Binoculars.

[stealthy1 3,964]

Well, managed to get round a few shops and test a few pairs of bino's, tested makes I'd not heard of, Chinky binos. Tested all the top makes up to my top end price. And then I finally decided on pair of Leupold BX-2 Cascades, £225 next day post. I've only had a couple of hours walk with them, and I have to say I'm pleased with them. Good contrast in sunshine and rain, tested by myself today, 100% water proof, witch is good, because it does seem to rain a lot in Britain lately. Just need the time to get out and use them now.

[devon flighter 421]

for a cheap decent set barr and stroud sahara will take a lot of beating ,ive a pair 8x32 i use in the truck or if im getting muddy on the marsh and ive a pair of minox bv 8x42 (heavy but cracking glass) i use for stalking focus is a bit critical though but once your used to it its no hassel

 

oops just noticed your sorted

[Silversnake 1,099]

I have a pair of docter 10x42 which are clear even in low light and well made but my brothers swarovskis really make them look and feel quite ordinary...

Edited March 20, 2016 by Silversnake

[Lutra Lutra 611]

Ever since I can remember I have always had a pair of Binoculars. At first my brother and myself really had to make do with just a really cheap pair of Binoculars. Mother and Father at the time couldn't afford really expensive Bins at the time, plus there wasn't really a lot to choose from in those days of the 1970s. One Christmas we proudly found ourselves supporting both a pair of very cheap and nasty pair of Bins made by Commodore.Of course at that particular period we thought they were great and we took them everywhere within our quest to further our knowledge of bird identification. As the years progressed, so did our knowledge and also so did the Binoculars. In those days even the cheapest Carl Zeiss or Leitz being out of the question.

It wasn't until many years later and with more money in our pockets, that we obtained a pair of 8x42 Bushnell Nature view Binoculars. We had carefully followed and read the reviews about these models; and took the plunge and we both bought a pair from London Camera Exchange in Nottingham. The both of us, my brother and myself, found them excellent for our needs and for approx £145.00 pounds we found them more than adequate for our needs.We had gone for the porro prism type, but after a while we longed for the more reliable, expensive roof prism Binoculars. At the time I luckily stumbled upon a really good telescope made by the excellent west german company, Optolyth. I only paid £125.00 pounds for the gem of a scope; even at the time it was worth approx £600- £800 pounds.I used it for watching Waders in our local area and I also used it extensively at a certain nature reserve in Skegness. As the years went by we knew it was time to start to think about the (ROLLS ROYCE) of Binoculars. Namely the big 3! Swarovski, Leica and Zeiss.Nowadays I have my trusty pair of 10x42 EL Swarovski, extremely expensive, and a pair of Leica 8x32 BN which will take some beating by any Binocular. Also I have a pr of compact Leica 10x25 bca, a superb little pr of Bins. My brother keeps a pr of 10 x50 Leica but has also had Opticron which are made in Japan. The Opticron are very good glass.

 

Regarding other Binoculars. I have never had the chance to look through the Leupold, however, if the glass is the same as the Leupold glass I've looked through with their scopes, then they should be good. Other Binoculars to consider: Steiner, top end Nikon, Carl Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski, Kowa, Kahles, Opticron, Optolyth if you chance upon a pr. Also Doctor Optics are good. Another one to really consider are the American company (Vortex). I'm not going to divulge much information regarding the Vortex range, but I have been told they are exceptional for much the lower price range. Plus read their warranty? It is simply superb! I am hanging my nose over the new Zeiss, they are reputed to be the finest Binoculars money can buy. But they want to be good for the price tag of approx £2000 a pr. Hope to hear about the Leupold or any other Binoculars.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Lutra Lutra

[king 11,984]

Hi ultra you obviously know the ins and outs of binoculars.

What's your thoughts on second hand military 1s.

I just found these and the same shop is based in Germany and has 100s of binoculars.

But I ain't got a clue about the numbers etc.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=262331950067&globalID=EBAY-GB

[Lutra Lutra 611]

Hello King, I managed to buy a good pr of Bausch and Lomb Navy WW2 Binoculars off a friend some years ago now. Foolishly I sold them to a guy, 'I don't know why", but I did.

If my memory serves me correctly I only paid approx £45.00 pounds for them. However, it was many years ago so they perhaps were deemed expensive at the time. The glass was brilliant and that's the regret I have. I'm thinking of starting to collect certain pairs, so who knows what will happen?

The Swarovski Habitcht you mentioned. They are a porro prism Binocular unlike the more sought after roof prism Binoculars. But please, don't be fooled, they are an excellent pr of Bins and at the time of production they were years ahead. If you come across a pr let me know then I would perhaps be able to point you in the right direction.

If you are interested in obtaining a pr anytime soon just let me know. You want to private mail myself I would gladly send you any information about Leica, Swarovski, Vortex, Kowa or any other brochures on Binoculars.

Depending on your budget go for 1 of the big 3. Zeiss, Swarovski and Leica.

Then there are other well known brands. Which are: Opticron, Japan. Vortex, American, they are superb. Minox, German, very good. Kowa. Nikon, the more expensive ones are absolutely superb. Canon make certain models, but they have an added stabiliser built inside the Bins due to the heavy weight. Vanguard are the least expensive but still good Binoculars. Like I have already said in previous posts, I have my trusty 10x42 EL Swarovski, but they will set you back for a new pr approx £2000. Also I have a pr of Leica 8x32BN Trinovid, an incredible , outstanding Binocular. When new cost approx£1000 or more. The final pr I have and I adore them, are my compact Leica Trinovid 10x25 BCA. These are excellent for looking for foxes or looking at certain earths or entrances to which a fox may travel. Plus they will save you a lot of leg work and I'd go as far to suggest they may even increase your tally of foxes.

Edited March 20, 2016 by Lutra Lutra

[stealthy1 3,964]

Ever since I can remember I have always had a pair of Binoculars. At first my brother and myself really had to make do with just a really cheap pair of Binoculars. Mother and Father at the time couldn't afford really expensive Bins at the time, plus there wasn't really a lot to choose from in those days of the 1970s. One Christmas we proudly found ourselves supporting both a pair of very cheap and nasty pair of Bins made by Commodore.Of course at that particular period we thought they were great and we took them everywhere within our quest to further our knowledge of bird identification. As the years progressed, so did our knowledge and also so did the Binoculars. In those days even the cheapest Carl Zeiss or Leitz being out of the question.

It wasn't until many years later and with more money in our pockets, that we obtained a pair of 8x42 Bushnell Nature view Binoculars. We had carefully followed and read the reviews about these models; and took the plunge and we both bought a pair from London Camera Exchange in Nottingham. The both of us, my brother and myself, found them excellent for our needs and for approx £145.00 pounds we found them more than adequate for our needs.We had gone for the porro prism type, but after a while we longed for the more reliable, expensive roof prism Binoculars. At the time I luckily stumbled upon a really good telescope made by the excellent west german company, Optolyth. I only paid £125.00 pounds for the gem of a scope; even at the time it was worth approx £600- £800 pounds.I used it for watching Waders in our local area and I also used it extensively at a certain nature reserve in Skegness. As the years went by we knew it was time to start to think about the (ROLLS ROYCE) of Binoculars. Namely the big 3! Swarovski, Leica and Zeiss.Nowadays I have my trusty pair of 10x42 EL Swarovski, extremely expensive, and a pair of Leica 8x32 BN which will take some beating by any Binocular. Also I have a pr of compact Leica 10x25 bca, a superb little pr of Bins. My brother keeps a pr of 10 x50 Leica but has also had Opticron which are made in Japan. The Opticron are very good glass.

 

Regarding other Binoculars. I have never had the chance to look through the Leupold, however, if the glass is the same as the Leupold glass I've looked through with their scopes, then they should be good. Other Binoculars to consider: Steiner, top end Nikon, Carl Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski, Kowa, Kahles, Opticron, Optolyth if you chance upon a pr. Also Doctor Optics are good. Another one to really consider are the American company (Vortex). I'm not going to divulge much information regarding the Vortex range, but I have been told they are exceptional for much the lower price range. Plus read their warranty? It is simply superb! I am hanging my nose over the new Zeiss, they are reputed to be the finest Binoculars money can buy. But they want to be good for the price tag of approx £2000 a pr. Hope to hear about the Leupold or any other Binoculars.

 

I've finally had time to get out and do a bit of twitching, the Leupold's are a very good mid price bino. The colour is really good, no false bright blue sky's you get with some bins on dull days. If you look at some thing with them the colour does not change between looking at the subject and putting the bins to your eyes. The have all the mod cons. Life time warranty, made in Japan, for just over £200 I'm chuffed with them. Not had a chance to do Gib with them yet.