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Anne Elk BrontosaurusTheorist
Joined: 07 Sep 2018 Posts: 2419 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Anne Elk
BrontosaurusTheorist
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Sun May 23, 2021 7:33 pm
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I decided that my upcoming X-C roadtrip would be really enhanced if I had a set of good binoculars along. I was totally ignorant about binocular technology, down to "what do the numbers mean?" but I had experience in the past with bad compact binos, and wanted something better - but also to know what to look for, and what you're getting/not getting for the huge price range.
Google served up a great informational website run by a fellow in the UK:
https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/guides/what-to-look-for-when-buying-binoculars.php
His website is HUGE - he goes into great detail about all aspects of binoculars, not just the optics. There are articles and videos about construction, features, pros/cons, best values for the price in different price brackets. He's a prolific reviewer of all kinds of brands, and does annual "Best Binos" reviews. Makes recommendations for best size/configuration depending on whether you want them for birding, hunting, general use, etc. After a little over an hour of reading, I was definitely educated and ready to shop. Highly recommend.
"There are yahoos out there. It’s why we can’t have nice things." - Tom Mahood
"There are yahoos out there. It’s why we can’t have nice things." - Tom Mahood
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mike Member
Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 6397 | TRs | Pics Location: SJIsl |
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mike
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Sun May 23, 2021 8:58 pm
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I've found that the most important number is "eye relief". 15mm absolute minimum. 16-17 up is better. For ease of use, quickly acquiring focus, non-tiring over time, use with glasses etc. gotta have it.
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JonnyQuest Member
Joined: 10 Dec 2013 Posts: 593 | TRs | Pics
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With regard to magnification, don't assume more is better. Tailor for your needs, and realize that higher magnification makes image stabilization challenging.
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Cyclopath Faster than light
Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 7733 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
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Mon May 24, 2021 7:03 pm
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I got my mom a set of image stabilized binoculars years ago. She loves them, favorite pair she's ever had. I think that others are optically better but in real world causal use the stabilization was appreciated.
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cdestroyer Member
Joined: 14 Sep 2015 Posts: 1251 | TRs | Pics Location: montana |
years ago in the navy we were using experimental stabilized binos,, since the horizon at sea is 25 miles clarity was not a problem
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Franco Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 328 | TRs | Pics Location: Australia |
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Franco
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Fri May 28, 2021 2:36 am
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OK , I did not read it but when someone starts with :
So you have decided to purchase a pair of binoculars, but where do you start?
puts me off because a pair of binoculars really means two binoculars.
Bino = two
Ocular= well I think we all know.
Bino is the prefix often shortened to bi , as in bicycle, bilingual, bifocal and so on...
Monocular on the other hand means ONE ocular , just as mono does in monocycle and the rest.
(sorry, it's a pet peeve of mine...and I sold binos for a living)
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Franco Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 328 | TRs | Pics Location: Australia |
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Franco
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Fri May 28, 2021 7:44 pm
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The commonest mistakes I see when people use binoculars are
Not setting the difference between one eye and the other (very few people have exactly the same vision from both at 8 or 10 time magnification)
Not opening or closing the two barrells to get the a perfect circle (no, you are not meant to see two circles as they show in the movies)
Wearing glasses (prescription or sunglasses) without folding or pushingthe eyecaps back.
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