Binoculars

Looking to buy a pair of (small) binoculars in the £150-200 region.

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

I use a pair of Nikon eagleview, which I find to be very adequate, and not to expensive. But I guess it depends on what purpose to require them for....

Just for general purpose viewing really ... boats, aircraft that sort of thing.

As Stuart said - it all depends what you want them for!

As a general use "carrying around" pair, I have a pair of Pentax UCF G 8x24 that I have had for years. They are great - light weight, small, bright and very clear.


I don't think that they still make the UCF G but they do turn up on EBay. They have a new version, the UCF WP, and if they're anything like as good as the UCF G I'd recommend them for general use.

I notice SRS have some Pentax 9x28 DCF LV binoculars ... they seem to get pretty good reviews.

SRS do binoculars and spotting scopes:

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/c/253/Pentax-Binoculars---Accessories.html

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/c/256/Pentax-Spotting-Scopes---Accessories.html

It strikes me that a spotting scope with a DSLR attached, or even a Q, could be an interesting and useful exercise. The adapters are available.

You get what you pay for!

I have had a set of Pentax for around 25-30 years! and they just get put in the bag and are nice and light.

Be wary of any "cheap" ones - you will find they have a centre focus only whereas a decent pair will have centre focus and a +- tweak on one eye cup. Try out various brands and see which feel right both in your hands and against your eyes.

Going much above 8x on small bin's is not advisable - you will spend too long hunting around.

Brands to consider: Pentax, Nikon, Swarovski, Hawke, Bushnell.

Something like:

Bushnell Excursion EX 8x42
Hawke Optics Nature-Trek 8x42

you realise you are now on every government agency's watch list!

I've been using Bushnell bino's for several years now, a nice 10x42 Bushnell Legend. Maybe a little heavy at times in the bag with the rest of the kit and I've been thinking about a small 8 / 10x25 set for less weight. Might take a run up to the British Birdwatching Fair later this month in Rutland, always a good day out and plenty of good equipment to have a look at and try out.

I'd be scared to walk around with a £2K pair of Swarovski's finest around my neck though!

Every time we go away we pack binoculars and every time we go away we never use them. It seems to be one of those items that seems like a good idea but it doesn't really fit in with our photography.

I was going to recommend Bushnells. I've had a pair of their Sportview 8x40s for about 30 years and a brilliant set they are -- light but well made. Took them out for the first time in years just to confirm the optical quality and noticed a couple of cracks in the diopter-adjustment dial. I've managed to waste the best part of the afternoon a) supergluing it back together and then b) trying to source a spare part. Bushnell UK asked to a email them a photo of the part and said they'd try to get one. Thanks, Mike, for filling my day so productively.

Having said that, I'm a bit like JR -- like to have a good set of binos but seldom use them.

(I hasten to add that I use them to scope out the landscape for any suitable subjects for my PENTAX cameras.)

Al

Further to my comment above, I forgot to say that I also have a pair of Bushnell Powerview 8x25 which used to belong to my mother. They are well made, light, small and clear - they're just not quite as good as the Pentax pair, which are "brighter" and just a bit sharper.

On the other hand the Bushnell's were quite a bit cheaper. Mine are over 10 years old and show no sign of wear & tear.

I'm using a pair of Bushnell 8x30 HD bins which are stunningly bright and clear. They were't exactly budget at 220 quid but give thd 500-1000 bins a real good run for their money and have a lifetime warranty. Much, much better than the other bins I own.

My dad left me a pair of Carl Zeiss Jena Jenoptem 8x30's with Mulitcoated optics.
The clarity is fantastic.

I've bid on a few cheap vintage russian ones from the cold war.

When I finally get a pair, they'll be cheap enough to just leave in the car, and the optical quality is supposed to be really good