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Shorebirds and big open fields + owl watching at night / NL 10x42 or 10x52 ? (1 Viewer)

Well, i guess i will have to start saving for a spotting scope and 10x56/10x52 NL.

If only money grew on trees. 🤔
Start with the scope! For the price of a 52 NL you can get a very decent scope set-up (e.g. a Swaro ATC or ATS 65 or even 80, with a good tripod and head). Together with your 8x32, a very good all-rounder, you will cover all your needs and most of your desires. Once more money has grown on the tree, you can go for a bigger bin.

Edit: and if you really grow into birding, you are likely to start thinking about a good camera as well at some point ...
 
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You could probably drive a nail in using a pipe wrench, but I'd personally prefer to leave the wrench in the toolbox and use a hammer.
And if birding in different habitats was such a stark contrast as that, I'd believe you. But it's not .
It's certainly not as incompatibly different to warrant 2 pairs of binoculars.
Open country, you see birds close in dark hedges, closed forest you see distant birds in the open or in the sky. You get by with either of your binoculars, or one in between, or whatever.

You're playing binocular "top trumps", trying to match binoculars to individual bird sightings.
But in the real world, you are constantly faced with the whole spectrum of distances, conditions, clutter, chaos.
It's the binoculars enthusiast tail wagging the birding dog
 
It's the binoculars enthusiast tail wagging the birding dog
Well put :)

Of course there is nothing wrong about an binoculars enthusiast enjoying using different bins in different situations. But this does not necessarily translate in what a birder really needs.

I found myself being very much a one-binocular-only user. Over the years, I have bought and tried a couple of different binoculars in different sizes, but always ended up using one only for everything. Long time it was a 8x42, recently I settled for a 8x30. Never came to like 10x.
 
You get by with either of your binoculars, or one in between, or whatever.

The operative phrase, perhaps, being 'get by'. We could do that without any binoculars at all.

I simply prefer not to 'get by': but I really don't mind that you're seemingly happy to compromise.

Enjoy your birding.
 
You're seemingly happy to compromise.
So are you.. you only take one pair out with you remember.
You have either compromised on the binoculars or compromised on your birding trip.

Tell me about your most recent birding day, proper day, several hours, and I'll tell you what I mean. Ebird checklist if you like, or tell me where on a map, anywhere, and I'll explain why this none of this 8x and 12x whatever , doesn't work for me.
 
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BogBean, what is your single bino? Or, are there different single binos on different days/sessions, according to the mix of habitats? Thanks.
 
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So are you.. you only take one pair out with you remember.

Of course.

But the difference is that by pre-selecting the optic that we judge from experience will be best suited to the main habitat-type to be visited, or task at hand, that it's most definitely possible to minimise the inevitable compromises that will come our way.

Perhaps it's the fact that your main use sees you routinely walking through mixed terrain that leads to your self-confessed multi-binocular annoyance.

I'd suggest it's probably useful for you to open your mind and understand that not everyone does what you do. Some may sit in a hide for hours overlooking open water, some may spend a whole day in deep woodland. Some may have a sea-watching trip planned, some may hike exclusively in treeless mountain terrain.

In these very real circumstances a do-it-all binocular choice is almost certainly likely to result in far more compromise than an optic best suited to the occasion at hand.

Naturally, if the occasion at hand routinely sees you walking through mixed terrain in daylight, then your preferred 'all-rounder' is an understandable choice.

It doesn't seem that complicated to me. Nor does it make me angry.
 
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Of course.

But the difference is that by pre-selecting the optic that we judge from experience will be best suited to the main habitat-type to be visited, or task at hand, that it's most definitely possible to minimise the inevitable compromises that will come our way.

Perhaps it's the fact that your main use sees you routinely walking through mixed terrain that leads to your self-confessed multi-binocular annoyance.

I'd suggest it's probably useful for you to open your mind and understand that not everyone does what you do. Some may sit in a hide for hours overlooking open water, some may spend a whole day in deep woodland. Some may have a sea-watching trip planned, some may hike exclusively in treeless mountain terrain.

In these very real circumstances a do-it-all binocular choice is almost certainly likely to result in far more compromise than an optic best suited to the occasion at hand.

Naturally, if the occasion at hand routinely sees you walking through mixed terrain in daylight, then your preferred 'all-rounder' is an understandable choice.

It doesn't seem that complicated to me. Nor does it make me angry.
It's ok, I understand totally what you're saying.
But again, this is the binoculars spec driving decisions that someone going out birding, just wouldn't consider.
Take the scope, or leave it at home, that I can understand, but 8x or 12x, and the various other deltas on the datasheet, no.
You're trying to bend a birding day to fit the binoculars you have bought, and it just won't work.

For every hide overlooking open water, there is a dingy reedbed right next to the hide; for every dark forest there is a huge lake in the middle or raptors circling high above.
For every moorland, there is a heavily wooded valley filled with birds.
Someone runs into the hide overlooking a massive lake, and tells you there is a red-flanked bluetail in the woods behind the hide. You don't think for one second about having the "wrong binoculars".
You set off for a day in dark forest, and there has been a fall of wheatears, chats and wagtails in the field on the way.
It's a hobby of unpredictability and chaos, at least I hope it is for all of you.
 
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Yes, I love the chaos of birdwatching!

On bright days I go with my 10x32. On dark days and night I go with my 8x42. My 12x50 is pure luxury.
A nice pocket bin is good to have. It improves bird watching for me, because I have it with me. Otherwise I wouldn't have a pair of binoculars at all. So I added a 7x21 for that purpose.

One 8x32 or 10x42 paired with a pocket bin is all you "need".
 
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If you did, then trust me, you'd be talking in the currency of birds, not binoculars.
There has been a lot of back and forth now, and i think this thread has done its purpose and maybe it time to close this thread.

On the topic on whats makes one the ideal sort of birder regarding binoculars, we have to understand that we have different needs and interests.

Me as many here love birds and look at optics specifically as tools, but birding its a more personal thing for me, i wont talk specifically about birds here on this forum as that is something I want to get in depth threw books and acquired knowledge or skills by my own efforts and out in the fields.

I use this forum as a source to get more information from members based on their experience so to help me navigate threw the "confusing world of binoculars".

So my "talking currency" on this forum will be mostly binoculars, and when there is a great forum like this which are for all types of birders (some mostly gear obsess, others birding obsess) getting replies and in depth insightful tips from all kind of people is really helpful, which in return frees up time for me so I can instead use my spare time out in the fields, experiencing the wonderful world of birding.

We have to accept that no one has the real answer, just different viewpoints and preferences .
 
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Don't worry, it's normal that threads on a forum diverge from the topic at hand, and end up in heated discussions about trivialities. For some reason, this is especially common in the binoculars section here ... You just have to distill the info that is relevant for you from all the comments. Or you go on and put more oil on the fire with your own nerd opinion ;)
 
Don't worry, it's normal that threads on a forum diverge from the topic at hand, and end up in heated discussions about trivialities. For some reason, this is especially common in the binoculars section here ... You just have to distill the info that is relevant for you from all the comments. Or you go on and put more oil on the fire with your own nerd opinion ;)
And we do try and leave what has turned into the heated divergence until you have answers to the original question!
 
A pleasure to read this page. First and foremost because you all expose helpful opinions for the newcomers and second, because hasn´t been a dispute .......... yet. 🤞 🤞 :ROFLMAO:
 
My shackles really do go up, when I hear anyone advocating multiple pairs of binoculars for birding.
I firmly believe you need a single pair of binoculars. Anything more is likely, if anything to make you a worse birder, especially if you are relatively new to the hobby.
However, I also appreciate that I should chill more, it's not my money.

But your configuration above.. how on earth does it work!
I frequently go on walks with a low light start in forest, and thru some open fields when it's still dull. Then on thru a mixture of habitats in good light.
(and all the time I'd worry about any valuables left in the car). That's typical birding behaviour. There's definitely no room for 3 pairs of binoculars.

Do you somehow limit yourself to one habitat and one light condition per walk?
I greatly appreciated your comments. I fell into the trap of thinking I needed multiple binoculars for my field work -- I suspect others have as well. As much as I love and am absolutely blown away by my 8x42 NL, I seldom use them and instead use my 8x32s, primarily because of their smaller size and lighter weight. Each to his own, but I still remember my esteemed Ornithology professor's wry comment on binoculars in 1971 (he used a well-worn pair of B&L porro prism binos): It's not the binoculars but the person looking through them.
 
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Hi all, I'm wonder if anyone could perhaps give me some future advice on a second binocular that could compliment my 8x32, witch in my case does a great job as a compact and handy binocular in dense woodlands and for warbler watching, but i have a feeling that a NL10x42 could be a great addition for looking at shorebirds and over big open fields?

I've done some research on this forum and it seems to me to be a great combo both in higher magnification for that little bit of extra reach and bigger objective lenses for cloudy days and at dusk, but now that the NL10x52 has launched, I'm wonder if that might check most of the boxes and one extra if I also want to use it for owl watching at night?

And maybe the extra weight wouldn't be that big of a downside when combined with a chest harness? And correct med if I'm wrong, looking for shorebirds and over big open fields, you might be mostly standing stationary?

I'm not planning to buy a second pair now, but it would be great to have some guidance for which direction i could be going and where i should place my focus on later in the future.

So, watching shorebirds and scanning big open fields + owl watching at night, would you choose 10x42 for its lighter weight or 10x52 for its better low light gathering abilities for those occasions mentioned above?

I have seen many say that 10x is not that big of jump in magnification, and people recommend 12x42s, but I get a feeling that 12x would be a little troublesome at dusk, and not usable at night while looking for owls?

Thanks in advance :)

I have the 12x42 and 10x32 NL with BTX95 scope for works. Great combo and did not find any problem with the 12x42 and 10x32 for owlings and mammals watching at night and my birding tours. I do waterbird surveys on marshes and coast etc.
 
You're trying to bend a birding day to fit the binoculars you have bought, and it just won't work.

Again, I'd suggest this view is based on the (very) flawed assumption that everyone goes 'birding' in the same way.

If indeed spending considerable amounts of time walking through varied habitat is your regular (only?) form of birding, then I completely accept that one do-it-all binocular makes for an eminently sensible choice.

But wait... doesn't that mean that your one binocular-of-choice has been selected because it's 'specialism' is one of an all-rounder? In other words, the best tool for the job in the event that your main (only?) birding style consists of walking for considerable tracts of time through mixed terrain?

So what's the difference? Given your own very personal style of birding, you've presumably consciously chosen the binocular you think will be best for the style of birding you're habitually doing. I do exactly the same - only I bird in different ways.

Please follow...

I'm birding right now: whilst also typing this. I'm sitting in my conservatory overlooking a small meadow closed by trees. All my horizons are close by and it's daytime. I find my NL 8x32 exactly the right choice here, not least - between keystrokes - to best enjoy insects whilst there are no birds in view.

Later this morning I'll be going for a training ride on my bike. I'll take, as I always do, my 10x25 pockets so I can continue, if I choose, to 'bird' incidental to my ride. If I were going for a training run instead, I'd take, as I always do, my 8x20 Monovid for exactly the same reason.

This evening, I'll be going up to my local hide for an hour or so, which affords views over vast and distant tracts of open water, floodplain and meadow. The sole focus of this trip will be to watch birds. I'll be taking my NL 12x42 and my CTC 30x75. I'll almost certainly exclusively use the 12x, but may deploy the scope if there's something I need to check on, or want a 'larger' view of.

When I return I'll have have something to eat and then return to casually birding in the conservatory with a beer. Again I'll have the NL 8x32 with me.

This is a very typical day for me so I guess I 'bird' quite a lot. However, I do it in many and varied ways (like I'm quite sure many others will). Sometimes my birding is incidental to other activities: sometimes not.

Now... as a result of this thread I'm feeling like I'm perhaps not a 'proper' birder after all, but instead, more one of those (cue sotto voce) 'optics fans'. I feel somewhat disparaged and this leaves me feel uneasy: I thought I was a birder just using the best tool for the job at any given time but, on reflection, perhaps not.

I've seen the light. I want to be a birder and not a stupid optics fan bending my day this way and that - so I'm now tempted to sell everything and start again.

So, given my daily activities and genuinely chaotic style of birding, would any of the advocates of one do-it-all birding optic like to advise me which one do-it-all birding optic I should buy?

PS, my bike jersey pockets are only big enough for a something absolutely no larger than a Victory Pocket x 25.
 
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I don't think there is anything wrong with being fan of optics, some people see binoculars as just tools, yes, but others enjoy using their gear. What's wrong with that?
Environments are chaotic, and even in open fields you'll find targets closeby, so either 8x or 10x will do just fine for someone that's not interested in optics, so having one binocular is enough.
But if you are passionate about your gear, you'll know that certain configurations will be better for certain environments. You chose a 10x for open field but there is a bird nearby, what's the problem? You will be able to see it closer too, like with a 8x bino. But far away targets are more likely, thus higher magnifications are recommended.
 

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