Posted on 11/10/2014 4:30:24 PM PST by Chickensoup
I know next to nothing about optics. I want to look at the birds more closely at the feeders at home. I will be looking through double paned windows. The feeders are four to ten feet away. Then there are the birds in the trees that are up to 25 feet away.
Any recommendations for binoculars? I wear glasses and am nearsighted.
I would appreciate any input. I think they are going to be my Christmas present to myself. That or a receiver for my old stereo that I am trying to resurrect. But that will be another thread!
Thank you all!
soup
Ok, thanks, I will take a look at those places.
“I’m a professional bird surveyor. In the field, I use mid-quality, mid-priced binoculars.”
Thank You! That there is the problem! Those mid-quality, mid-priced binoculars don’t allow you or your trainees to distinguish between the Willow Flycatcher and other variants, so then it gets marked on your score cards that there are not enough Willow Flycatchers. Then whole areas get closed down to farming and ranching to save a bird that would clearly be visible if you just upgraded your optics a bit! Lol!
Wish I knew where to get a decent monocular that I can afford.
toodamtall1@yahoo.com
Steiner.
I’ve enjoyed reading the responses to your interesting inquiry, and now must inquire of you: What will you do when you spy some chickens?
I’d be curious to know, given your experience, whether you might recommend something for watching further down range, say a half mile.
I’ve enjoyed reading the responses to your interesting inquiry, and now must inquire of you: What will you do when you spy some chickens?
+++++++++++++
Well guy, since I have 17 egg laying girls, and I do let them free range at times, I guess if I see them I will go out and collect eggs. Stop on by and I will give you a dozen of the tastiest eggs around.
Steiner.
____________
I assume you are not talking Waldorf Education. Must be German optics.
Thank you.
They don’t call me chickensoup for nuttin’.
And speaking of willow flycatchers, there may be a HUGE announcement regarding the endangered subspecies (southwestern willow flycatcher) of the Southwest. (Hint: recent genetic and morphology studies indicate that it may not be a race [subspecies] at all, but instead just an isolated breeding population of the common willow flycatcher.)
This could be big if decisions are made regarding this outlier population of WIFL.
But you didn't hear it from me...
I to like to look at the birdies. I have an old Crossman pellet rifle that I’ve removed the barrel from and mounted a old 3-9 x 40 scope on it. Works fairly well for short range work, up to about 50’ in my case. I think I have about $25 bucks tied up in the rig, FWIW.
To be fair I swiped the idea from the old TV series Northern Exposure where the one birder had a camera with telephoto lens mounted on rifle stock.
For the longer range spotting I have a old pair of Tasco 10X50 binoculars. They work well for me.
Good Luck!
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
As a ‘birder’, the binoculars do not need to meet the same ‘standards’ some folks use to look at the night sky.
Too light a set of binoculars would magnify any ‘tremblers’.
Too heavy a set of binoculars, will tire your arms out quickly, for now, and become a discouragement from watching nature’s beauty.
All the birding sites, the YouTube videos-and there are a LOT, and all the books printed all point to the same general measurements = 8 x 40/ 7 x 35/ 8 x 42. These are the most common, the most available, and will give the most for the money.
Should you see the words ‘wide angle’, you can look at these, as you would a 19 inch flat screen next to a 28 or 30 inch screen! You will have the same distance view, but more to see around the bird you are looking at.
Yes, you can obtain the little 8 x 21/10 x 25 binoculars, but you are giving up light gathering and detail.
7 x 35’s normal or wide angle, will give you the most, since you can use them for seeing the backyard birds, the night sky, and roadside stop vistas.
I own 8 x 40’s, and 7 x 35’s. Make sure you get a nice wide neck strap, not only for making it more comfortable to hang around your neck, but you can use it to steady your arms for looking for a while.
Also .... get a journal of some kind, even a black-and-white-speckled school composition book, and take notes of your sightings, behaviours, and everything you remember.
I wish you well, and much joy in your watchings.
Just one thought on buying a spotting scope. They don't need to be as sturdy and lightweight as a good pair of field binoculars because you're not going to risk destroying them on long, arduous hikes in difficult terrain. That said, I would be willing to spend more on a high-quality scope. Good optics are important for distant viewing.
You won't regret the additional spending here.
I think what you want for night sky viewing is 7x50. Light admitting.
I am sure the guys who own Swarovski, Zeiss, Leica etc would give one an argument but if you simply want the sharpest and best binocular in the world, I think the general view is the Nikon EDG series are the one.
They are around $2500.00 or more so I would not even think about it but they must be incredible.
I have a 10x42 pair of binocs from Bushnell that are awesome for deer hunting. Might be a little strong for that close, but they have good optics and I'd put them up their against the expensive glass like Ziess or Swarovski and a heck of a lot cheaper.
Well, it looks like you’ve received lots of optics advice. Now, tell us about that stereo.
I have a set of Steiner Marine which I like a lot.
Yes, the Marine is a good binocular especially the 7X50. The Military is a bit better and the Commander is about as good as it gets.
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