Hi
I'm a new forum member but I'm not new to nature observation (~30yrs since childhood). I enjoy many hobbies so I probably don't spend nearly as much time on bird watching/general nature watching as much as some of you guys, so I'd like to ask for opinion on a question that has had me vexed for some time.
I use a Swaro 10x25 as my regular binocular. I'm more than happy with it - in reasonable light conditions it provides me with a very sharp, contrasty view with excellent colour transmission. Its downside is its narrow FoV and 5m close focus. To compliment this I use a 6x16 Opticron Gallery Scope for insect watching (also very useful in museums). My optics collection is completed by a 6-24x40 Bushnell Banner Rifle Scope. I'm not a hunter, I just appreciated the reasonable quality, compactness, nitrogen purging and robustness for the price (less than £100) - much better than equivalent price spotting scopes. The cross hairs over the image are quite fun by the way! I wonder how many rifle scope users there might be among the bird watching community?
Now for my real question - I'd like a full size (42mm) binocular to compliment the 10x25. I typically go bird watching in forests and along rivers/lakes (reeds). Am I better off with a 7x42 with its superior FoV and depth of field or a more regular 8x42? I am slightly worried that with the 7x42, the birds may not be magnified sufficiently. I am contemplating a Leica Ultravid - I prefer the compactness compared to the equivalents from Swaro and Zeiss and the fact that Zeiss don't quote a particularly wide operating temperature range (this is important to me). I will be getting the green rubber armouring as this is likely to help keep the binocular cooler in extreme heat.
Many thanks in a advance for responses.
There is nothing wrong with 10x for all around use. If we insist on 10x, then there are a few mid price roofs that will give an acceptable view, 10x42 Nikon Monarch, Pentax 10x DCF models. They will also be lighter than the more expensive models. My point is, the smaller the binocular, the more you should spend, like you did. Not so needed on bigger models.
For 10x30 or 10x32 there are only a few decent ones to pick from. They might be your best bet, as you are used to handling a small binocular. I have not looked at most of them.
For 8x, there are a ton of good choices you dont have to to pay much for. Perhaps even a Zeiss Conquest 8x30.
For 7x, I have no other comments, other than you want a wide fov so you get a big apparent fov, you will not like a small view.
BTW, how do you mount or hold the rifle scope?
Pete,
I suspect that unless you are aiming to use your binoculars on the surface of the Sun then the Zeiss bins will be as good, if not better than any other binoculars that you can buy. In fact any binoculars that you could but for over £500 should operate, perfectly satisfactorily, in any conditions that you are likey to come across.
As a 7x42 user I think that the benefits of 7x42 out weigh any loss in magnification over the 8x42, which is so small as to be almost unnoticeable.
Paul