Hello,
I am new to this forum, but happy to have found it. I am a newbie birdwatcher; but I love watching all kinds of wildlife and have been doing so for years. I have been carrying some cheap Meade binocs with me on my hikes. They are "travelview 8-17 X 25" but they have become un-collimated. This seems to happen to all my cheap binocs (no suprise there.) I hike everyday so they get a lot of use. With my big barska binocs (too big to hike with) I was able to collimate them myself; but these little Meade's won't align. I could send them in for warranty repair; but it would cost as much as I paid for them. I've resorted to just covering one side with my hand and using them as monocles; rather than get a headache from the dual image..lol.
I want a good pair of lightweight, rugged binocs that will last me and stay collimated. I don't wear eyeglasses; and they don't have to have the highest quality image. But price is a major factor for me.
I recently won a $100 giftcard for Sierra Trading Post. They have a few pairs which I could get in that range. Can anyone recommend a pair from the following (under $100 please):
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/d/312_Binoculars-and-Scopes.html
I am most interested in the following:
Nikon Road Trips Binoculars - 10x25
Bushnell Compact Binoculars - 5x25, Extra Wide
Steiner Compact Binoculars - 8x22, Safari
Steiner Compact Binoculars - 10x26, Safari
Leupold 8x25 Binoculars Kit
Are any of these any good?
Kind regards,
Stefan
Get the Steiner 8 x 22 or the Leupold 8 x 25 kit. They will generally be brighter than the 10 powers and will have wider fields of view and be easier to hold steady. They should be tough enough for your purposes in your price range. Forget about zooms. None are any good. The 5x Bushnells might not have enough power for you. The Steiner's might be the most rugged of the group.
Welcome to Bird Forum!
Bob