Re: First pair of binoculars

On 1/3/09 9:10 AM, in article rmrul4tb5k3nu1po69h1n1i428c94lnb3m@xxxxxxx,
"maryann kolb" <mkolb@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:35:26 -0500, Cheryl Isaak
<cherylisaak@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On 1/2/09 9:35 PM, in article
f20e1950-2ca6-4e5a-98bf-5b2b70ddc7d5@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "RJP"
<rjpals@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Jan 2, 8:25 pm, Cheryl Isaak <cherylis...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

What do you all recommend for a "first pair" of binoculars.
They will mostly be used for yard birds - no more than 100 feet away so I
can be sure of my ID's instead 80% sure.
Light weight and price are considerations.

Cheryl, I never council people to buy a starter pair of binoculars
with
the idea that later they will buy better ones. I did that myself and
really regretted it. The first money is just wasted.

I have been highly recommending Nikon Monarchs for some time
now to people as a great value. Two models come to mind - the
8x36, which is very light at under 20 oz., and the 8x42, which are
still light at 21.5 oz. The optics are excellent. The cost is very
reasonable - $249 and $289, respectively. I have seen them rated
near or at the top of their class (mid-price roofs) in several
reviews.


Randy
Thanks Randy,

We're a "Nikon" family (that what the husband and son shoot for cameras), so
I know their optics. $200+ is a bit more than I was looking to spend, but
maybe I can find a deal someplace


Any thoughts on buying used?

Cheryl

Cheryl, read all the reviews you can find and then buy the very best
you can afford. If you can go to a store that carries different ones
(or for that matter go to several places) and try them out.
when you find the one that makes you go WOW that's the one for you.
Binoculars are very individual--one that fits your face and hands
might not do for some one else. If you buy on the Internet find ones
that you can return if they don't fit. For the most part with
binoculars the more you pay the better the optics. Do not buy high
end ones on Ebay. A lot of those are rip offs.

This year at age 73 I finally bought the top of the line Zeiss. I
wish I had done it earlier.

Mary Ann
Barnwell, SC


I just hit the NH craigslist to see what was there - lots of junk I think...

C

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: First pair of binoculars
    ... I never council people to buy a starter pair of binoculars ... The optics are excellent. ... read all the reviews you can find and then buy the very best ... Binoculars are very individual--one that fits your face and hands ...
    (rec.birds)
  • Re: S&T C-6 Review
    ... My point was that what the observer sees on a given night really isn't a ... outsourced the reviews to an independent testing authority, ... I appreciate the wrires impressions but I ... would like to see some data to support the "excellent optics" claim. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: 10X50 vs. 7X50
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    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: S&T C-6 Review
    ... reviews in S&T and Astronomy have a generalized feel overall. ... There is plenty of yapping about this n that but no real down and dirty ... see a more organized approach for testing optics, ... "excellent optics". ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • S&T C-6 Review
    ... I've brought this up before and it started a flame war. ... I read the reviews of telescopes in S&T and am always disappointed that they ... Why don't they bench test the optics? ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
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