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Wildlife Bino's on a budget

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EAGLE View Drop Down
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    Posted: February/20/2012 at 18:49
Wife decided that she wants to start watching birds, wildlife in general, and asked for my help since I hunt but to be honest, I need help and I don't want to spend over $ 300.00 at this point since I'm not sure how long she'll stick with it.


Features wanted:
10x42
Low light peformance for early/late mornings, hazy, cloudy, etc
Something that's clear and makes colors stand out on the birds, animals, etc over foliage
Waterproof for sure

I'm sure I left something out but maybe someone can help out.

Eagle






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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billyburl2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/20/2012 at 18:53
If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/20/2012 at 23:49
Originally posted by EAGLE EAGLE wrote:

Wife decided that she wants to start watching birds,
Features wanted:
10x42

Eagle
Generally speaking, most gals will find 10x a little too shaky for hand held binoculars.
On top of that, the narrower Field of View of the 10x makes it more difficult to track birds on the move, or in flight, especially in close.
Most beginning birders prefer an 8x for its w i d e r FOV and ease of hand holding.
 
 
 
 
Does she wear eyeglasses?
 
Stan
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/20/2012 at 23:56
6x is a great starting binocular magnification.  These are surprisingly good, a great value, and also fit narrow IPDs very well:
 
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rustic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/21/2012 at 00:17
Originally posted by Bitterroot Bulls Bitterroot Bulls wrote:

6x is a great starting binocular magnification.  These are surprisingly good, a great value, and also fit narrow IPDs very well:
 


I agree. I have last years model 8x30s light weight, clear and inexpensive.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/21/2012 at 00:57
Originally posted by Bitterroot Bulls Bitterroot Bulls wrote:

6x is a great starting binocular magnification.
 
Matt,
 
6x might be ok for backyard birding, but, because most birds are very small to begin with, 8x is better for birding at moderate distances.
 
Stan 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spf2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/21/2012 at 05:06
SWFA has quite a few good options that fit your criteria. Besides Leupold Yosemite, check out their 8x zen-ray summit too.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/21/2012 at 06:40
Originally posted by Bird Watcher Bird Watcher wrote:

Originally posted by Bitterroot Bulls Bitterroot Bulls wrote:

6x is a great starting binocular magnification.
 
Matt,
 
6x might be ok for backyard birding, but, because most birds are very small to begin with, 8x is better for birding at moderate distances.
 
Stan 
Stan,
 
I recently took the 6x yosemites to the local refuge for the kids to use.  They had a bunch of fun looking at a variety of birds at a variety of distances.  The low magnification really helped them find birds in flight.  I used them some, too, and found I was amazed how well they worked in that application.
 
I would choose something different for hawkwatching, and long range IDs, but that isn't really beginning birding.
 
Just my opinion.
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote EAGLE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/21/2012 at 07:37
Are the Monarch 3 on par with the ones posted thus far ? 
 
Thanks for the responses because they definately help.
 
Eagle
 
PS: Stan, She doesn't wear glasses, but I do and my son does so we do need 15mm plus for eye relief (more than one person can use them in our house).
 


Edited by EAGLE - February/21/2012 at 07:55
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/21/2012 at 07:53
Originally posted by EAGLE EAGLE wrote:

Features wanted:
Something that's clear and makes colors stand out on the birds,

Eagle
 
Matt,
 
I purchased a Leupold Katmai 6x32 a few years ago for my wife, she is almost 73 yrs. young now.
After using it at home & at some of our local lakes she now prefers using the Minox 10x44 Porro or
 the Nikon Gold Sentinel 10x50 Porro for IDing birds, from a sitting position.
 
I have used the Leupold 6x32 in our backyard and although it is an excellent binocular, and alot of fun,
 the magnification is still lacking for appreciation of things like coloration and markings on smaller birds. 
 
Eagle,
 
I have no experience with the Nikon Monarch 3 binoculars.
You & your wife need to go to a Sporting Goods Store and look through several binoculars before buying one,
especially because it will be shared among several people in your family.
For you guys with eyeglasses, the Pentax PCF WP II has 'the most' eye relief.
Also, the Pentax PCF WP II binos have aspherical eyepiece elements which make them sharp to the edges of the FOV.
 
 
Stan


Edited by Bird Watcher - February/21/2012 at 11:51
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shelley@SWFA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/21/2012 at 16:08
we have a Vortex Diamondback on the Sampple List.  10x50
 
$199.95
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/21/2012 at 16:25
Originally posted by Shelley@SWFA Shelley@SWFA wrote:

we have a Vortex Diamondback on the Sampple List.  10x50
 
$199.95
 
Shelly,
 
What, pray tell, is the Sampple List?
It is related to Snapple?  http://www.snapple.com/      
Stan


Edited by Bird Watcher - February/21/2012 at 19:48
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/21/2012 at 16:38
SampleList.com Wink  even though I know your picking on her grammer
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/22/2012 at 10:14
Even though I know "you're" picking on her "grammar". Mouth Taped Shut  Bandito
 
Stan  Wink 
 
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