I'm also looking for a new pair of binos, and found something you need to be aware of. Whilst looking at a pair online with the best price, i started looking for info on the seller. Although they looked like a UK outfit, the actual supplier is in the Netherlands. Something that might lead to an unexpected customs bill since Brexit if i ordered from them. So do some digging if you order online.
I have a pair of very old cheap 10×50, but they are heavy. So I treated myself to a pair of RSPB branded ones. They are 8×42 very light, very bright & clear, they are world's apart.
Assuming reasonable optics there's very little or even nothing that you cannot see with a £50 pair that you can see with a £2000 pair. Therefore it's down to what you want to spend and then choose the pair that matches your needs.
Think about where you will use them, what for, what time of day, what conditions, for how long, at what usual distance, what you can accept in terms of mechanical and optical quality and then weight. Do eyecups twist or fold down if you observe with glasses on etc etc. If you are averagely fussy then about £250 will get a good pair and to get anything only marginally better you'll need to spend around £1500. All optics relay a diminishing return on your investment.
Sorry to make it more complex, but another thought is that I've found myself preferring to use a monocular - the same magnification for just over half the weight...
Yep. Dearest OH's Christmas list included a spotting scope for birdwatching on his mountain hikes. He clearly specified the exact version he wanted, and after choking a little at the price, it appeared under the tree. A Celestron 60mm zoom 45 degree scope if that means anything to anyone. It's really light, astoundingly clear image and good magnification. If I didn't know how much it cost I'd look into getting one for me too.
I use a pair of 8x40 binoculars that were issued to my grandfather by the Royal Navy in 1937. Really heavy, but individually adjustable eye pieces and good clear image.
I have Nikon Monarch 8x42, comfortable, fabulously light and clear viewing. Great for garden spotting. At 685g they are considered lightweight for this class, but I still find they are pretty hefty to lug around out in the field on long walks, so prefer my little Nikons for that.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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Whilst looking at a pair online with the best price, i started looking for info on the seller. Although they looked like a UK outfit, the actual supplier is in the Netherlands. Something that might lead to an unexpected customs bill since Brexit if i ordered from them. So do some digging if you order online.
If you are averagely fussy then about £250 will get a good pair and to get anything only marginally better you'll need to spend around £1500. All optics relay a diminishing return on your investment.
It's really light, astoundingly clear image and good magnification. If I didn't know how much it cost I'd look into getting one for me too.
I use a pair of 8x40 binoculars that were issued to my grandfather by the Royal Navy in 1937. Really heavy, but individually adjustable eye pieces and good clear image.