binoculars

[tommygun166 0]

i am thinking of buying some new binoculars, i don't need owt fancy or expencive just some good cheap ones

 

any advice

 

tom

[provarmint 25]

i am thinking of buying some new binoculars, i don't need owt fancy or expencive just some good cheap ones

 

any advice

 

tom

 

Brian Fox at http://www.foxfirearmsuk.com/mainpagefront.htm

PV.

[HUnter_zero 58]

i am thinking of buying some new binoculars, i don't need owt fancy or expencive just some good cheap ones

 

any advice

 

tom

 

 

Tom, when you say "owt fancy" what exactly do you mean?

 

Why do you need binoculars?

 

When your talking about glass, price matters and effects the ultimate use of the binoculars. For example, if you want to use the glasses for stalking then you need good low light performance as you'll need to spot the twitch of an ear at 100 yards just at dusk. £50 isn't going to do this, £500 isn't going to do it much better. However if you are using a £50 scope, then it's pointless using £1000 binoculars.

You need to be realistic in your expectations, Zeiss, Swarovski, Leica are about the worst to best in the top notch binocular club and makes such as these will do all and more. If your going to go for cheap then your still going to be spending £300 +. If you want cheap but quality then I'd look at some Porro Zeiss on the bay, which can be had for around £100 if you are to get a some with no mold on the lenses / prisms. Quality apart, format is just as important. It's no good getting 8x56 binoculars if your going to have to lug the binoculars around the wood all day. 8x25 would be useless at dusk and dawn. Try to find something around 8x42 or at the most 10x42. The standard format for marine binoculars is 7x50 which in a porro format (traditional) isn't half bad. There are also many good 'other' makes, such as B&L, Steiner and Swift for example.

Roof prism binoculars (the type the look like two telescopes strapped to each other) will never have the same field of depth that a porro prism (traditional) set of binoculars. So to recap, if your looking for a cheap set of binoculars to go in your stalking jacket for the casual observations that we do, then the options are many, from the cheap 8x25's right up to the more compact zeiss in the same formats. Just pick a set of a well know brand, smile and be happy but always replace the lens caps, cheap glass will not last long in your pocket. If you want something a little more for low light with a specific job in mind, look for some porro prism 7x50's which will do a good job, preferably made by Zeiss, B&L, Bushnell, Steiner, swift etc.

Some makes to check out are Optimate (I have a set of their binoculars and for the money akin to my Swaro), Opticron (never seen/used them but have had good reviews and as an outside chance really only because I have heard many good stories about them Optisan ( http://www.birdnet.co.uk/binoculars/optisan.html ). There are of course many more good manufactures but hopefully the above will give you a head start in the search.

 

John

[waidmann 105]

i have some 8x56 from eschenbach( i bought them from frankonia/kettner in germany) they have very good reviews in germany.i paid around 250 euro for them around 2 years ago. i must say the best night glass i have had untill now( you will see a big difference at night if you compare to zeiss etc).

i looked at zeiss and swarowski,leica and opted for the cheaper glass( you can get a used car for the price of these) and i am happy with them.

a freind of mine says " only the best is just good enough" but he is loaded and i'm tight!

 

eschenbach is available through www.frankoniajagd.de

they probably have a site for and in english

good luck.

 

 

they have smaller glasses too if you don't need an observatory around your neck!

if you want to spend more try optolyth ( supposedly zeiss made)