Hi all,
I currently use a pair of 8 X42 bushnell birding series bins which when I bought them a few years back (for £50) were crystal clear and fantastic clarity but recently they have deteriorated markedly. They steam up a lot, and whats worse is that there seems to now be a lot of grot in between the glass right inside the bins. No idea how it got there. I also think the diopter might be broken. Still even in this state they are much better than any other similar priced bins I have tried. Not that I have looked at very many.
So, what is the sort of price range and models I should be looking at for a potential replacement that is going to be weatherproof to the extent that they do not steam up when it rains? Or should I try taking the bins apart myself and giving them a clean or is this a service that can be provided by optics specialists? I don't have a budget in mind, just trying to get a feel for the market at present but I don't think I could afford to fork out hundreds of quid on a new pair right now.
I think it is time for a new pair . Spend about £200. All but porros should be waterproof these days.
I too think it's time to replace them. There are plenty of really good waterproof roof binoculars now for around £150 - £250. The quality seems to have come on in leaps and bounds recently. I would pay a visit to our friends at Cley Spy and try out a few examples from Opticron, Nikon, Vortex, Swift etc.
I have had a pair of £250 Swift HHS roofs for over three years and really rate them. I recently bought a pair of ex-demo Leica Trinovids and, whilst they are better, there isn't that much in it to my eyes. I still keep the Swifts at work and love using them. You don't have to spend a fortune.
Ron