Spotting binos

[RicW 67]

Any advice on spotting binos? Low mag wide field? High mag narrow field? Zoo-o-om? They'll be used with 17 HRM but maybe later with 22 centrefire. My old 10x50s were good in their day but they're bloody heavy and crap optics by today's standards.

RicW

[harry mac 1]

Any advice on spotting binos? Low mag wide field? High mag narrow field? Zoo-o-om? They'll be used with 17 HRM but maybe later with 22 centrefire. My old 10x50s were good in their day but they're bloody heavy and crap optics by today's standards.

RicW

When it comes to optics you'll always hear "buy the best you can afford". I'll second that. I take it that because you'll be using them for 17 and 22 C.F. your targets won't be overly big? Get a good pair of 7x50s or 10x50s. If you won't be doing a lot of low light work without a lamp then you can come down a bit on the objective lens size, say 8 or 10x40. Don't bother with zoom binos they aren't all that good (unless they're Leica Duovids) and don't be tempted by the latest crop of cheap glasses using the roof prism system. A lot of these are really good looking binos but fall down badly on the optical quality.

If you can afford them go for Swarovski. If you can't stretch to them, the RSPB do a good line in binos if you can square it with your conscience to give them the money! Opticron do a good range and I have used one of their Dicovery 8x42s as my stalking binos in the past.

If you shell out in the region of £300-£400 you won't go very far wrong.

The problem with this question is that everyone will recommend what they are using and 10 different people will probably give you 10 different answers.

Currently I use Swarovski 7x50 SLC, but my binos are mainly used for deer stalking so my needs may be a bit different to yours.

[Guest Ralfy II]

Anything with 10 mag x anything from 32 lense + will do the job. As the old saying goes , ' buy the best you can afford' .

Hmmmm it used to go , but personally, i would look around for the ones in your price bracket & then look again.

 

A bud bought a outdoor kit from 'Aldi' recently for £15 which included ,multipurpose knife, compass, case & you guessed it BINO's 12x32.

 

I used them twice , i cannot beleive the quality. Using them on deer stalks...impressed , is not the word! £15 !!!

[harry mac 1]

Anything with 10 mag x anything from 32 lense + will do the job. As the old saying goes , ' buy the best you can afford' .

Hmmmm it used to go , but personally, i would look around for the ones in your price bracket & then look again.

 

A bud bought a outdoor kit from 'Aldi' recently for £15 which included ,multipurpose knife, compass, case & you guessed it BINO's 12x32.

 

I used them twice , i cannot beleive the quality. Using them on deer stalks...impressed , is not the word! £15 !!!

I'm going to have to start shopping in Aldi myself. A mate of mine just picked up a pair of electronic ear defenders for me. £15.99!!! They certainly work. I wonder if they'd start doing guns?

[RicW 67]

Any advice on spotting binos? Low mag wide field? High mag narrow field? Zoo-o-om? They'll be used with 17 HRM but maybe later with 22 centrefire. My old 10x50s were good in their day but they're bloody heavy and crap optics by today's standards.

RicW

 

Thanks people. Glad to have my prejudice against zooms confirmed! Probably settle for the Aldis and start saving for some class glass . . .

RicW

[lxx73 0]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alpen8x42Waterproof-...1742.m153.l1262

 

Try these I've just got some and for the money they are outstanding value.

[randy107 0]

Not sure what your buying time line is but you might want to consider Leupold. Leupold makes a switch power (dual magnification) binocular 10 and 17 power. 10/17x42 Retail is $1250 USD. One to consider.

[sauer 2]

Steiner sky hawk 8x42 roof prism binos for 300 quid and they are ace!!!!! for the money , very rugged and light and good eye cups and neck strap etc.

 

 

 

if had the money would have swarovski's but these very good compromise

 

sauer

[RicW 67]

Any advice on spotting binos? Low mag wide field? High mag narrow field? Zoo-o-om? They'll be used with 17 HRM but maybe later with 22 centrefire. My old 10x50s were good in their day but they're bloody heavy and crap optics by today's standards.

RicW

 

Thanks people. Glad to have my prejudice against zooms confirmed! Probably settle for the Aldis and start saving for some class glass . . .

RicW

 

What a helpful bunch of people there are on this site! All useful advice. My old binos belonged to my father and he bought them when was demobbed in 1946! He always insisted on the rule of five: the diameter of the object lens in mm should be at least 5x the magnification, so 8x40, 10x50 and so on. He was a bomb aimer in the RAF so he knew a bit about optics. The Leupold range appeals; they do several 8x42s which would meet the rule, and there is no time pressure over delivery. To my my simple mind if Leupold optics were good enough for that sniper in Afghanistan to take out a Taliban RPG gunner at 1 1/2 miles they should be good enough for me.

Thanks to all.

Ric

[RicW 67]

Whoops. Missed! Put my last reply on the wrong strand. See above. PS they were J.J.Coppock Marine.

[Captain Caveman 0]

I’ve been using a pair of Leupold Acadia Binoculars 8 x 42 for spotting bunnies and a stalking for about a year. They have perform very well in all weather conditions and are ok in poor light. The optics are very clear and the general build quality is also very good. My only disappointment is the quality of the eye cups are a bit flimsy in this price bracket. Overall they are worth a try if your budget is £150 - £200. I picked mine up from the US for £125 delivered when the exchange rates were a bit better.