Binocular advice please

[hutchey 147]

Hi,

I'm having some trouble understanding binoculars.

I've googled around and get the basics of say 8x42 etc but when i look through different makes the results are totally different.

Getting them in focus is easy but the visible results differ wildly.

 

the specs mention things like exit pupil, twilight and brightness (all expressed as either a number or by working out the square root etc of the magnification.

these sums i've found even differ from what the manufacturers state.

 

So is there an easier way to be able to work out what is best for hunting needs? I doubt my local shop has enough of a range for me to test before i buy.

 

Cheers,

 

Richard

[fireblade_rrw 20]

Hi,

I'm having some trouble understanding binoculars.

I've googled around and get the basics of say 8x42 etc but when i look through different makes the results are totally different.

Getting them in focus is easy but the visible results differ wildly.

 

the specs mention things like exit pupil, twilight and brightness (all expressed as either a number or by working out the square root etc of the magnification.

these sums i've found even differ from what the manufacturers state.

 

So is there an easier way to be able to work out what is best for hunting needs? I doubt my local shop has enough of a range for me to test before i buy.

 

Cheers,

 

Richard

 

Depends what you want them for.

 

Its really simple: You get what you pay for!

 

Cheapos will work ok in bright daylight, however when light is poor at dawn or dusk, cheap binos are useless.

 

Swaro, Zeiss or Docter binos all come in at 700 - 1000 quid. The range finder variants are double that.

 

Invest in the best you can afford. Same goes for scopes.

[hutchey 147]

Trouble is I want to hold enough back to get a good scope.

Binocs are just for scanning etc so that's why I wondered on the twilight numbers that are quoted on binocs.

[fireblade_rrw 20]

If its for twilight spotting, dont even consider cheapos...youll regret it!

[jamie g 17]

Have a look at the khales binos

[Pink or stink 162]

What's your budget?

[tegater 789]

Hutchey.

The advice above is good advice. There are the basics of exit pupil, and brightness that people usually judge binoculars by, but that will only really work with binoculars of the same quality and construction.

An example of how it doesnt work, is that I own a set of Leica geovids 8 x 42, which gives me an exit pupil of 5.25. I also own a set of cheap Bushnell 7 x 50 binos which give me an exit pupil of 7.14.

 

In theory the bushnells with the biggest exit pupil, should be better in low light at dawn and dusk. The reality is that there is no competion and the Leicas are absolutly stunning, and in low light give the impression of a brighter image than I see with the naked eye.

 

You pay for the quality of the lens.

 

Remember that a quality set of lenses will, brighten shadows, they will allow you to see into dark areas such as under tree cover, and can be used on moonlit nights to great effect. My dawn and dusk fox kills went up dramatically when years ago, I started taking my Leicas out, on every occassion. By scanning into every bit of cover, from a long way off, allowed me to spot the fox before it spotted me, and plan the stalk and its ultimate death, from the head and not from the heart.

 

Cheap binoculars have a place, and so do compacts, I always keep a set in my decoy bag, as there is always something to look at, if you dont have any. I take them fishing with me to identify fly hatches only metres from me.

 

Once you have your binos, you also need to be aware that there is an art to using them to their best of their ability, and for the greatest effect, and practice helps no end.

 

Spend as much as you can afford, whether it be £100 or £1500, and then use them all of the time. For me there is no place for keeping binoculars for best, with the exception of on the foreshore, where salts etc will quickly damage lens coatings.

 

As to what make, get into a specialist binocular and telescope shop and try them out, side by side. Its amazing how many middle of the road binoculars are OK, if that is all you can afford, but they will never be the best.

[hutchey 147]

Thanks folks.

I'm looking at using them for spotting generally, low light stuff, foxing and hopefully deer stalking.

I wondered if I'd b better with spending more on the scope if I get a variation to my fac.

 

Think I will take a wander to some places that have some that I can test.

 

Oh, what are your thoughts on keeping the bino specs similar to that of your scope?

Eg 10x50 for both or maybe 6-12x56 etc.

Cheers and happy new year

[danw 1,748]

Hi mate if the choice is a putting money into a scope or putting it into bins I would spend it on the scope first and worry about top end bins later on

[hutchey 147]

After last Sunday with danw and comparing the visibility between his lei as and my borrowed pair this prompted the questions.

Perhaps I'll try some and go mid range and then look o get the scope.

Presumably mid range binos sell on easily to those in similar situations to myself.

 

[fireblade_rrw 20]

Catch 22, if youve crap binos, you'll miss stuff in low light, similarly, if you buy a cheap scope, you wont pick up the target. I reckon you'd increase your sucess rate by well over 70% by buying decent kit.

 

Its really simple mate, buy cheap & you'll regret it.

 

Hold off a bit & buy decent binos & a decent scope, you wont regret it. The difference in light gathering between cheap binos and the likes of Swaro, Zeiss, Docter etc is nothing short of staggering; literally night & day.

[samboy 275]

If it was me i would get a decent scope and bins on the book from Uttings or the like. That way you can have quality gear without skinting yourself in one hit.

[tegater 789]

Catch 22, if youve crap binos, you'll miss stuff in low light, similarly, if you buy a cheap scope, you wont pick up the target. I reckon you'd increase your sucess rate by well over 70% by buying decent kit.

 

Its really simple mate, buy cheap & you'll regret it.

 

Hold off a bit & buy decent binos & a decent scope, you wont regret it. The difference in light gathering between cheap binos and the likes of Swaro, Zeiss, Docter etc is nothing short of staggering; literally night & day.

That's good advice. My rifle stays on my shoulder if sneaking about, or lay next to me if in an ambush spot. The binos stay in my hand until I need the rifle. Like many on here, having spent days in an ambush position you can use a good set of binos all day long without eye strain and they give you a much wider field of view. They can even be set up on a small tripod and set solid, allowing every bit of movement in view to be picked up on....the thing that will give you the edge!

The telescopic sight only gets used at the last moment, but.......that still needs to be good as well.

[shootlodge 143]

I had the same dilema, just look at loads on the shops etc.. I have seen £45 binos better than most in the £200 range. But if you want a name & trend, get Swaroski.

Its a personal choice.

[Pink or stink 162]

You can get quality on a budget. Being a birder for years I have owned some of the best optics on the planet but currently I am back to Hawke Frontier ED (MKII 10x43) as my main bins. In the summer I had fortune to get a pair of Swarovision's which I have to say are the very best optics I have seen apart from a Kowa scope I tried. The Svaro's were £1700 yet provided probably a 1% overall difference to the Frontiers which can currently be had for around £250. To many who compare the Svaro's with the Frontiers the difference was undetectable (mostly estuaries) I put them up for sale on here but sold them to a bloke on B B S. I have some Zeiss Dialyt 8 x 56 which are good stalking bins (or perceived to be) and at around £1200 they should be but they are some way behind optically than the Hawke's and I rarely pick them up anymore for birding. Having never had any faults with any of my bins I can't comment on quality/warranty issues yet I suspect all of the above companies provide first rate support.

 

If you are near any Wildlife Trust keep a lookout for a company called In-Focus who frequent these reserves. They have a viewing day every so often where you can try them all; it's only under these conditions that you can start comparing such like; the high street provides little to get an objective opinion imo.