binocular suggestion

Hi all,

 

I want to buy a binocular under 250$. Can someone suggest me a good one?

 

Thanks

Aravind

For general purpose and birdwatching I would suggest Pentax 8x42 DCF HR II. Amazingly sharp, light and high quality. $209 @ adorama (add to the cart first). I compaired several and they are on par with zeiss and swarowski that are 3x-4x times more expensive. Pentax never stops impressing me.

 

This model will work well for handholding. If you need something stronger, you will need to mount it on the tripod.

<p>More options:  This website has reliable reviews to help you find something that

suits your need:  <a href="http://www.birdwatching.com/optics.html">http://www.birdwatching.com/optics.html</a>.

<br>

And this website tends to have the best prices for this stuff: <a

href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/">http://www.eagleoptics.com</a>/. Note the <a

href="http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/audubonequinox.html">Audubon 8x42 Equinox</a> is

only $199.</p>

 

<p>Zeiss just released a new lighter weight 32mm series (7x32, 8x32, 10x42) that is just

as good as their superb but heavier 42mm series. It's not widely available yet and it's

pricy, but it's one great pair of binoculars.</p>

a suggestion nobody's mentioned...Canon Image stabilized. 10x30's go for around $300, 8x25's go for about $230. The IS more than makes up for the tiny exit pupil, and them some. It is the difference between seeing a sign, and reading it.

Check out betterviewdesired.com.

HI all,

 

I have gone through those websites you have mentioned but the prices of the binos they mentione are very high (out of range). But i have recently come across some Nikon Action series, 8x50, 10x50, 12x50.

 

I'm a photographer, so, i wil be carrying a tripod with me all the time. I have also come across a zoom, 10-22x50 from nikon only.

 

What are your suggestion on these..?

 

Thanks

Aravind

Can you explain the purpose you plan to use the binos for? It could aid in answering your question.

I wanted the binoculars for spotting the birds.

Under $500 or so, in my experience, Nikon typically makes the best binoculars at a given price point. They've refreshed their model line since I last went binocular shopping, however, but the $350 E2s just barely edge out most $800 binoculars from Zeiss and such.

 

The non-ED Swift Audubons are decent as well and right at your price point. For both binos and spotting scopes it is worth the extra money for ED glass, though; the difference in CA is fairly dramatic.

 

Speaking of which, does anyone have any experience with the Kowa TS-504?

You might wish to consider Minox binoculars, which are sold under the Leica label. For used binoculars available on ebay.com, you might wish to consider binoculars from the 1940s made by Bausch & Lomb, and from a later period binoculars made by Carl Zeiss Jena.

I have the 10-22x50. ?109

 

You loose a bit of light at the long end,however from 10-15 they are as good as it gets. Good light, detail and field of view.

 

I use mine on safari from a vehicle, you need the long end to identify animals at long distances. Light is no problem on the African plains, also I can support the binos on a beanbag at the long end.

 

I was thinking of spending ?500 on a high-end pair of binos, but after using these I can only think they would be only slightly better, for example, in very low light.

 

Some people might say they are too heavy to carry around, but I dont notice the weight.

 

Give them a try before you decide, like me you wont be dissapointed.

 

Mike

"I was thinking of spending ?500 on a high-end pair of binos, but after using these I can only think they would be only slightly better, for example, in very low light."

 

a cheap pair of 8x56 or 9x63 (provided they at least have some level of AR coatings) will outperform an expensive 10x40 in low light every time. doesn't matter what the quality is, if the image is too dark.

 

Low light performance is related to exit pupil size. Exit pupil is like a binocular's f/ratio. Divide objective size by the power, and you get the exit pupil size. Ideal situation is to have the exit pupil be the same size as your eye's pupil. in bright daylight, that's usually between 2-4 mm. Night adapted human pupil is 7mm.

I asked the same question this time last year. I ended up getting a pair of Swift Audubon 8.5x44 roof prisms. I use them several times a week and couldn't be happier with them.

 

-slide

Keep in mind, like long telephoto lenses, that they become very difficult to hold steady. Anything over 10x can become troublesome quickly although tripod mounting can be an option.

be sure to check out canons new binocular its the 7x42w at about

250$ i believe it is the best binocular out there i just bought 2 pairs and i also have leica trinovids i would say that these canons are a lot for the money and are crystal clear rubber amoured also

paul

I know it is out of your price range, but I want to sell my

Canon IS 18x50 binocular.

The Celestron Nobles (8x42 or 8x32), Bushnell Legends (8x32 or 8x42), and Nikon Sporters 8x36 are all decent waterproof (except sporter) roofs for $250 or less.

 

The Swift Audubons and Nikon E2s mentioned above are also good in that price range.

I recently shopped for binoculars with a $1100 limit. Choice came down to the Leica 10x42BN series and Pentax 10x42 DCF SP mainly because of ease of use with glasses and general handling. I chose the Pentax at $450 grey market over the $1100 BN's. Runner ups: Nikon Venturer (no good with glasses) and Nikon Superior E (excellent handling but hard for me to center and aquire image with glasses). Even though I spent a little more than your buget lesson I learned is to try them out yourself. Especially if you wear glasses.

Canon IS.

Night and day difference with IS.