Is it possible to get a multi use set of binoculars

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is it possible to get a multi use set of binoculars

Posted: 5/25/2005 2:01:25 AM EDT

Alright, I am up and wondering if there is a good set of binoculars that can serve two purposes.
1. Range spotting. For 100 +/- yards spotting of targets/target
2. Bird watching. As my wife an I love to sit on our back porch and watch them feed and drink out of the pond
BTW: 200.00 price range, or less.
Does anyone have any good recommendations. This is out of my field of expertise. (not that I have a field of expertise)

Thank you and good morn.

Posted: 5/25/2005 2:14:29 AM EDT

[#1]

www.cabelas.com/products/Cpod0020230.jsp

Google "range finding binoculars"-----------This is the first one I looked at...

PS---Know this is out of the mentioned price range, just using it as an example of what's out there...

Posted: 5/25/2005 2:20:15 AM EDT

[#2]

Out of price range my ass! Thats house note range.

So, am I going to be looking for "range finding" binocs for what I want?

Posted: 5/25/2005 2:28:05 AM EDT

[#3]

Some guy hereabouts is/was a dealer, and wrote a brilliant reply to a question like yours.

Simplified, maybe over-simplified, IIRC his advice was to look at name brands in the $400 range as offering the best value for the money.

More than that, any you reach the point of diminishing returns on investment; below that and you sacrifice quality and durability to price.

Posted: 5/25/2005 2:44:39 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Out of price range my ass! Thats house note range.

So, am I going to be looking for "range finding" binocs for what I want?

To hit that price range you may have to go "Old School". The laser binoc's are pretty highpriced...

www.binocularsmart.com/binoculars/reticle_marine_russian_military_rubberised_binoculars_7_x_30.shtml

Posted: 5/25/2005 3:11:16 AM EDT

[#5]

I don't think he means "range-finding" as in "How far away is that target?" -

I've been doing a LOT of research lately on binocs, as I am in the EXACT same boat as you are. Wife and I are getting into birding, and I also want good hunting/range binocs.

This site kicks ass - LOTS of great reviews, and a "scorecard" that helps rate binocs according to YOUR needs.

www.optics4birding.com/

I wear glasses, so eye relief is critical.

So far, these are the best ones I've found that meet all my needs, budget, etc.

www.optics4birding.com/audubon8.5x44-828hhs-binoculars-309.html

Can actually get these for around $220 on Ebay, or Google for best prices.

www.optics4birding.com/audubon-equinoxhp-8x42-9202.html

These can also be had for a little under $200

www.optics4birding.com/dcfsp-8x43-binoculars-1465.html

THESE are the ones I'll probably end up with myself - can get them for around $400 - great eye relief, incredible optics.

NOTE - do NOT get anything higher than 8.5x, or else they will not have a great FOV and any little movement or breathing will fudge up your view. Anything that high mag needs to be auto-stabilizing, and those are expensive.

Posted: 5/25/2005 3:12:34 AM EDT

[#6]

BTW - I got a pair of NICE Alpen 10x42 binocs on ebay for $75 that work very well for me for just casual birding, etc. Alpen makes a pretty decent product, but I'm going to get some Swift and some Pentax soon.

Posted: 5/25/2005 3:24:03 AM EDT

[#7]

These are pretty nice...

www.optics4birding.com/stabiscope-16x40-2233.html

Posted: 5/25/2005 3:27:03 AM EDT

[#8]

1. Range spotting. For 100 +/- yards spotting of targets/target

DOH! (smacks self in head...)

Posted: 5/25/2005 3:50:43 AM EDT

[#9]

These are pretty nice...

www.optics4birding.com/stabiscope-16x40-2233.html

You ought to be mule kicked in the head for that.
I could get another ~~tool~~ toy for that.

Thanks wolf, I will look into these.

Posted: 5/25/2005 4:01:50 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
These are pretty nice...

www.optics4birding.com/stabiscope-16x40-2233.html

You ought to be mule kicked in the head for that.
I could get another ~~tool~~ toy for that.

Thanks wolf, I will look into these.

They sure is sweet tho...!!!

I missed these www.optics4birding.com/stabiscope-nightvision-3rdgen-1174.html they're only $17,000.00!

GROUP BUY...!

Posted: 5/25/2005 4:18:33 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
These are pretty nice...

www.optics4birding.com/stabiscope-16x40-2233.html

You ought to be mule kicked in the head for that.
I could get another ~~tool~~ toy for that.

Thanks wolf, I will look into these.

If you are ever in the Knoxville area, you can look through my various binocs.

Birding sites are GREAT places to get wonderful info on optics.

Those Swift and Audobon models are really top-notch for the money. They are getting great reviews. The difference between them and the $1500 Swaros are not THAT big, either.

Again, make sure if you wear glasses that you get ones with good eye relief (at least 16mm), and the screw-up/detent eye cups are MUCH better than the rubber flip-ups.

Weight is a factor as well, and do not get any above 10x at the most (I recommend 8.5x as maximum).

Can't wait to save my pennies for those Pentaxs!

Posted: 5/25/2005 4:25:46 AM EDT

[#12]

If you can aford them Leica BRF Rangefinding binoculars are the best Top Notch Glass and the best rangefinders combined into a single unit. Cost $1,600

Posted: 5/25/2005 10:04:05 AM EDT

[#13]

I DONT NEED RANGE FINDING BINOCS!
I need some that can be used at the range. Geesh..

Posted: 5/25/2005 10:07:39 AM EDT

[#14]

Go here. Check out their reference optics section.

Better View Desired

Posted: 5/25/2005 10:43:31 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I DONT NEED RANGE FINDING BINOCS!
I need some that can be used at the range. Geesh..

Reading Comprehension . . . . it's not just for Grade School anymore!

Posted: 5/25/2005 10:47:14 AM EDT

[#16]

The high end Pentaxes are a great value.

Posted: 5/25/2005 10:51:29 AM EDT

[#17]

IOR makes a couple raqngefinding binos. Even one rangefinding one that has an IR detector in it as well.

IOR binos

Ohh I see binos for the range, ok. Well my link is still good because IOR makes some damn fine binos, some are rangefinding and others are not. Should be able to find what you want. I just use some $40 or so bushnells 7-15xsomething, they work just fine for at the range and out in the field.

Posted: 5/25/2005 10:53:57 AM EDT

[#18]

I give up.

Posted: 5/25/2005 10:57:12 AM EDT

[#19]

Zeiss conquest

Posted: 5/25/2005 11:08:37 AM EDT

[#20]

Link

Posted: 5/25/2005 11:13:42 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

I give up.

BaaaaaHaaaaaaa...!

I really started something, didn't I ?!! Hadn't had any coffee yet. heheheeeeeee

Posted: 5/25/2005 11:19:12 AM EDT

[#22]

BaaaaaHaaaaaaa...!

I really started something, didn't I ?!! Hadn't had any coffee yet. heheheeeeeee

Oh yea. I owe you one.

Posted: 5/25/2005 2:58:32 PM EDT

[#23]

Problem is:

For birdwatching, you need a fairly large field of view to easily locate the bird, plus a somewhat low power so that you can hold the binoculars without a lot of visible shaking (I’d go for a 10X, myself)

For target shooting at 100 yards, high power become more of an issue. While that isn’t an enormous distance, seeing a .223 caliber hole in the black bullseye of a target at that distance is pretty challenging.

I haven’t done any recent binocular shopping, but if I suddenly decided I needed something like you describe in the $200 range, the first one’s I’d look at would be those made by Pentax.

Sorry, I don’t know the first thing about range-finding binoculars!