Why is buying and collecting binoculars so addictive. (1 Viewer)

[Paultricounty]

What is it with binoculars that make so many people want to buy sell and collect more than other optics? I don’t see the same verve for collecting spotting scopes, camera lenses, telescopes and even astronomy eyepieces ,which for many is also very popular and addictive.

I myself and others I know have/had multiple scopes, dozens of eyepieces and a few spotters, but when it comes to binoculars there are people here on BF alone, that have 50 to over 100 + binoculars and still going strong. And I’m not talking about the people who buy something , use it a few months , buy something else and sell the former, that to if done consistently is more just trying out the flavor of the month.

Thank you.

Paul

 

[Viraj]

I’m not talking about the people who buy something , use it a few months , buy something else and sell the former, that to if done consistently is more just trying out the flavor of the month

I hope you didn't specifically mention Dennis by this 😉

Of course, it is really addictive and costs a lot. That's why my girlfriend always tells me to focus more on birding with the binoculars I have rather than planning to buy more 😀 However, it would take me one more decade to reach 50+ point as I started collecting binoculars three years back.

 

[DanielG]

It's a serious addiction , all the time we wish to see another perspective of reality more better, more better 😁

 

[Conndomat]

telescopes and even astronomy eyepieces ,

Hello Paul,

with telescopes, of course, it also has to do with the size, you need a lot of space to collect 50 telescopes or more.

When it comes to astro eyepieces, however, there are people who own more than 100, and eyepieces in particular always tempt people to buy new ones.

I myself have more eyepieces than binoculars.

Andreas

 

[Andy Adcock]

I don't get it at all, I'm a birder and need one pair, just one. Most birders aspire to having the best optics they can afford but I don't know anyone, who has more than maybe two pairs.

I have my Swarovski EL's, my everyday 'bins' but I still have my old Leica's which are still superb, optically, purely a spare pair in case as recently, my frontline 'bins' are out of action. I am a collector, don't get me wrong, books mainly but I just don't get it with 'bins' at all.

Are you guys actually birders, what do you use you optics for?

 

[Conndomat]

Are you guys actually birders, what do you use you optics for?

The one does not exclude the other...

Andreas

 

[The BulbMogul]

I to can relate to owning way many more optics then I can ever use but I love it and do not care. Camera Equipment is my weakest craving....

 

[Andy Adcock]

Wow!

The one, criticism I would have, is that some of this stuff must lay around, unused for years and you can't even make it look nice in a display, just looks like a shop, stock room!

I've got well over a thousand books but at least they display well and I do, use, all of them regularly.

 

[GrampaTom]

Gear heads.....

 

[The BulbMogul]

Those 6 cameras laying on the ground will get you at least 30 or more pairs of "ALPHA" Bin's. So it is all relative and this type of things are quite affordable by most compared to Super Cars, Yachts, Airplanes etc,etc,etc.. All that counts is if it makes you happy and mine does...

 

[Andy Adcock]

View attachment 1523386
Those 6 cameras laying on the ground will get you at least 30 or more pairs of "ALPHA" Bin's. So it is all relative and this type of things are quite affordable by most compared to Super Cars, Yachts, Airplanes etc,etc,etc.. All that counts is if it makes you happy and mine does...

So £90K?

Isn't it the case though, that just like cars, these cameras 'tech' will go out of date, reducing their value?

 

[The BulbMogul]

USD$10,000.00 sets of wheels for a bicycle or optics or both..? Crazy

 

[Andy Adcock]

Therapy would be cheaper

 

[The BulbMogul]

So £90K?

Isn't it the case though, that just like cars, these cameras 'tech' will go out of date, reducing their value?

Yes more actually and yes outdated just like everything else, however they have no shelf life where they must be used before a expiration date..

 

[Andy Adcock]

Yes more actually and yes outdated just like everything else, however they have no shelf life where they must be used before a expiration date..

No, but resale value is affected?

 

[dries1]

I guess the books were not really a large investment.

 

[The BulbMogul]

No, but resale value is affected?

not selling any of it myself as kids can have a huge garage sale..

 

[Andy Adcock]

I guess the books were not really a large investment.

c£60K over forty years so no but it's all relative.

Works out at just over £3 per week

 

[Andy Adcock]

not selling any of it myself as kids can have a huge garage sale..

I thought about this with my books, however, they will need to know what is worth, what?

 

[dantheman]

It's a First World 'problem' ... ??!

;-)

(I am not a collector of bins or anything expensive or technical, but I do have a (presumably relatively valueless) coin collection, books, wildlife stuff and other random bits ... )


Imagine binoculars fit the collecting bill due to size (as mentioned), ergonomics (they are a pleasing chunk of 'stuff'?*), have a relatively neat and followable history and lots of availability, both new and old ... along with a technical and engineering back story? (For starters ... )


*(I have a sweet tin of the old English thrupenny bits, before my time, but they are so pleasingingly chunky cool bits of 'stuff', compared to some other things)