What 3 binoculars do you USE the most for birding? (1 Viewer)

[SPOTTED FLYCATCHER]

Interesting thread, actually inspired me to take part

Garden - Steiner Wildlife Pro 8x30 porro - colour neutral and superb brightness
Enclosed habitat, woodland etc.. - Steiner Skyhawk 3.0 8x42- superb contrast
Coastal and distance - Steiner Safari Ultrasharp 10x50 - cold blue image and ultrasharp.

Why Steiner? , the most relaxed image with 0 astigmatism i have found in any affordable option.

 

[Hermann]

Leica Trinovid 8x32 BA: Whenever I expect bad weather, on long trips, when travelling. Still my most used pair.
Habicht 7x42: Optically the best binocular I've got, very light, when working my local patch (where I always carry a scope) and when I'm out in the late evening.
Zeiss Victory 10x40: Mainly if I don't expect to be carrying a scope all the time.

I only use my Nikon SEs for fun and on dry days.

Hermann

 

[[email protected]]

Interesting thread, actually inspired me to take part

Garden - Steiner Wildlife Pro 8x30 porro - colour neutral and superb brightness
Enclosed habitat, woodland etc.. - Steiner Skyhawk 3.0 8x42- superb contrast
Coastal and distance - Steiner Safari Ultrasharp 10x50 - cold blue image and ultrasharp.

Why Steiner? , the most relaxed image with 0 astigmatism i have found in any affordable option.

Interesting. You don't hear too much about Steiner's on Bird Forum.

 

[OPTIC_NUT]

When they are mentioned, the issues with glare in the
Steiner military/marine and marine come up.
The inconvenience for some people of independent focus comes up too.

I can see this model has center-focus, though:

http://www.amazon.com/Steiner-Wildl...29408658&sr=8-1&keywords=steiner+wildlife+pro

The personal reviews are strong...
Hard to say if the glare is vanquished.
Other than that, the marine ones do show a great open-ness and clarity in the shop..

 

[peatmoss]

When they are mentioned, the issues with glare in the
Steiner military/marine and marine come up.
The inconvenience for some people of independent focus comes up too.

I can see this model has center-focus, though:

http://www.amazon.com/Steiner-Wildl...29408658&sr=8-1&keywords=steiner+wildlife+pro

The personal reviews are strong...
Hard to say if the glare is vanquished.
Other than that, the marine ones do show a great open-ness and clarity in the shop..

The Wildlife Pro CF has improved glare control versus the M/M models, but it still isn't that great battling glare.

 

[peatmoss]

Leupold had a 7 and 12 x 32 dual power binocular. It sold for about $1000.00.

From my memory I recall that its FOV was a very narrow 210 feet on the long end and an unimpressive 370' or so on the short end. I think it had a couple of small mechanical problems and it did not sell well and was discontinued.

Bob

Bob, It's quite interesting what sort of new-old-stock will sometimes appear online....

http://www.bobwards.com/LEUPOLD-Golden-Ring-712x32mm-Switch-Power-Binocular-49404

I've never tried it, but SteveC wasn't a fan.

 

[ceasar]

Bob, It's quite interesting what sort of new-old-stock will sometimes appear online....

http://www.bobwards.com/LEUPOLD-Golden-Ring-712x32mm-Switch-Power-Binocular-49404

I've never tried it, but SteveC wasn't a fan.

I would be surprised if they really have one of these in new condition! Leupold would probably still honor the warranty.

To be fair, there were some good things said about the 7 power part of the binocular which indicates that it is possible to still make a good 7x32 at a reasonable price but selling it is another issue.:smoke:

Swarovski's 7x32 SLC also had a smaller FOV than their 8x32 SLC had but lots of people liked it despite that.

Bob

 

[SteveTS]

Leupold would probably still honor the warranty

A while ago I sent an inquiry to Leupold (US) asking if they would give the date of manufacture and explain the servicing options for an old bino, this is what they said :

"My screen is not showing a year of manufacture, but it is coming up as an authentic Leupold bino. Return it to us asking for it to be returned as close as possible to "factory condition". We'll do so and ship them back to you on our dime"

and that was for a long since discontinued line. Fair play !

Best wishes,

 

[joannec]

Nikon HGL 8x32 I use on all day birding trips because the view is good and they are relatively lightweight.
Zen-Ray HD Prime 8x42 (which I won on Birdforum) for shorter jaunts because they give the best view but are a little heavy.
Nikon Monarch 8x42, an older version, which sits beside my attic window.

 

[eddy the eagle]

My all round daily use bin is the Zeiss HT 10x42 which is in my large camera bag but when on walk abouts I use the Zeiss Conquest 8x32 which is in my small camera bag together with my point and shoot.....Eddy

 

[SPOTTED FLYCATCHER]

Its true, the Steiner Wildlife Pro CF 8x30 porro has some glare issues and the edges are far from sharp but the centre field is very good. The Steiner Skyhawk 3.0 and Safari Ultrasharp 10x50 are relatively new additions to the Steiner line up and all but CA are very well corrected, the images in both being pretty much sharp to the edges with virtually no pincushion or barrel distortions to speak of and offer some of the most 'relaxed' and distortion free images i have seen for some time at the sub £400 point.

Steiners manipulation of coating processes is interesting and often comes under critisism however amist some of their more novel CAT coatings for example, aimed at increasing the red bias, primarily aimed at hunters some of the coatings deployed are quite excellent, noteably on the newish Skyhawk 3.0 binocular series that deliver vivid colour contrast without bias and a wide flat image

 

[[email protected]]

Its true, the Steiner Wildlife Pro CF 8x30 porro has some glare issues and the edges are far from sharp but the centre field is very good. The Steiner Skyhawk 3.0 and Safari Ultrasharp 10x50 are relatively new additions to the Steiner line up and all but CA are very well corrected, the images in both being pretty much sharp to the edges with virtually no pincushion or barrel distortions to speak of and offer some of the most 'relaxed' and distortion free images i have seen for some time at the sub £400 point.

Steiners manipulation of coating processes is interesting and often comes under critisism however amist some of their more novel CAT coatings for example, aimed at increasing the red bias, primarily aimed at hunters some of the coatings deployed are quite excellent, noteably on the newish Skyhawk 3.0 binocular series that deliver vivid colour contrast without bias and a wide flat image

I will have to try a Steiner sometime.

 

[[email protected]]

Nikon HGL 8x32 I use on all day birding trips because the view is good and they are relatively lightweight.
Zen-Ray HD Prime 8x42 (which I won on Birdforum) for shorter jaunts because they give the best view but are a little heavy.
Nikon Monarch 8x42, an older version, which sits beside my attic window.

The Zen Ray Prime HD 8x42 performs optically better than the Nikon HGL 8x32? That Nikon is pretty good binocular. Of course the Prime is Zen Rays best binocular and it has HD glass.

 

[joannec]

The Zen Ray Prime HD 8x42 performs optically better than the Nikon HGL 8x32? That Nikon is pretty good binocular. Of course the Prime is Zen Rays best binocular and it has HD glass.

I would say so, yes, but it took me awhile to admit it though.

 

[brocknroller]

I would say so, yes, but it took me awhile to admit it though.

Well, it's about time, Joan! I can't believe you've been keeping from that from us all this time, did you finally sell the 8x32 HGL?

"As far as I'm concerned, there won't be a Beatles reunion as long as John and I remain dead." - G. Harrison

brainyquote.com/authors/george_harrison

<B>

 

[joannec]

Well, it's about time, Joan! I can't believe you've been keeping from that from us all this time, did you finally sell the 8x32 HGL?

"As far as I'm concerned, there won't be a Beatles reunion as long as John and I remain dead." - G. Harrison

brainyquote.com/authors/george_harrison

<B>

Well Brock.............I am not a binohololic..........just a birder and will keep the HGLs. The views of the birds are the most important part and a selection of bins supplementary to that.

"The Beatles will go on and on."

 

[SteveTS]

.............I am not a binohololic..........

-hic- B

 

[dalat]

We have only 3 pairs in our household.

My main bin is a Ultravid HD 8x42, which I use most of the time.
The other is a Nikon EII 8x30, which I sometimes take for hikes in the mountains because it is lighter. It also sits in the shelf and I grab it for watching stuff around the house.
My son uses a Yosemite 6x30.

I tried a while for a second bin to complement the Ultravid 8x42, starting with a Trinovid 8x32 BN, which I liked but replaced by a Zeiss FL 10x32, because it seemed the better complement to the 8x42. I also sold it because I could not get used to the fast focusser. Then I bought the EII, mainly out of curiosity. It is a nice bin, but it does not get much use, it is just not as comfortable to use as the Ultravid.

So for now, I gave up on the idea of a second bin, as I realised that after all, the Ultravid gives me all I need. I might consider replacing it in a while by a 8x32, perhaps once the 8x32 SF and the Ultravid successor are available. But probably not.

 

[HighNorth]

-hic- B

I'll drink to that! From my Schott glass! B

 

[gulf1263]

What three binoculars do you USE the most for birding?

Tried the Nikon 8x30 EII, not nearly enough eye relief.
The 8x32 SE is not water proof or fog proof, however I know several people who use it and haven't had problems but I know I would.
Keep hoping Swarovski would redo the 7x42 Habicht with a wider angle of view and a little longer eye relief.
Saudi's bought several thousand with the range finder in the right eye piece back in the 1990's which helped keep it in production.
The 6x30 Leupold is a great inexpensive binocular that has handling and optical quality way above it's price range.
Gave a bunch to various kids and none have been broken, scraped up a lot and a pair was dragged through a mud puddle, oil, sand, grit and g-d knows what else got on the lenses but it never leaked or fogged.
Giving a pair to a beginning birder gives them a reference for what good optics and good ergonomics are really like.
Beats the hell out of the $89.99 bubble wrap glasses from the big box stores .
Art