Binoculars?

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Keebler Elf

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
Aug 31, 2001
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Looking to buy some decent binoculars for spying on my neighbours. :p

Any suggestions on what to buy? Magnification? I'm not looking for some el cheapo binoculars but I'm also not looking for the infrared x-ray binoculars either.

Bushnell?
 
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papasmerf

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Check out Amazon They have reviews for most products.

Beach Camera has decent prices on line too

Ask yourself how they will be used. Do you need image stabilizer, low lux, waterproof, shock or drop proof?

Would a telescope serve you better? What distance will you be looking?

Than make an informed decision.
 
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5hummer

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Haha! Great question?
Any reasonable, affordable recommendations?

I guess you would have to consider distance(s) to spy? Say distance 1/4 mile, length of ACC or Skydome?
 
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Ceiling Cat

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Cabelas www.cabelas.com

You get what you pay for in binoculars, there is no duty on binoculars because none are made in North America.
 
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blackrock13

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What's your price point/budget?

Binoc's are an odd commodity. If all you want to spend is around $300 or less there are many to choose from form $400 -$700/$900 save your money and go to the next level $900-$1500, but if your going to use them for hours, you will never waste the money for the next level $1500+.
Spying on your neighbours aside, what do you plan to use them for; sporting events, wildlife, viewing in difficult light i.e. dusk and dawn, of star gazing? Those point govern the specific parameters for the binocs.

Do you need to wear eyeglasses to use them? Forget range finders and stabilized options as their are expensive for what you get and is something else that can break.

I've had binoc's of my own since my late teens and use them outdoors viewing. I still have my first pair that look like hell, but are good enough for inexperienced hands/kids for basic use. I've upgrades twice since then to Fujinon and Zeiss and are presently using the best pair I've ever seen and will probably pass them on to the next generation, who have told me to my face they can't wait for me to die, hehehe.

It's more complicated than most people think to get the best fit and bang for the buck.
 
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WoodPeckr

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sleazure

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For close range at night the diameter of the lens may be more important than the magnification because this affects the amount of light that is gathered. At places like Eatons or Sears, they always seemed to give you a choice between 35mm and 50mm. 7x50 is a pretty standard size, and 10x50 might be available if you look around. If you get too much magnification you'll need a tripod.

You might have fun cruising the army surplus shops and the Queen/Church pawnshops for bargains. Personally, I'd hold out for some WWII surplus German Army Zeiss 8x60s, but there aren't going to be a lot of bargains left.
 
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blackrock13

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rubmeister100 said:
Ha ha! Good One blackrock! $300 to $1500++ for Peeping Tom binoculars! But April Fools was yesterday!


Seriously though Keebler... 10x magnification is plenty and if you can find some 50mm (so 10x50mm) like these $25 units from ebay.ca or any of these 12x 50 mm you're going to know whether she has the full bush, mohawk or even how good her bikini waxer is!

I live in a high rise now and have some cheapy "Simmons" 12x 50mm binocs and they are suitable for you intended purpose! Any stronger and they are too shaky, any smaller like 30 mm and they can be kind of dark at night.

Spending any more for that purpose is a waste of money.
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Rubbie, did you ever think that the peeping tom line was a joke and he actually wanted a half decent pair for another reason?

If you are serious KE, a site such as this, http://www.opticsplanet.net/how-to-buy-binoculars.html will give most of the technical knowledge that you might use to understand the buzz words in reading reviews. About the only thing it doesn't cover are the high coatings or FL and similar lens tech. The only really tricky thing to grasp is the concepts of fully, multi, and full-multi coatings.

If the morons in this thread are right, then head down to your local pond shop and enjoy your new sport. 12x 50s are too big get tiring over time, with a twilight factor that gathers too much ambient light from whatever make night viewing harder, and stick out like red balloon. Standing on a chair and sticking you head out the window would be less obvious and easier to explain to the cops.
 
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blackrock13

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rubmeister100 said:
No.



But I did think that you suggesting buying a pair for more than $1500 was hilarious! Thanks for the laugh!
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Time will tell, but then again a broken timex tells the right time twice a day. If you've never used the top tier optics, then you don't know the difference they make; not even a fair comparison. Some of the professional photographers or videographers will know. $1500 is only a half way point, as long as you don't want stabilization or rangefinders.

KE wanted half decent optics not a half assed pair
 
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blackrock13

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rubmeister100 said:
FWIW, I had a pair of stabilized Canon 10x30's on my last boat so I know what good glass is. I have been spoiled in photography since I was younger and had a Hasselblad with Carl Zeiss T* lenses. So I do know about good glass.

But KE is like so may urban dwellers who simply want a pair of binoculars from time to time to have a look at something. He's not going on fucking safari or looking for the Yellow Throated Buffalo Ass Warbler. And it doesn't sound like he cares much about becoming a Proud Binocular Nerd.

Anything about $50-$75 is a waste of money for almost any average Joe. IMO
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Well, you know good glass is, but you don't know why or how, and you don't know much about binocs as shown by your choice of Canon stabilized 8x30s and know you paid too much for what they can do. i guess one hand is busy doing something else while you're using them, so the stabilization option might be needed.

I hate bird watching unless I get paid to do it. I'm no nerd, but I know how to purchase a good set and don't 'need' to spend big bucks, let alone $400.

Now you're calling KE an average joe, hmmmmmm.
 
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blackrock13

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rubmeister100 said:
Talking binoculars is so sexy.... tell me about how to prevent the interiors from getting all steamed up...

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Well, what are you doing to makes them so? 'You' could stop breathing hard while using them. Better yet get nitrogen filled optics, oh that would coast more than $75. Aside from that, if you're going from cold to hot environments, put them in a plastic bag, don't put them in a pocket/case and let them acclimatize to the new environment.

If you think the Canons 10x30is had good glass, you haven't an idea what good glass is.
 
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blackrock13

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rubmeister100 said:
I agree that the glass is nothing exceptional in these binoculars. But aside from the jerking off value for optical geeks, there is a small incremental value in spending much more.

For my application, I wanted the least expensive stabilized binoculars when on the water. Made a big difference in my application. I had little use for them at night so didn't bother with brighter.
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For the same price or less you could have purchased Steiners that would have blown those away, but they need two hands unless you practiced. Oh well, live and learn
 
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Ceiling Cat

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The trouble with Rubby is that he can't get no satisfaction, everyone has to smoke the same cigarettes as him or they are wrong or not cool or are fools. I can tell you there are many people cooler than Rubby and they do not smoke the same cigarettes as he does or have the same binoculars. It all boils down to what your needs are and what you are willing to spend. There are so many choices out there today. You can actually buy a $4500 pair of binoculars with Swarovski lenses, but if all you need are a pair of Chinese made Canon stabilized 10x25 binoculars for $262. Then that is your best choice.
 
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Ceiling Cat

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burt-oh-my!

I bought some binoculars around the $200 mark, and I'll be damned if I cant use them. No matter what I do I see two images, even though others can use them no problem. I am going to look for a small single lens/eyepiece spotting scope instead.
 
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