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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jay Gamble" data-source="post: 1624368" data-attributes="member: 54818">My first post after years of lurking and enjoying the reading & insights.My advice and $ .02 --- don't sell your 8.5 ELs unless your specific intent is to upgrade to the EL EDs next year.  ADD a pair of SEs if you want a complimentary but different bin.  If the budget won't allow both, stay with the ELs.I've owned both the Nikon 8x32 SE and 8.5x42 ELs for several years, and greatly enjoy both bins, but they are quite different tools. (I also have the12x50 SEs.)  I wouldn't sell either pair.For example, I take the ELs off-shore for pelagic birding and down river in canoe trips on spring run-off rivers where I wouldn't take the SEs. The ELs are rugged and withstand ALL the elements. The SEs are well-built, but are not all weather, all conditions gear IMO.A personal point:  For the past 10 years I was telescope gearhead. For my first 10 years in astronomy I was an "observer", but with the internet forums over the last 10 years I spent far too much time buying equipment and comparing the images A-to-B between two scopes on familiar objects and not being a true observer seeking new objects.  Finally, I sold all but one telescope, and now I'm an observer again instead of a gearhead.Its all too easy to do the same with bins with the equipment comparisons taking precedence over the viewing. I want the bins to be "out of way", and simply enjoy the birding view through fine optics. Both of these bins can do that for you.Both are excellent, and to have both is a luxury for many people. Keep the 8.5 ELs, get the SEs for a 2nd bin if desired, and enjoy both for many years to come.  My $.02.Jay</blockquote>

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