NFR Good binoculars

Non-fishing related
Dave Boyle

Dave Boyle

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Thought I’d posted this but maybe not. Can anyone recommend a good pair of binoculars for general use. Either fish spotting for me or here really for my missus. We have Ozzy, a solo, male ? Osprey that roosts by our house and she wants to see him better and all the other other critters in the hoodIMG_0878.jpeg. The wealth of wisdom on the site appreciated as always.

Dave
 
We've got a pair of Alpen Shasta Ridge 8 X 42s and they are pretty good for bird watching. A bit heavy for bringing on the river, maybe. I have a Steiner Safari 8 X 22 for hiking/fishing. Very small, light, and tough, but a narrow field of view that makes it hard to track a bird in flight.
 
Dave Boyle said:
Thanks Zak, I just remembered it’s her birthday next week so this great timing for me😀

Dave
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The Alpens were a gift from my birdwatching aunt and uncle. It looks like Alpen has changed the design a bit since the ones we have, but I bet they are still good 'nocs for the money:

alpenoptics.com

New Shasta Ridge 8x42 Binoculars

New Shasta Ridge 8x42 binoculars deliver bright and clear images for nature lovers. Ideal for hiking, birdwatching, and other outdoor activities.
alpenoptics.com alpenoptics.com
 
I might suggest considering a "spotting scope" with a tripod. Last year I bought a fairly inexpensive one... and It's been tons of fun. You can sit or stand (while holding a beer) and just relax. I have used binoculars frequently for decades, but had never tried a spotting scope. It takes some practice to fluidly use the tripod with the zoom lens, but this can really get you up and personal with wildlife, boats on the lake, etc. Mine has a mount for my smart phone, so whatever the eyepiece "sees" is shown on my phone! No squinting, no leaning over...and you can photograph the image (and further zoom in with your phone).
 
I was astonished at how much more powerful a spotting scope is compared to binoculars. I was watching a Bald Eagle two miles away on Hope Island. I could also (literally) count the whiskers on a rabbit in the back yard. I found that the trick was to not touch the scope. Once it was focused, zoomed in and centered, I would not touch the scope at all, (including my eyebrow). The stabilization nullified the movement of the lens completely ...which is something not possible with binoculars.
 
To watch birds I would recommend at least a pair of 8 power or above binoculars. You can spend less than a 100$ to over a1000$ for a pair. If you only plan on watching in your backyard and don’t want to magnify at longer distances you can go to a lower power. A good set of binoculars can last you a lifetime.
 
Depends on your budget, so I'll defer to others here for the higher end stuff (although, haven't seen any recs for Swarovski yet either). I was after a relatively budget friendly solid birding/general use option, and landed on Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42. Phenomenal for all around use.
 
yeah, pretty good bang for your buck
 
per a birding forum as 'best value', I picked up a pair of Kowa YF II 8 x 30 and really like them.
kowaoptics.com

Kowa YF II 8 x 30 Binocular

The YF II 8 x 30 binocular from Kowa utilizes fully, multi-coated optics to provide a crisp view. The prisms are phase corrected and also have Kowa's KR coating to protect the external lenses from dirt and residue. The YF II series is lightweight as well as fogproof and waterproof. If it's...
kowaoptics.com kowaoptics.com
 
G_Smolt said:
Just stopped by to say "Vortex" as well. Good binos for about 2 franklins
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Not all Vortex (or any brand) are good. Gal has some Vortex 8x42 and is constantly trying to use my Nikons as there’s a significant difference in quality. Hers are likely lower tier Vortex. Like anything, it’s important to dial in your priorities and budget, then test all the options in your range, before you drop the coin.
 
clarkman said:
Depends on your budget, so I'll defer to others here for the higher end stuff (although, haven't seen any recs for Swarovski yet either). I was after a relatively budget friendly solid birding/general use option, and landed on Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42. Phenomenal for all around use.
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Budget is a great point, I’m looking for best value. I know that can mean more $$ for quality but not looking to drop 1k on ‘garden’ glasses.

Dave
 
adamcu280 said:
Not all Vortex (or any brand) are good. Gal has some Vortex 8x42 and is constantly trying to use my Nikons as there’s a significant difference in quality. Hers are likely lower tier Vortex. Like anything, it’s important to dial in your priorities and budget, then test all the options in your range, before you drop the coin.
Click to expand...
Good point. The ones I have experience with are the ViperHD 8x42 and they're pretty OK. They're my wife's hunting binoculars, and she usually sees shit before I do with my cheap-ass Tasco 8x30 micros 😂

Try before you buy is a good policy.
 
I remember the first time my hunting buddy asked to look through my Swarovski's..... he whispered "Holy Shit" and then he handed them back to me and said "Don't ever let me look through those again." They are a game changer. But, that's big game hunting. Low light situations are critical there and that's where the best glass shines.

Mark
 
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