Hi everyone
thanks to all who have answered my questions before......well, here's another obvious one - how do you test bins?
After reading all the threads (and totally ignoring the "try before you buy" ones, cos nowhere had these bins) I decided to buy a pair of Pentax 8x32 DCF SP. Arrived today after a long wait, so........they seem nice enough, but how do I test/compare them with my old bins/other bins???
My old bins are a pair of 2nd-hand Tokina 8x30, fov 143m @ 1000m, multi-coated bak4 prisms, water resistant, lightweight (670g) - cost me £65 about 8/9 years ago.
Well the Tokina are pretty good bins and they have a good depth of field; so then I tried the Pentax they seem a bit brighter, a different shape to hold, but less depth of field, in all nice enough - but are they worth c.£275. Yes I know that its subjective, but how do I test them "properly" to help me decide whether to keep them?? [Or send 'em back and splash out more (or less for the Nikon Sporters!)]
I guess I expected a much bigger difference........help pleeze. :-)
Hi Manda
what I do is use the bins and see what I think. I would say you should test on days with poor weather conditions since they will test the bins. On a good day in good light you'll find the differences to be much smaller. I recently looked through a top scope but it was a glorious day and I could see only a small improvement and certainly not £700 of improvement.
Another thing to bear in mind is that bins are subject to the law of diminishing returns. Buying top end gear you're trying to eek out that last few % of improvement and you may find you don't need it.
You need to get your hands on some bins and compare the Tokina's and pentaxes to them.
You walk around with two pairs hanging around your neck.