Which Best Buy For Compact Binoculars

[johnny37]

Not sure which section to post this. Anyone know the answer to the question or has an opinion?

[sunny-dave]

What sort of cash are you thinking of spending?

[shoota]

Stick with a big name that also makes cameras.
I always go for Nikon although I also have a good pair of Olympus bins.

[sunny-dave]

Try before you buy - it's (very) easy to make an expensive mistake.

If you have a local specialist then go and talk to them - my favourites are

http://www.focusoptics.eu/focus/

< declares interest - I live round the corner from them and have been known to have a pint with the owner >

I recently bought a pair of Hawke Sapphire Compact ED 8x25 (approx £180-£200 from various suppliers) and at least one of my bird watching friends borrowed mine for a few minutes & had her own pair by the next weekend.

They are small, light and (very) bright - 8x magnification is a good "walk and look" compromise - and they now come with me on every walk (I even realised they were on my belt last time I was shopping in Aldi, they are so light & inconspicuous).

I also have a pair of Canon 18x50 stabilised bins - stupidly heavy and big, but ideal for sitting quietly in a hide & getting a good look at stuff.

So think about what you want to use your bins for, set yourself a budget & then go and have a play with some different models - nothing beats actually getting your hands/eyes on the hardware. Don't turn your nose up at 'used' either - many people trade in perfectly good 'starter' bins as they develop their interest.

dave

[seadogg]

agree with dave. you pay for quality and portability and your choice will depend on what you are using them for.

[Baldric]

I use a pair of Green Kat 10x42, great resolution, cost about £100
5 or 6 years ago.

[seadogg]

If you can get a look at a Birding magazine it will be full of adverts to give you an idea of the binocs available. I carry a pair of little Leica 8 by 20 roof prism glasses everywhere that dog walking takes me. They fit in a shirt pocket.