Greetings,
My primary pair of field glasses is the Nikon 8x42 LXL, which work well for me. But after straining to pull identifying detail for warblers in the tree tops, I've been wondering about picking up a (relatively) affordable pair of 10x's.
I wear glasses and find the ER on the LXL's provides me with a full FOV.
With a very limited selection in stores in my area, I am wondering what the veterans might recommend.
I have checked out the 10x42 SE's which are, of course, exquisite, have enough ER, but are priced out past what I'd really like to pay for a secondary pair of glasses.
Affordable choices that occur to me are:
Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42
Eagle Optics Platinum 10x42
Celestron Regal LX 10x42
(Are these all the same bins, more or less? Would they all stiffen up in freezing weather as the Platinums are reported to do?)
Not really affordable but oh, well, it's only money options could be:
Nikon LX (older) 10x32 (found these for $530)
Pentax DCF SP 10x43 (and yes, priced close enough to justify the SE's)
Given that I have an all-weather primary pair, affordable porros could be in option if enough eye relief (haven't seen any examples in current models).
Could you share experience/thoughts with these models, or perhaps cite an option that I haven't considered?
Thanks, Bradley
If you can find them, the B&L Discoverer 10X42 is outstanding and in fact very close to the high end binos. If you do a search on this forum you'll find some very favorable reviews. I was lucky enough to find mine for $200 last year, down from a SRP of $600.
The triplet you asked about are indeed related. The Rangers have some assembly in Japan, hence "Made in Japan" instead of China. Beware that the narrow field of view in midpriced, fullsized, 10x roofs may make chasing warblers through foliage tough.