold Yosemite (around £90 online). It gets rave reviews on here and might give some additional ergonomical advantges over the heavier porros you're thinking about.

Now if your mind is made up on these 3, my choice would be the Legends.

 

[Martin Fagg]

Hi All
Well!! I've been googling most of the afternoon and have got it down to
PORRO
Opticron Imagic tga wp 8 x 42 (£135) -- 7 x 42 (£129)

Bushnell Legend 8 x 42 (116.48)

ROOF
Opticron Explorer BGA (£155).

I am only starting out and do not know anything. I chose those three through reading about them and advice.

Would appreciate your advice/help. Obviously I will try them at a shop before buying.
Terry

Terry,

I have read several times that the Opticron Imagic porros have a problem with the bridge being loose and wobbly which makes one eyepiece out of focus compared to the other. My 8x32s developed that problem after only about a years use.
It's a shame because they are nice bins but that mechanical flaw makes them useless.

 

[Dennis Mau]

Hi All
Well!! I've been googling most of the afternoon and have got it down to
PORRO
Opticron Imagic tga wp 8 x 42 (£135) -- 7 x 42 (£129)

Bushnell Legend 8 x 42 (116.48)

ROOF
Opticron Explorer BGA (£155).

I am only starting out and do not know anything. I chose those three through reading about them and advice.

Would appreciate your advice/help. Obviously I will try them at a shop before buying.
Terry

PORRO
Nikon 8x32 SE


ROOF
Zeiss 8x32 FL

Buy these two and you need nothing else except maybe an 8x20 Zeiss Victory Compact.

 

[Roadbike]

Hi All
Well!! I've been googling most of the afternoon and have got it down to
PORRO
Opticron Imagic tga wp 8 x 42 (£135) -- 7 x 42 (£129)

Bushnell Legend 8 x 42 (116.48)

ROOF
Opticron Explorer BGA (£155).

I am only starting out and do not know anything. I chose those three through reading about them and advice.

Would appreciate your advice/help. Obviously I will try them at a shop before buying.
Terry

Yes, porro prism binoculars are the way to go. I would get the 8x42 size. My preference is Bushnell simply because I don't know much about Opticron.

 

[BobinKy]

Before we get too far along...do you know what type of observing you will be doing with the binoculars?

Birds
Backyard
Distance
Hiking
Landscape
Night Sky
Etc.

...Bob

 

[barnetbirds]

Hi Bob,
For starters it will be mostly birds in local area and bird reserves. I have been thinking about the 'eye relief' because of my glasses but if I got a good deal on some bins, I dont mind taking the glasses off. I have and old 10x and after setting them up it was as clear as anything. Still thinking Bushnell Legend Porro. Possibles Hawke frontier, Opticron SRGA, Nikon sporter........decisions, decisions.........
Terry

 

[roger48]

Hi Barnetbirder,

Probably not far from you in Totteridge, but moving sometime this year. I would recommend you have a look at the Steiner range. Very good quality and value.

Cheers

 

[barnetbirds]

HI Roger.
Didnt think of those.....will now!!
Good luck with the move.
Terry

 

[barnetbirds]

Hi Roger
Just down the road......live opposite playing fields in Barnet lane.
On another note.......where do you do your birding, is it local!!
Terry

 

[Nigel Davies]

Hi Terry

You are asking the right questions to the right people, try as many bins as you can both Roof and Porro but not all at once, try two or three, go away think about them then try a few more.
you will pick up a pair that will feel right.

Buy them.

All the Best Nigel.

 

[barnetbirds]

Hi Nigel
Thanks for that!!. It is so daunting. There are so many of the blighters, I suppose if I had lots of £££££££ it would make it alot easier, but I will go on and on and on!
Tks Nigel
Terry

 

[pete_gamby]

Terry,

I have read several times that the Opticron Imagic porros have a problem with the bridge being loose and wobbly which makes one eyepiece out of focus compared to the other. My 8x32s developed that problem after only about a years use.
It's a shame because they are nice bins but that mechanical flaw makes them useless.

Martin - just curious as to where you read that info. I checked through our service database for faults reported on this model and I could only find two examples over the past four years that have been returned specifically for a loose bridge.

Cheers, Pete

 

[Martin Fagg]

Martin - just curious as to where you read that info. I checked through our service database for faults reported on this model and I could only find two examples over the past four years that have been returned specifically for a loose bridge.

Cheers, Pete

I think I have read a few people posting about it on here. I got the impression that it is quite a common problem.

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

PORRO
Nikon 8x32 SE


ROOF
Zeiss 8x32 FL

Buy these two and you need nothing else except maybe an 8x20 Zeiss Victory Compact.

Hahahah I have the Nikon 8x32 SE and Nikon 8x32 HG L and thinking of getting the 10x25 HG L now :king:

 

[Dennis Mau]

Hahahah I have the Nikon 8x32 SE and Nikon 8x32 HG L and thinking of getting the 10x25 HG L now :king:

Good choices. Except for Nikon 8x32 HGL. Way too much CA. Try the Zeiss they sure are nice.

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Good choices. Except for Nikon 8x32 HGL. Way too much CA. Try the Zeiss they sure are nice.

I have tried the Zeiss FL and I'm impressed ! But unfortunately, no one is selling Zeiss in my place and because I give talk in birding and digiscoping for Nikon Malaysia, Nikon has served me well for my birding tours

Hope next month, I will have chances to try the new Nikon EDG 8x32

 

[ceasar]

I have had no problem with CA in my Nikon 8 x 32 LX L or 10 x 32 LX L, or for that matter in my 8 x 30 and 10 x 35 EII's or my 8 x 32 and 10 x 42 SE's! It doesn't matter if they have lead glass objectives or not.

Bob

 

[u1978]

Hi Terry,

I don't know how far you have progressed with this. However, if you are still looking then I would like to suggest stretching your budget to a pair of Opticron HR WP 8x42 Porro's. I have had a pair for about 18 months and they are excellent. They are available at the following link for £199,

http://www.swoptics.co.uk/view.asp?KEY=2390

 

[barnetbirds]

Hi U1978.....they do look nice.....good eye relief as well!! I will TRY and be good to the wife.........keep out of way!!
tks
TC