Hi everyone,
I am starting to do more birding in hides on wader scrapes and the like, obviously we are now talking greater distances when it comes to being able to positively id birds. I am currently using a pair of 8x42 Vortex Vipers which are a great pair of bins but not so great with the longer distances. Many people are using scopes of course but my birding is more sort of 80% woodland birding and 20% reserve work on the scrapes. Therefore buying a good scope would possibly be a poor choice of the use of my money.
I was just wondering about the Birdforum folk's thoughts here.
Should I get a scope or would I be better getting a pair of high magnification bins, there would be no real issue concerning the problem of being able to hold them still enough as the hides obviously have a shelf to be able to rest your arms on for stability. I have to say that the binocular option seems better as I see the scopes as ok for stationary birds but I like to be able to scan around quickly to see whats about.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this ?
Thanks guys.
Regards,
Dave.
Dave, I have gone through three scopes in the last year in the hope there is something magic I am missing but everytime I turn to the bins for the very reasons you mention. Most of my birding is close (less than 200 yards) so a pair of Hawke Frontier ED's 10 x 42do me well. I wear contact lenses and with these I do have excellent vision but when viewing through the scope I can't seem to balance my sight if that makes sense. I keep having to blink. I did look through a Kowa 883 ?? at the Midland Bird Fair last weekend and I have to say that the image was something else but what a beast, I wouldn't want to cart that about through the woods.
Just had a trawl around on the net and seen that the Vortex Viper also comes in a 15x50 for £365 .
If these are as good as my 8x42 Vipers I might be tempted !!