I'm hoping you guys can help me narrow down my bino choices - I realize that the ultimate choice will be my own, but right now, there are too many choices.
First the backgroud - I have a pair of Bushnell midrange binos which are great for viewing mammals. However, I find it hard to distinguish the finer details when it comes to sorting out LBJs and other smaller birds. Also, due to a sports injury, I am more or less blind in one eye. So I really do want a high-quality pair of binoculars.
Budget is not a constraint for the right pair of binoculars. However, I dont want to spend more just for the brand and for a marginal/hard-to-notice difference in quality (as a photographer, I am well aware of how *that* works....).
To make my choices harder, there are very few decent binos above $200 available in India, where I live currently.
So, on to my questions:
1/ Is there such a significant difference in binos in the $700-900 range and the binos in the $1200-1400 range? In other words, would a Zeiss Victory T* or Leica Trinovid be that much better in quality than, say, a pair of Vortex Stokes DLS? Or,for that matter, is the Leica Ultravid noticeably better than a pair of Leica Trinovids? Essentially, I am trying to get a sense of how different the quality
2/ My current binos are 8x42s. Recently, I had a chance to try a pair of 12x50s, and I really liked the greater magnification of these binos. Give my eye problem, greater magnification comes handy in identifying birdies. The smaller field of view isnt a problem (I shoot with a 500/4 and stacked TCs, so I know all about measly small fields of view).
So I am leaning towards a pair of 10x42s as a good balance between magnification and exit pupil size. What do you guys think?
Thanks,
Vandit
I would leave the 12's well alone. Stick to the 10's or 8's and you should be OK. Have you thought about buying a second hand pair? there are lots of great bargains out there. Sorry I can't go into more detail but there are lots of threads on the site re bins...search binoculars, Leica, Zeiss, etc. My ancient 10x Zeiss are still wonderful.
[QUOTE=vkalia]I'm hoping you guys can help me narrow down my bino choices - I realize that the ultimate choice will be my own, but right now, there are too many choices.
First the backgroud - I have a pair of Bushnell midrange binos which are great for viewing mammals. However, I find it hard to distinguish the finer details when it comes to sorting out LBJs and other smaller birds. Also, due to a sports injury, I am more or less blind in one eye. So I really do want a high-quality pair of binoculars.
Budget is not a constraint for the right pair of binoculars. However, I dont want to spend more just for the brand and for a marginal/hard-to-notice difference in quality (as a photographer, I am well aware of how *that* works....).
To make my choices harder, there are very few decent binos above $200
available in India, where I live currently.
So, on to my questions:
1/ Is there such a significant difference in binos in the $700-900 range and the binos in the $1200-1400 range? In other words, would a Zeiss Victory T* or Leica Trinovid be that much better in quality than, say, a pair of Vortex Stokes DLS? Or,for that matter, is the Leica Ultravid noticeably better than a pair of Leica Trinovids? Essentially, I am trying to get a sense of how different the quality
2/ My current binos are 8x42s. Recently, I had a chance to try a pair of 12x50s, and I really liked the greater magnification of these binos. Give my eye problem, greater magnification comes handy in identifying birdies. The smaller field of view isnt a problem (I shoot with a 500/4 and stacked TCs, so I know all about measly small fields of view).
So I am leaning towards a pair of 10x42s as a good balance between magnification and exit pupil size. What do you guys think?
Thanks,
Vandit[/QUOTE]
Yes, there is a big difference between the top end binoculars. If you can afford it get your 10x42 in the Leica BN or Ultravid. To my eyes they are the best.
Dennis