Cameras and Lenses
New 10x binocular
Good morning to everyone,
I am Gian Andrea from Italy. I began birding again after a long hiatus last year, and am still using the old binocular I was using more than 10 years ago when I stopped birding (and which I used for some years). Well, it's an Eschenbach Camaro 8x30. Not a bad binocular at all and gave me great satisfactions (and am sure it will keep on giving me happy moments). However, it has defects, and also I apparently did not use it too well years ago. Lenses are clean, but the zoom mechanism sticks sometimes, and the front moving part might be bended or lightly damaged. It does work, but it is not perfect and I fear not really well aligned (the view is still good however - MOST of the times).
This aside, I have noticed that I am not really so good anymore in sneaking close to birds, while I am much better than I was in finding good observation points... but, usually, those observation points are too far and I miss identifications because of distance. This seems to happen all the time, so I decided my next binocular will be a 10x, and possibly a 10x50 or similar. Now, years ago this would have been easier (if more costly), but today there are so many different models... even considering my limited budget I have too many choices. The binocular will be bought in America as my parents live there. Budget is going to be less than 500 dollars (better yet 300 dollars at most and my wife won't hurt me 
).
I have set my eyes on the Nikon Action EX Extreme 10x50 which seems so fine to me (plus I have a preference for Porro). But then again, the Monarch 10x56 also seems faboulous and maybe I might be able to afford it... and then I found online a chance to buy a new Minolta Classic III 10x50. And what about Olympus? And Pentax? Also, I have no idea if brands which are uncommon in here (Bushnell and Leupold, for instance) are worth considering or not.
Please advise me (but I beg you, don't say things like "Buy an 8x instead" cause A- I already have my mind set on a 10x B-yea I will buy an 8x too for use in situations where I want to be as light as possible, but this will come later and I already have an 8x which is acceptable to me).
So, well thank you in advance and see you again soon!
Gian Andrea
[QUOTE=giankun;1896839]Good morning to everyone,
I am Gian Andrea from Italy. I began birding again after a long hiatus last year, and am still using the old binocular I was using more than 10 years ago when I stopped birding (and which I used for some years). Well, it's an Eschenbach Camaro 8x30. Not a bad binocular at all and gave me great satisfactions (and am sure it will keep on giving me happy moments). However, it has defects, and also I apparently did not use it too well years ago. Lenses are clean, but the zoom mechanism sticks sometimes, and the front moving part might be bended or lightly damaged. It does work, but it is not perfect and I fear not really well aligned (the view is still good however - MOST of the times).
This aside, I have noticed that I am not really so good anymore in sneaking close to birds, while I am much better than I was in finding good observation points... but, usually, those observation points are too far and I miss identifications because of distance. This seems to happen all the time, so I decided my next binocular will be a 10x, and possibly a 10x50 or similar. Now, years ago this would have been easier (if more costly), but today there are so many different models... even considering my limited budget I have too many choices. The binocular will be bought in America as my parents live there. Budget is going to be less than 500 dollars (better yet 300 dollars at most and my wife won't hurt me ).
I have set my eyes on the Nikon Action EX Extreme 10x50 which seems so fine to me (plus I have a preference for Porro). But then again, the Monarch 10x56 also seems faboulous and maybe I might be able to afford it... and then I found online a chance to buy a new Minolta Classic III 10x50. And what about Olympus? And Pentax? Also, I have no idea if brands which are uncommon in here (Bushnell and Leupold, for instance) are worth considering or not.
Please advise me (but I beg you, don't say things like "Buy an 8x instead" cause A- I already have my mind set on a 10x B-yea I will buy an 8x too for use in situations where I want to be as light as possible, but this will come later and I already have an 8x which is acceptable to me).
So, well thank you in advance and see you again soon!
Gian Andrea[/QUOTE]
I think the Monarch 10x42 would be perfect for what you want to do unless you plan on doing alot of twilight viewing then the 10x56 Monarch might be beneficial. I think for the money which should be no more than $300.00 US the Nikon 10x42 Monarch would be hard to beat. Nothing wrong with a 10X. You can see more detail especially at a distance.
hello Gian...^_^
how about Nikon EII 10x35?
best regards
Galih