Binocular question

[mjs1973]

I'm thinking of making a small investment ($300 range) in a nice pair of binoculars to assist me in the field. I have been doing a little research and have come up with a few options but I'm wondering if anyone has a pair that they like and could recommend. I bought a cheap pair from a big box store a few years ago, and I had so much trouble using them that I stopped taking them with me. I wear glasses, so good eye relief is important, as well as size and weight. I'm thinking of something either in the 8x42 or 10x42, but would consider a x32 pair as well.

Any recommendations?

[OldClicker]

I have an old (15 years?) pair of Canon 10x30 binocs with image stabilization that works very well. Consider IS. - Terry

[DennisT]

I too wear glasses. I also do a little hunting every year besides a considerable amount of birding. I have 8x56 for hunting but also because they have a built in range finder (leica) and are also suitable for birding as the 56 lens makes for great light in the early morning and evening when the birds are most active.
My recommendation is, however, to go for 10x42 simply because the light is good enough and the magnification great with no noticeable shake 95% of the time. My wife uses 10x42 Swarovskis and absolutely loves them - she is the premium spotter in our team. Where we live the Nikon and Bushnell 10x42 are about your stated price range.
A good read - simple and straight forward - if you are looking for birding binoculars can be found at
http://www.reocities.com/RainForest/...4074/5binG.htm
Good Luck

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the advice Terry and Dennis. I did some digging this afternoon and found a couple pairs of binoculars that I have had for a while. One is a Simmons 10x50 and the other is a compact pair of Vivitar 8x22. Neither one are great performers but I'm going to give them another try before dropping some cash on a nicer pair. The pair I have my eye on are the Eagle Optics Ranger, either in 8x42 or 10x42. Eagle Optics is only about an hour from where I live so I will go and check them out before I decide.

Thanks again and if anyone else has anything to add, please do so. Now that I have 2 pair to play with, I'm in no hurry to go shopping.

[emiles]

I (well my family) owns two pairs of the 10x42s and they are amazing. There are knobs on the eyepieces that adjust perfectly to accommodate those with glasses, me being one who needs them. they go in small increments so you can adjust them to the exact place where you can see everything clearly. I would HIGHLY recommend anything by Eagle Optics, we have had our pair for years and still love them.

[Loupey]

I bought a pair of Vortex binocs a couple years ago and I really like them. My specific model has been discontinued and I believe they were replaced by the diamondback series:

http://www.vortexoptics.com/category...ack_binoculars

My model will focus close - I can stand and point them straight down and still be able to focus things at my feet. Doesn't seem important until you want to see bugs up close.

Waterproof, rugged, and very clear optics at a price that makes sense (around $200).


Strangely, I never take them when out photographing. I always just use my lens.

[mjs1973]

Thanks for adding your thoughts Loupey. I looked at the Vortex site last week myself. If I'm not mistaken, they are the same company as Eagle Optics. Their addresses are both listed as the same place which is only about an hour from me. I generally use my lens to zoom in on something to try to ID it which is another reason I'm not in a hurry to make a purchase. It's nice having time to research something before dropping a couple hundred bucks.

[mjs1973]

Update:

Well, it took a while, but I finally pulled the trigger on some decent binoculars. I went with the Vortex Diamondback 8x42, for $219. I took them out while walking the dogs this afternoon and I really like them. I was torn between the Eagle Optics Ranger 8x42 the the Diamondback, but in the end, the Diamondback won out because they were $80 less.