Hello everyone. I only just joined the forums today and I must say binoculars are confusing the hell out of me. Here's what I'm looking for...
I need a pair of binoculars for bird watching and general use. I only have a maximum budget of £200. From what I've read so far on here I should be looking for around 8x magnification and the objective lens should be between 36 - 42mm. It would seem porro-prisms offer better value at the lower end of the price scale so I've been looking at the Bushnell Legend 8x42. I can't really get to a bricks and mortar shop to try before I buy so I would appreciate any recommendations of online retailers in the UK.
My previous experience with binoculars is patchy, to say the least. The only ones we have here are a pair of Praktika Sport 10x25 and they are awful! I do have a pair of 40 year old East German 8x30's in our apartment in Spain and they are immeasurably better. Still not great I bet, but definitely useable. I am a keen amateur photographer and all my photo gear is Nikon and ideally I'd love a pair of Nikons but opinions on their cheaper models vary so much I'd be reluctant to go that way at the moment. Being a photographer I appreciate the dilemma that different lenses can provide and I also appreciate that in the end you get what you pay for. If I get the bug who knows, I might find the funds for those Leicas, lol.
Would the Bushnell Legends fit the bill as a starter pair or are there other options I should be looking at? I don't wear glasses and I think my eyesight is pretty good.
Any and all help will be gratefully received.
Thanks for taking the time.
Gordon.
[QUOTE=zorrofox;1747027]Hello everyone. I only just joined the forums today and I must say binoculars are confusing the hell out of me. Here's what I'm looking for...
I need a pair of binoculars for bird watching and general use. I only have a maximum budget of £200. From what I've read so far on here I should be looking for around 8x magnification and the objective lens should be between 36 - 42mm. It would seem porro-prisms offer better value at the lower end of the price scale so I've been looking at the Bushnell Legend 8x42. I can't really get to a bricks and mortar shop to try before I buy so I would appreciate any recommendations of online retailers in the UK.
My previous experience with binoculars is patchy, to say the least. The only ones we have here are a pair of Praktika Sport 10x25 and they are awful! I do have a pair of 40 year old East German 8x30's in our apartment in Spain and they are immeasurably better. Still not great I bet, but definitely useable. I am a keen amateur photographer and all my photo gear is Nikon and ideally I'd love a pair of Nikons but opinions on their cheaper models vary so much I'd be reluctant to go that way at the moment. Being a photographer I appreciate the dilemma that different lenses can provide and I also appreciate that in the end you get what you pay for. If I get the bug who knows, I might find the funds for those Leicas, lol.
Would the Bushnell Legends fit the bill as a starter pair or are there other options I should be looking at? I don't wear glasses and I think my eyesight is pretty good.
Any and all help will be gratefully received.
Thanks for taking the time.
Gordon.[/QUOTE]
Gordon, I'm here in the states so can't help with retailers. I think your on the right track! I might add a couple more to your list to consider. Besides the Legend, Pentax PCF WP II 8x40, Nikon Action Extreme 7x35 or the 8x version, I think Opticron makes a similiar porro as well. I think any one of these would serve you well. You have to spend alot more for the same optical quality! Granted you can get a Roof prism at that price, ergonomically better but, won't touch the Porro's mentioned optically. Welcome to BF, Bryce...